What the Council is doing
Sheffield City Council is leading on reducing emissions across the city and from its own activities. Binding agreements with central government known as a Local Area Agreements have been made by the city council. The LAA sets out how local priorities will be met by applying local solutions. It also contributes to national priorities set out by the government. They contain sets of performance indicators. Those indicators that relate to Sheffield Is My Planet which Sheffield City Council are undertaking are:
- CO2 reduction from local authority operations
- Per capita reduction in CO2 emissions in the local authority area
- Adapting to Climate Change
- Establishing a baseline on local attitudes towards climate change. And awareness raising around climate change
There are two main strands to what Sheffield City Council is doing to address climate change: Mitigation and Adaptation
Mitigation = Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by addressing the cause. This is achieved by reducing greenhouse gas emissions or by capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in gaseous or solid form.
Adaptation = Addressing the impact and effects of climate change, such as increased flood or drought risk and health impacts. It is a response to actual or potential impacts induced by climate change. These impacts may affect human actions directly or they may affect the environment in which we live.
Sheffield City Council is committed to 3 key aims:
- 1. City Council Performance - Reducing the Carbon Footprint of the Council, the activities of the council account for about 5% of the cities carbon emissions , and ensuring it’s prepared for climate change
- 2. Leading the City - Through Local Area Agreements, being a major force on shaping the Sheffield First City Strategy, the Economic Masterplan, Masterplanning (Energy), Supporting Business, Planning, Housing, BSF, Transport, Education, and Communication
- 3. Key Projects - Some key projects such as alternative energy from Wind, Biomass and Biogas are already being scoped.
The City Council will:
Develop a City-wide Energy Strategy
- Support the development of Renewable Energy in Sheffield
- Develop renewable energy schemes on Council land
- Create planning policies to support & require RE
- Develop the City District Heating Network
- Develop biogas plants across the City
Develop new funding mechanisms
- Energy Services Company (ESCO)
- Carbon Offset Scheme
- Carbon Trading
Address Carbon Footprint of Housing
- Setting high standards in new build, EcoHomes, CSH
- Investing in existing stock - insulation, boilers, district heating
Promote A Low Carbon Economy
- Support low carbon technologies in Economic Masterplan
- Address Carbon Footprint of Transport
- Promote low carbon transport - Incentives
- Develop a low emission strategy (inc CO2) across City
- Communicate & Educate
- More engagement with the public
- Support City-wide EcoSchools Programme
Develop a Climate Change adaptation strategy City-wide with the Sheffield First Partnership, and across all Council Services
- Reduce the Council's Carbon Footprint
- Adopt a Strategic Investment Plan
A Partnership between
