Bath and North East Somerset is not on track to hit its target of being net-zero in terms of carbon emissions by 2030.
The council set itself the target — which is 20 years more ambitious than the national target of 2050 — when it declared a climate emergency in 2019.
It followed this, a year later by declaring an ecological emergency and pledging to be “nature positive” by the same year.
But a report delivered to the council cabinet on 9th March stated: “We cannot yet claim to be on track to deliver net zero commitments by 2030, or to reverse the decline in wildlife by the same date.”
The report claims this is partly due to issues outside of the council’s direct control, mentioning constraints on connecting new renewables to the national grid.
Sarah Warren, the council’s cabinet member for climate and sustainable travel, said that the “pace of delivery has stepped up substantially.”
She said that the installation of solar panels in the council area had doubled in the last two years, the council had set up “new safe walking, wheeling and cycling routes,” and was creating 12 new flower-rich meadows, among other green projects.
Ms Warren added: “Of all our many achievements, the one of which we should probably be most proud this year, is the adoption of our local plan partial update last month, making us the first council in the UK to require net-zero carbon in new build housing.
“We are also at the leading edge of councils in requiring 10% biodiversity net gain for developments a year before this becomes mandated nationally.”
Tom Davies, who shares the role of the council’s cabinet member for adult services and council house building, said: “Whilst there is so much more to be done, the report in front of us tonight undisputedly shows the significant impact that we are having as a council in leading our area to the hugely ambitious target set in the declaration of the climate emergency in 2019.
“I am also very pleased to see the ecological emergency action plan which I welcome as another very impressive and well considered approach to tackling this crisis.”
The council’s ecological emergency action plan, which was approved by the council cabinet at the meeting, will see the council aim to increase the amount of land and water across the area managed positively for nature, increase monitoring of wildlife, reduce pesticides and pollution, and get more people out into nature.
There was little mention of the fact that the council was not on track to hit the 2030 target in councillors’ speeches, but addressing the meeting as a public speaker, former councillor Bob Goodman said: “It is good to hear some honesty in the report, saying you are not on track to deliver net zero by 2030 or to reverse the decline in wildlife by the same date.
“But when you read on you blame other people.”
Meanwhile, deputy council leader Richard Samuel accused other parties of not thinking about the climate in opposing some of the council’s transport policies.
He said: “The vast majority of the public wants to see climate action by public bodies […] Most individuals are incredibly supportive of this.
“Where it gets a bit more difficult is when it means for them, as individuals, to change, and what has been incredibly disappointing to me over the last few months is the negativity that has built up, particularly around the actions on transport.”
He added: “When I see some parties jumping on the bandwagon of that negativity and opposition I have to say to myself what are you actually saying here? That you want to see climate change?”
Mr Samuel said: “I hope that we see a good debate around this as we go into the elections.”
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter
