Decision details

Decision:

The Cabinet Member for the Environment agrees to an accelerated net-zero emissions target to be achieved by Kent County Council by 2030. To be delivered by investment in line with the supporting action plan. This target to be applied to its own estate and operations (excluding schools) and those of its traded companies.

Background:

To discharge the request made by County Council in May 2019, following the approved motion to acknowledge a Climate Emergency and support a net-zero emissions target of 2050 for the county. The motion also included that by May 2020, KCC would set an accelerated net-zero target for its own estate and operations and those of its traded companies.

In response to the Climate Emergency, the UK government revised the Climate Change Act 2008 in 2019. This introduced into law the UK target of net-zero emissions by 2050. This Act requires local authorities to act to reduce emissions both from their own operations and their geographical area. In addition to setting an organisational target to deliver net-zero emissions, KCC has led on the development of the Kent and Medway Energy and Low Emissions Strategy, which is due to be considered for approval by the Environment & Transport Cabinet Committee on 17 July 2020. The KCC net-zero action plan supporting the target is derived from the high-level action plan included within this new multi-agency and cross-county Strategy.

Options:

·     Seek to achieve net-zero by 2030 – this approach is possible using the balanced scenario approach.

·     Seek to achieve 80% reduction by 2030 and net-zero by 2050 – this aligns closely with the science-based evidence, however this would not be considered as accelerated action as per the motion agreed in May 2019.Tthis would not be aligned with other local authorities in Kent and Medway who have almost all declared a target of net-zero by 2030 or earlier.

·     Seek to achieve net-zero by 2050 – this would not be considered accelerated action as it is the same as the UK target.