SHROPSHIRE Council has reported a further decreased in its carbon emissions, according to a report due before cabinet next week.

The one per cent decrease in emissions has come over the 12 months which has seen the unitary authority return to the normal provision of services after the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Shropshire Council switched to green energy suppliers in 2020 and both this and the effect of the pandemic led to a downward trend in its carbon footprint.

The unitary authority declared a 'climate emergency' in May 2019 and is committed to net-zero.

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Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for climate change, environment and transport Councillor Ian Nellins said: "While a one per cent decrease may be seen as disappointing against our target of 10 per cent year on year, it is still a positive step towards our determination to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net zero by 2030.

"We are committed to achieving our net zero goal, but it will take time, and the decline will not be linear.

"We have made progress and have made sure to act on the obvious solutions first.

"Switching to renewable electricity gave us a huge reduction and that will carry forward, but we must continue to pursue other strategies.

"The last three years have affected everyone, how we deliver services is evolving, and that too will influence the figures.

"Commissioned and outsourced services have contributed to the total, and we are developing a more consistent measuring framework to support accurate data collection as part of our action plan, and this will also give us a consistent method of measuring and managing our emissions."

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Shropshire Council has adopted a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan and has been implementing a number of different actions including developing the county’s EV charging structure and developing renewable energy in the county.

Cllr Nellins added: "It is worth noting that Shropshire Council is one of only a few councils to report the full extent of its carbon emissions, including indirect emissions, and we want to remain open to scrutiny as we progress.

"A number of projects and initiatives which will help to reduce corporate carbon emissions are still being developed and have yet to deliver planned savings, but I am confident we are heading in the right direction."