Council Agrees New Net Zero Targets

Dumfries and Galloway councillors agreed today (Thursday 28 March) to establish two new net zero targets – one for the council and one for the Dumfries and Galloway region.

Councillors agreed the recommendations in a report discussed at Full Council today that Dumfries and Galloway Council becomes a carbon neutral organisation by 2033.

And it was agreed that Dumfries and Galloway Council will support the region to achieve net zero status on or before 2040, with a move to become a carbon negative region by 2045.

The new commitment replaces the previous target agreed by the council in 2019 for the region to achieve net zero carbon emissions status by 2025.

Convener of Dumfries and Galloway Council, Councillor Malcolm Johnstone, said: “Our original target was, rightly, aspirational. We always knew it was ambitious, but we wouldn’t have achieved our great results to date if we hadn’t set ourselves a goal.

“We have reduced our carbon emissions by 51% between 2018 to 2023, which is an astounding outcome. By reducing our own emissions, we are in a better position to lead by example, encouraging other organisations to set and achieve strong climate change goals.

“By setting these new still-ambitious but realistic targets we will be able to deliver on the principles set out in our Council Plan – to address the climate emergency we declared in 2019 and protect our natural capital.”

Scotland has a legally binding, national target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030; 90% by 2040; and 100% by 2045 (from a 1990 baseline).

Most councils throughout Scotland have set a net zero target for the council’s own emissions but there are significant differences in the targets they have set.

An inquiry by the Scottish Parliament Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee (NZET), reported that some councils anticipate serious difficulties in meeting these targets due to the significant regional emissions, grid capacity and connection issues, which are outwith councils’ control.

Dumfries and Galloway Council carbon emissions represent fewer than 1% of the total region-wide emissions.

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