Becoming a carbon neutral borough by 2045

While we have one ambitious target to be a carbon neutral council, we recognise that the operational carbon emissions of the council represent a tiny fraction of the carbon footprint of Cheshire East as a whole. Recognising the urgency of the climate emergency we took the decision in October 2021 to join with other councils to make the UK100 climate pledge. We will do everything we can as an authority to help the borough of Cheshire East be carbon neutral by 2045.

Figure 2.1: Scatter 2019 Inventory for Cheshire East shown by emissions sub-category. Percentages represent the proportion of the total emissions total of 2,845KtCO2e.

• Residential buildings: 23%
• Commercial buildings & facilities: 7%
• Institutional buildings & facilities: 3%
• Industrial buildings & facilities: 14%
• Fugitive emissions: 2%
• On-road transport: 33%
• Other transport: 1%
• Waste treatment and disposal: 1%
• Industrial processes: 4%
• Livestock: 11%
• Agriculture: 1%
• Land use: 0.3%

When we set that target it was in the realisation that it is not something that we can achieve on our own as a local authority. But neither is this a ‘hope’ project. 

We rightly have tremendous faith in our residents, as so many of you have shown great interest in our environmental ambitions for the borough. You have shown this through your actions in protecting Cheshire East as a great place to live. 

The council has developed and approved a Wider Borough Carbon Action Plan 2025-2030 (PDF, 7MB). This plan sets out how we are going to begin the journey to 2045, the areas of focus and the principles that will underpin council interventions.

Transcript of image above

• Transcript for image (PDF, 187KB)

What happens now

We will work on delivering the actions within the plan and look for opportunities to work with partners and to bring in funding to turn actions into change.

Every year we will bring a report to our oversight committee so that we can be transparent about the actions we have taken and the impact that they are having.

How you can help

We can all act now and take steps for positive environmental action – and some of them are easier than you might think.

The WWF My Footprint calculator is a quick and easy way to understand your own carbon footprint – and suggests ways you can live life with the planet in mind.

Download the My Footprint app and track your progress