Cornwall Council Pushes for Net Zero: Bold Steps Taken, More Support Needed

Cornwall Council is doubling down on its commitment to become the UK’s first net zero region, urging the new government for support.

Five years after declaring a climate emergency, Cornwall Council renews its pledge to achieve carbon neutrality, calling on the newly elected government for backing. The council’s continued dedication has garnered national and international recognition for its proactive measures in tackling climate change.

Key Achievements in Reducing Emissions

The council has implemented several impactful measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across Cornwall. Among the notable successes are:

• Promoting Green Travel: Installation of 226 additional electric vehicle (EV) chargers, a pilot bus fare programme to increase public transport use, and public e-bike schemes in six towns.
• Home Retrofitting: Emissions have been reduced in over 1,200 homes, with plans to install green measures in 520 more properties.
• Local Area Energy Plan: One of the first rural authorities to develop a plan aimed at expanding clean and renewable energy.
• Waste Management: A new recycling, rubbish, and food waste service expected to cut carbon emissions by nearly 18,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
• Green Planning: Introduction of the Climate Emergency Development Document to boost sustainable planning and development.
• Forest for Cornwall: Planting one million trees to capture emissions.
• Council Emissions Reduction: Cutting council emissions by a third since 2019 through building and vehicle adaptations, including a solar canopy at New County Hall powering a third of the building’s energy.

Seeking Government and Private Support

Despite these accomplishments, Cornwall Council acknowledges that the current pace of emissions reduction is insufficient to meet the 2030 net zero target. The council is urging the new government to support its bid and is exploring private funding opportunities to advance its carbon neutral goals.

Martyn Alvey, Cornwall’s portfolio holder for environment and climate change, emphasised the council’s dedication: “We remain committed to doing everything within our power as a leading local authority on climate change to respond to the climate and ecological emergencies and the need to adapt to an already changing climate. Since we declared a climate emergency five years ago, we have cut our council emissions by nearly a third by adapting our buildings and vehicles to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

“But we cannot tackle climate change for Cornwall alone and we need longer term government support to unlock investment and improve our energy infrastructure so we can look at opportunities to scale up our renewable energy.”

Community Efforts and Future Plans

The council has also been instrumental in establishing a new, independent Climate Commission for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This initiative brings together regional leaders, organisations, and communities to address the climate and ecological crises collectively.

Latest data indicates that Cornwall’s greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by over a fifth since 2008, with a significant drop of nearly a quarter in 2020 during the pandemic. However, achieving net zero by 2030 remains a challenging goal.

Martyn Alvey concluded with a call to action for continued community efforts: “We want to thank everyone for their efforts so far in reducing their carbon footprint which has already made a big impact. Looking forward, we all need to remain dedicated to helping lower our emissions as we face the challenges ahead.”

For more ideas on reducing your carbon footprint, visit Cornwall Council’s climate emergency page.

---

Stay informed on Cornwall’s journey to net zero and discover practical steps you can take to contribute to a greener future.