“Net Zero” is an expression that means any carbon emissions are balanced by taking the same amount of carbon out of the atmosphere.
The UK Government has set a target of reaching net zero as a country by 2050. Many councils and organisations are already working on their own approaches to net zero, usually with a shorter target date such as 2030.
The first step is of course measuring current carbon emissions, which are usually considered under three “scopes”.
- Scope 1 includes all direct emissions that are generated from sources that are directly owned or controlled, such as driving a diesel or petrol-driven car.
- Scope 2 includes all indirect emissions from the generation of electricity bought in, such as the power for a building.
- Scope 3 includes all indirect emissions from activities that you do not own or control, which includes the carbon emissions from the manufacture of anything you buy.
There are a number of “carbon calculators” available, including the Mackay Carbon Calculator sponsored by the UK Government, and others from private companies such as Carbon Footprint Ltd , which a local council may use to help measure its carbon emissions.
A local council may wish to go further and seek – with the help and support of the community – to reach net zero for their whole council area. The most recently updated calculator for this approach is the Impact tool developed by the Centre for Sustainable Energy with the University of Exeter.
Once the calculations have shown where the carbon emissions are occurring, targets can then be set for action to reduce emissions. There is published guidance on carbon saving building improvements , with two associated case studies, one from a small community centre and one from a listed town hall.
A wider example of an approach to a whole council area can be found here.
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