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ROAD TO ZERO CARBON
Successful decarbonisation demands a carefully planned and structured approach
Kick-starting net zero transition When it comes to initiating a transition to carbon net zero, planning makes perfect, says Kirti Rudra, Energy & Carbon Solutions Director with EQUANS. arbon emissions and climate change are rarely out of the headlines, and organisations of all sizes are acutely aware of their responsibilities towards the environment and future generations. The Government has set a target for the UK to be net zero by 2050, and many organisations have already set themselves even stricter deadlines. For local authorities, tackling the climate emergency has been a priority for a number of years. All are at different stages of the net zero journey. Some already have roadmaps in place and have begun implementing decarbonisation measures, while others are still gathering the data to inform their action plans.
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Rising to the challenge of decarbonisation One of the greatest challenges for public sector bodies at any stage of the decarbonisation journey is prioritising measures to achieve the greatest impact and deliver the widest benefits across the
organisation. The challenge is made more complex for local authorities by their varied portfolio of properties and assets, each with differing ownership arrangements. Many councils have limited financial resources to invest in carbon reduction measures and new low-carbon technologies. Various decarbonisation funding schemes are available, but it’s important to get the timing right to meet application deadlines and avoid delaying essential capital projects. The challenges of planning, prioritising and implementing decarbonisation measures are exacerbated by a lack of time and expertise in often under-resourced
Many carbon-reduction “measures offer an excellent return on investment, enabling councils to repay any funders over an agreed period.
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organisations. However, expert support is available from facilities and energy management specialists, like EQUANS, with particular expertise in the net zero transition.
Scoping out your carbon footprint Successful decarbonisation demands a carefully planned and structured approach, beginning with an understanding of your organisation’s carbon footprint. That requires an assessment of the carbon emissions associated with your operations. Specialist consultants can help accurately assess carbon emissions, which will include ‘scope 1’ direct emissions from fuel consumption and vehicle fleets, and ‘scope 2’ energy-related indirect emissions, including emissions from purchased electricity, heating and cooling. Councils may also need to assess ‘scope 3’ indirect emissions, such as those associated with waste disposal, transport and employee business travel. All of these emissions combined make up the baseline carbon footprint against which carbonreduction targets will be set.
