Climate Change report endorsed by council

10 November 2021

Aberdeen City Council’s City Growth and Resources Committee today (10th November 2021) approved recommendations made in a Climate Change Report covering the period 2020/2021.

The committee agreed the report will be submitted to the Scottish Government to ensure compliance in the requirements of Part 4 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act.

The council, along with other public sector organisations, has a duty to report annually on progress against Public Bodies Duties under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. These duties are to act in the best way to:

Contribute to the Act’s emission reduction targets of Net Zero emissions by 2045;To help deliver any statutory adaptation programme;In a way that it considers is most sustainable.

In this reporting period Aberdeen City Council approved a Net Zero Vision for Aberdeen and supporting Strategic Infrastructure Plan, as well as the Council Climate Change Plan, covering emission reduction and climate resilience for council assets and operations.

Committee convener Councillor Ryan Houghton said: “Aberdeen City Council continuously strives to reduce emissions and become a leader in climate change.

“With all eyes on Scotland for COP26, it is more important than ever for councils to be playing their part and lead the way in the fight against climate change and build a cleaner and greener world.

“The findings of the report, alongside the recent announcement of bp as our preferred bidder for a commercial partnership in the Hydrogen Hub programme, shows just how hard the council is working to achieve our goals of a climate positive city.”

The report discussed that the annual emissions for 2020/21 showed an overall reduction when compared to the previous year. However, it was acknowledged that the past year was not representative of emissions due to Covid-19 restrictions.