Civic chiefs say they will not meet their ambition of cutting Gloucestershire’s emissions by 80% by 2030.
The Gloucestershire County Council’s corporate strategy, which was published earlier this year, says it is the local authority’s aim to become carbon neutral by 2045.
And council documents presented to the environment committee say one of their key priorities is to achieve a reduction in carbon emissions by 80% by 2030 on figures from 2005, this applies to the whole county.
However, environment and planning cabinet member David Gray (Con, Winchcombe and Woodmancote) told councillors that he did not recognise the target and said it was misleading.
In response to a question from Cllr Paul Baker (Lib Deam, Charlton Park and College), Cllr Gray said: “If your question is, are we going to reduce the county’s, county as in every citizen of the county, emissions by 80% by 2030? No, we’re not.”
Cllr Baker, speaking after the meeting, said the debate ended in utter confusion.
“I don’t know if this is a genuine oversight from the cabinet member, or a deliberate attempt to rewrite history, but it amounts to the same thing – that this council has given up on this carbon-reduction pledge a matter of months after publishing it prominently in their corporate strategy,” he said.
“Just weeks after COP26 wrapped up, I had hoped to hear how the council was ramping up its efforts to hit its published targets, but walked away hearing that we had given up. It’s massively disappointing.”
Councillor Roger Whyborn (Lib Dem, Benhall and Up Hatherley) said the meeting was “an absolute car crash”.
“The cabinet member had no idea what the council had already committed to and admitted that the Conservatives’ corporate strategy was misleading.
“It is clear that he has already given up on this target, but we must not allow this Conservative administration to quietly rewrite history and delete their previous commitments on emissions reductions.”
Cllr Gray said the council are completely committed, and well on their way, to reducing their own corporate carbon footprint by 80% by 2030.
And said it was misleading that Liberal Democrats are claiming the council alone could meet their net zero target.
“We are also committed to reaching net zero across Gloucestershire by 2045 – five years before the national government target,” he said.
“What is misleading however, is that the Liberal Democrats are claiming that the county council alone can achieve this.
“We need all of our partners and communities working together to reduce their own carbon emissions.
“As the county council, we can help individuals by giving them options to lead a greener and more sustainable life – which we are doing through schemes such as by building the 26-mile cycle spine, installing 1000 EV charging points, and running campaigns such as ‘Greener Christmas’.”
By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter