{"id":643774,"date":"2025-12-20T07:05:25","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T07:05:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/643774\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T07:05:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T07:05:25","slug":"edinburgh-council-accused-of-abject-failure-on-net-zero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/643774\/","title":{"rendered":"Edinburgh council accused of \u201cabject failure\u201d on net zero"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE City of Edinburgh Council<\/a> has been accused of \u201cabject failure\u201d on climate<\/a> after it was revealed that they are set to again miss a key net zero target.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The annual progress report of Edinburgh Council\u2019s Council Emissions Reduction Plan<\/a>, revealed earlier this month, showed that the council is set to exceed its carbon budget for the three-year period ending in April next year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When the report was referred to the meeting of the full City of Edinburgh Council yesterday, a\u00a0Greens<\/a>\u00a0addendum was passed which called for an emergency meeting of key council members to \u201cget the council back on track\u201d on emissions reduction<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Speaking at the meeting,\u00a0council\u00a0leader Jane Meagher said that the council had to balance its responsibilities to reducing emissions with its responsibilities to tackling the housing crisis and pointed out that the carbon budgets are not mandatory.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Edinburgh<\/a>Edinburgh Council has been accused of \u201cdragging its feet by the city\u2019s Green Group (C) Kim Traynor \/ Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n

According to the statistics detailed earlier this month, the council has seen a 2.2% reduction\u00a0in the amount of\u00a0greenhouse gases it emits since 2024\/25, 17% since 2018, and 68% since 2005.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite this reduction, the council is on track to exceed the carbon budget which it sets as goals for emissions reduction for itself every three years, with 98% of the budget already used for the\u00a0three-year\u00a0period ending in April next year.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is based solely on Edinburgh Council\u2019s buildings and operations and does not consider emissions from the rest of the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The council admitted earlier this year that it could be set to miss its own climate targets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Following the meeting, the Greens accused the labour administration of \u201cdragging its feet\u201d on reducing the council\u2019s carbon footprint.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Edinburgh Green Group co-convenor Councillor Chas Booth said: \u201cEdinburgh Council should be leading by example, not dragging its feet when it comes to cutting its own climate emissions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is\u00a0absolutely right\u00a0that we urge our residents and businesses to insulate their buildings and choose low-carbon transport options, but if the council\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0also get its own house in order, then it looks like hypocrisy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe truth is, the council\u2019s emissions are way off track, and this is an abject failure of leadership on the climate crisis by this administration.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

He continued: \u201cI\u2019m\u00a0glad that the\u00a0Green\u00a0addendum to refer the report to an emergency meeting of the all-party oversight group has been agreed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope this will focus the minds of those committee convenors responsible, and ensure the council puts in place the actions that are needed to address the climate and nature emergencies within its own remit and get back on track.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIn particular, I hope to see more focus on cutting emissions from the council\u2019s own buildings, including schools, and on decarbonising the council\u2019s fleet of vehicles.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

In a press briefing earlier this month, however, council leader Jane Meagher said that the council\u2019s\u00a0net\u00a0zero goals were still \u201cin hand\u201d despite challenges.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A series of advancements were outlined, mostly in housing, retrofitting, and zero-emissions-heating that could help the council to accelerate its climate reduction plans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The council has seen a 2.2% reduction\u00a0in the amount of\u00a0greenhouse gases it emits since 2024\/25, 17% since 2018, and 68% since 2005.\u00a0<\/p>\n

During yesterday\u2019s full council meeting, she reiterated the challenges involved in reducing\u00a0emissions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She said:\u00a0\u201cWe are a growing\u00a0city,\u00a0we need to balance our carbon reduction measures with our approach to the nature and housing crises.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe city also has a\u00a0net\u00a0zero target, and we must lead by example while continuing to work with partners in progressing citywide decarbonisation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cFor our organisation, we need to continue focus on delivering our key strategies that will optimise our\u00a0buildings\u00a0estate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the city, we need to continue to deliver the local heating and energy efficiency strategy and city mobility plan and deliver key infrastructure which will help us to meet our targets.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meagher initially wanted to move her motion which noted the council\u2019s emissions reduction progress.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Instead, she accepted the addendum from the\u00a0Green\u00a0group which called the emergency meeting, following their intervention.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The emergency meeting will concern the climate emergency,\u00a0and also\u00a0the nature emergency, which was declared by Edinburgh Council in 2023 which noted the \u201calarming extent of the global nature and biodiversity crisis\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Invites will be extended to the\u00a0convenors and\u00a0vice\u00a0convenors of all\u00a0executive\u00a0committees, as well as the\u00a0convenors and\u00a0vice\u00a0convenors of Governance Risk and\u00a0Best Value Committee, Pensions Committee, Planning Committee, Regulatory\u00a0Committee\u00a0and the\u00a0chair of the Integration Joint Board and will take place within the next six weeks.<\/p>\n

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