Monitoring and implementation
We'll publish an annual monitoring report reflecting our progress in implementing the 7 themes of our action plan.
Progress on each individual action will be monitored against targets and milestones. Where data on emissions reductions achieved through an action is unavailable, we will report activity-related data and qualitative performance information and continue to look for efficient ways to improve data quality.
Our monitoring reports will also refer to the scale of progress against emissions trajectories towards carbon neutrality and new actions emerging. We will also evaluate the scale and nature of the key gaps between our progress and what is required to be carbon neutral in 2030 – an evaluation that will also inform the evolution of the Carbon Neutral Plan.
View our annual emissions reports
Emissions trajectories
The background data and trajectories described in this section will help to guide our monitoring and reporting on progress towards our 2030 target.
To inform the development of this action plan, Element Energy undertook bespoke modelling of projected emissions from the borough under a Baseline scenario, and a Maximum Ambition scenario. Highly ambitious measures were assumed to achieve the scale of rapid emissions reductions implied by a 2030 carbon neutral ambition. The Evidence Base report provides a full explanation of the assumptions modelled, which includes the following modelling assumptions (these are not commitments):
Energy efficiency
Retrofits on 41% of existing domestic buildings to take the proportion of homes which are EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) C-rated or higher in the borough to 58%.
Heat networks
Heat networks supply 8% of total domestic heat and 11% of non-domestic. Fossil fuel power for heat networks is entirely phased out by 2030.
Low carbon heating systems
Phase out the use of gas boilers by 2030 except where used (sparingly, and only at times of peak demand) in conjunction with an electric heat pump in a hybrid system. Install heat pumps in 70,000 existing homes and 20,000 new build homes. Install hybrid heat pumps in a further 20,000 existing homes.
Reduction in car use
Car vehicle kilometres travelled in the borough by residents and visitors must decrease by 45% compared to 2015; likely the upper limit achievable through available measures.
Reduction in van and truck use
Vehicle kilometres travelled by vans and trucks must decrease by 10% compared to the Baseline, requiring both modal shift and action to counteract projected increases in goods traffic.
Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) uptake
An acceleration of uptake by 10 years compared to the current London-wide 2050 target. Just over half of cars, more than two-thirds of vans and all buses must be zero emission. Over a third of cars, a quarter of vans, two-thirds of trucks and nearly all taxis must be zero emission capable.
Potential impact on emissions reductions
The scenario modelling revealed the technical changes with the greatest potential for emissions reductions. These are shown in the tables and images on this page.
Reduction in our buildings emissions from measures modelled by Element Energy:
| 2030 baseline for total buildings emissions |
|---|
| 389 ktCO₂ e |
| Model measure | Change in ktCO₂e per year | Reason for the change |
|---|---|---|
| National target grid intensity | 94 reduction | National grid changes and local distributed renewables |
| Building energy efficiency | 20 reduction | Emissions reductions due to measures |
| District heating | 13 reduction | Emissions reductions due to measures |
| Heat pumps | 109 reduction | Emissions reductions due to measures |
| Hybrid heat pumps | 49 reduction | Emissions reductions due to measures |
| Refrigerant from heat pumps and cooling | 13 increase | Emissions increase due to measures |
| Other | 4 reduction | Emissions reductions due to measures |
| Full electricity grid decarbonisation | 89 reduction | National grid changes and local distributed renewables |
| Remaining emissions | 24 | After all listed measures |
Reduction in our transport emissions from measures modelled by Element Energy:
| 2030 baseline for total transport emissions |
|---|
| 208 ktCO₂ e |
| Model measure | Change in ktCO₂e per year | Reason for the change |
|---|---|---|
| National target grid intensity | 3 reduction | National grid changes and local distributed renewables |
| Decreased car use | 48 reduction | Emissions reductions due to measures |
| Decreased van and truck use | 6 reduction | Emissions reductions due to measures |
| Additional modal shift | 1 reduction | Emissions reductions due to measures |
| ULEV cars | 39 reduction | ULEV vehicles uptake |
| ULEV vans and trucks | 29 reduction | ULEV vehicles uptake |
| ULEV other | 25 reduction | ULEV vehicles uptake |
| Full electricity grid decarbonisation | 13 reduction | National grid changes and local distributed renewables |
| Remaining emissions | 44 | After all listed measures |
Implementation
Governance
This section explains how decisions about the Carbon Neutral Plan will be made and how the plan will develop and be delivered.
Council-wide ownership is required, and all directorates within the council will have a role.
Cabinet Members will work together to oversee and steer work to reduce carbon emissions in accordance with the Climate Emergency declaration. A Cabinet Member will chair a corporate Task Force.
Chaired by the lead Director, the Climate Change Officer Group involving senior officers from all directorates, will continue to coordinate the delivery of the Plan across the council, identifying and developing new opportunities to reduce carbon emissions.
We will monitor and report on the actions in the action plan annually.
We will facilitate and recognise activity across the borough, working in partnerships with organisations and residents to celebrate successes in our community, and to support and inspire new activities and greater achievement.
Communications
We will be transparent about the changes that are needed to address the Climate Emergency.
We will communicate and engage our residents, businesses and other organisations in our activities. We will celebrate success and use it to inspire and inform further activity.
Finance
A major challenge of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 is the level of investment that is needed by us and other organisations (£1.6bn), as well as our dependence on actions by others outside of the borough to decarbonise our electricity and our supply chains. These levels of investment are far in excess of current council budgets.
Significant finance and resources will be needed to deliver on the ambitions set out in the plan, particularly for the areas of action shown in the table:
| Areas of Action | Short term funding | Long term funding to be secured | Funding sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council housing | Approx 5.1 million | Over £350 million | Possible sources: Housing Capital Programme and available grants |
| Corporate Estate | Approx £700,000 | Over £25 million | Public sector Decarbonisation Fund and other grant funding |
| Transport | Approx £660,000 | Significantly over £80 million | Funding not yet identified |
| Council Fleet | N/A | £TBC | Funding not yet identified |
| Business Economy and Skills | £570,000 | Funding not yet identified |
Identifying and unlocking innovative finance solutions will be critical to the success of the our plan. We therefore commit to:
- maximising external funding sources by reviewing grant funding and subsidy opportunities
- investigating and developing of innovative financing mechanisms and project finance models
- exploring group-purchasing opportunities with other local authorities
- lobbying with other local authorities where we feel there is a strong need for further support