Climate Action Plan (CAP)
A Climate Action Plan (CAP) is currently being prepared to deliver on the following Council targets:
- To reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2036 for our direct greenhouse gas emissions (including emissions from our fleet of vehicles and buildings) and energy that the Council purchases (such as electricity)
- To reach net zero by 2045 for all other emissions including those for the East Dunbartonshire area
- To improve resilience to the on-going impact of climate change.
These targets will support the Scottish Governments targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2045, replacing interim targets with a carbon budget-based process as well as setting out actions to drive forward climate change adaptation.
Details on how the Council will deliver on these ambitious targets will be included in the draft CAP which will be taken to Council in October 2025 to gain approval for consultation.
The draft CAP will build on the considerable progress the Council has already made in reducing our own carbon footprint as set out in our Carbon Management Plan (CMP) 2015-24. Table 1 Illustrates the long-term reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by scope since record keeping for the Council began. It is important to note that the data will be affected by changes in definitions and factors from year to year:
EDC Historic Emissions by Source
| Year | Scope 1 | Scope 2 | Scope 3 | Total tCO2e |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2012/13 |
9,793 |
12,421 |
10,206 |
32,420 |
|
2013/14 |
10,574 |
11,489 |
7,635 |
29,698 |
|
2014/15 |
9,532 |
12,861 |
7,602 |
29,995 |
|
2015/16 |
9,306 |
10,338 |
11,778 |
31,422 |
|
2016/17 |
8,291 |
9,154 |
11,328 |
28,773 |
|
2017/18 |
9,160 |
7,959 |
14,305 |
31,424 |
|
2018/19 |
8,267 |
6,258 |
4,498 |
19,023 |
|
2019/20 |
8,800 |
5,345 |
4,112 |
18,257 |
|
2020/21 |
7,893 |
3,955 |
3,722 |
15,570 |
|
2021/22 |
8,572 |
4,347 |
3,668 |
16,587 |
|
2022/23 |
8,278 |
4,281 |
2,089 |
14,648 |
|
2023/24 |
8,016 |
4,397 |
2,307 |
14,720 |
The CMP focuses on corporate emissions arising from the use of electricity, natural gas, other fuels and transport (fleet and business travel), and those arising from waste disposal. The most recent iteration was published in December 2024 Agenda for Council on Thursday 19 December, 2024 5.30 pm after Council achieved the emissions target set in an update report in January 2024.
Work is also under way to deliver a range of actions to tackle climate change and fulfil our sustainability ambitions. Updates on this can be found in the Council’s Sustainability & Climate Change Framework (SCCF) Action Plan, which was approved by Council in December 2019 and updated in September 2021. A progress report on the delivery of the SCCF Action Plan between March 2021 and December 2023 was approved by the Council’s Place
Neighbourhood & Corporate Assets Committee in January 2024.
Agenda for Place Neighbourhood & Corporate Assets Committee on Thursday, 25 January 2024 5.30 pm.
A number of SCCF Actions have been completed or superseded, while the remaining live actions from the SCCF have been amalgamated into the draft CAP.
Given the rapid evolution of climate change legislation and the growing responsibilities placed on local authorities, it is necessary for the SCCF to be replaced with the CAP (once approved). This transition will help to align climate policy with carbon reduction targets and adaptation duties. It will also strengthen senior leadership accountability, ensuring the Council integrates climate action into governance and aligns Council spend and use of resources with the statutory climate change duties. The CAP will be continually monitored and updated, providing a live and dynamic approach to climate change action.
A variety of emerging Council strategies will support the objectives of the CAP and are being prepared in a joined-up way; these include the emerging Active Travel Strategy, the Circular Economy Strategy, the emerging Greenspace Strategy and Local Development Plan 3.
A range of other work also supports the climate change adaptation agenda including the delivery of our Flood Risk Management Plan, which is vital in responding to the increasing and intensifying weather events being experienced as a result of climate change.
The Council is also a partner with Climate Ready Clyde which has developed Glasgow City Region’s first Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan launched in June 2021, ahead of COP26 in Glasgow. The Strategy aims to ensure Glasgow City Region’s economy, society and environment is not only prepared for, but continues to flourish in the face of the impacts arising from the climate crisis.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We do have time, albeit not much. The world's leading climate scientists warned in 2018 that there were only a dozen years left for global warming to be kept in check. So, time is tight, but we do have an opportunity to make a difference and it is crucial that we make the most of it.
There are various reasons for us to take action regardless. If we lead by example, we can demonstrate our success to others and encourage them to follow our lead. The actions we can take also have additional benefits, including short-term ones. While our influence on other countries may be limited, we can have confidence in international processes like UN Climate Change Conferences, which bring decision-makers from around the world together to agree on ways to work together on this shared global challenge.
Opportunities for action will vary depending on various factors including where you live, what your current lifestyle is like, etc. No action is insignificant, but it's useful to know what the big greenhouse gas emission sources are - in Scotland, transport is the largest contributor (12.9%), followed by businesses (8.4%) and agriculture (7.5%). Energy supply and residential emissions are other key sources.
The action required to tackle climate change is wide and varied. While it will be difficult to collate and share details of all relevant developments, through the emerging Climate Action Plan the Council will aim to share key information about what's happening across the area and the impact that this is having on emissions.