Please provide the following information:
1. Specific planned actions for Scope 2 emissions since the Devon County Council’s Carbon Reduction Plan
See Table 1, 3 and 4 in the Carbon Reduction Plan. All actions in these tables, other than the replacement of old fossil-fuel boilers with modern versions (Scope 1), will contribute to Scope 2 emissions reduction. Scope 2 emissions reduction. You can see the quarterly highlight reports describing the progress at delivering projects on this page
2. Specific planned actions for Scope 3 emissions since the Devon County Council’s Carbon Reduction Plan
See Table 2 in the Carbon Reduction Plan. All actions in that table are Scope 3, other than the replacement of fleet vehicles which is scope 1. You can see the quarterly highlight reports describing the progress at delivering projects on this page
Our Low Carbon Supply Chain Strategy, part of the Carbon Reduction Plan, will be considered by Cabinet in June this year.
3. Any updates on buying offsets since 2021 and if this information is audited
Offsetting activity is described in the Carbon Footprint 2022, which reports the outcomes of delivering the Carbon Reduction Plan. Additionally, we have just completed purchasing Pending Issuance Units to cover under the Woodland Carbon Code for the financial year 2022/23 to cover 20% of the residual emissions as per the Carbon Reduction Plan. This will be reported in the Carbon Footprint 2023 report due for publication in the Autumn. Our carbon offsetting is not externally audited.
4.Any updates on mitigation by direct offsets since 2021 and if this information is audited
Offsetting activity is described in the Carbon Footprint 2022, which reports the outcomes of delivering the Carbon Reduction Plan. This winter’s planting season for Brook Wood was missed. It will be planted in winter 2023/24.
5. If any more steps, since 2021, have been taken to involve:
· Direct employees
Employees are engaged via:
- Monthly articles in the weekly staff newsletter that provide an update on the implementation of projects
- Information about green travel options, recycling and energy use on our intranet pages
- A pilot of Carbon Literacy training commenced in May 2023
· Local businesses
This category is not relevant to our Carbon Reduction Plan which is about reducing our own emissions. The Devon Carbon Plan has been prepared by a consortium of 30 organisations in Devon, led by Devon County Council, to address Devon-wide greenhouse emissions.
Local businesses have been engaged in making the Devon Carbon Plan via (see this page for further information):
- Themed Hearings
- Call for Evidence
- Consultation on the Interim Devon Carbon Plan
- Citizens’ Assembly
- Consultation on the actions developed following the Citizens’ Assembly
- Plus the three-day County Show each year since 2021
A growing number of businesses have signed the Devon Climate Declaration.
Tailored support for businesses is available through a number of engagement programmes, described here.
· Workers
See local businesses.
· Residents
This category is not relevant to our Carbon Reduction Plan which is about reducing our own emissions. The Devon Carbon Plan has been prepared by a consortium of 30 organisations in Devon, led by Devon County Council, to address Devon-wide greenhouse emissions.
Residents have been engaged in making the Devon Carbon Plan via (see this page for further information):
- Themed Hearings
- Call for Evidence
- Consultation on the Interim Devon Carbon Plan
- Citizens’ Assembly
- Consultation on the actions developed following the Citizens’ Assembly
- Plus the three-day County Show each year since 2021
Residents are being supported to reduce their emissions. These initiatives are described in our answers to the Climate Emergency UK questions.
· Resident organisations
See ‘Residents’
· Visitors or tourists
Visitors or tourists have not been specifically targeted for involvement in the preparation of the Devon Carbon Plan. However the businesses that provide services to visitors and tourists are covered by the activity described in the answer to ‘Local Businesses’ and much of the net-zero infrastructure used by residents (e.g. electric vehicle charging) will also be used by visitors and tourists.
6. If the authority has developed an Adaptation Policy for overheating
Devon County Council is not a planning authority. District, borough and city councils are responsible for planning and will consider introducing policies to address the overheating of buildings.
7. If the DCC has announced any firm implementation of the goals set out in their Carbon Reduction Plan
Progress is reported in the Carbon Footprint 2022. Emissions are 53% below the baseline year of 2012/13 and we’re on track to meet the target of an absolute reduction of 70% by 2030 of corporate emissions. The remainder is to be offset, which we are increasing our experience of to understand which approaches will be effective. You can see the quarterly highlight reports describing the progress at delivering projects on this page
8. If it has completed any implementation set in the Carbon Reduction Plan
See question 7.
9. If the authority as entered in contracts for implementations of the Carbon Reduction Plan since 2021
Yes.
The Council has entered into contracts to deliver:
- The retrofit of corporate buildings (including renewable energy installation)
- Installation of electric vehicle charge points.
- Electric vehicles
- Woodland Carbon Units via Pending Issuance Units under the Woodland Carbon Code
- Land maintenance as part of our direct offsetting scheme
Detailed feasibility of using Virtual Power Purchase Agreements to purchase locally generated renewable power.
Further information, and the answer to other Climate Emergency UK Scorecard questions, are available in this document on our website.