Reading
Climate Action Plan

Nationally, the UK has a legally binding target to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050. Many local councils have more ambitious targets. There are nearly 400 principal councils across the country: the majority have a net-zero target of 2030. Further information from the Council.

Local net-zero target date

2030

Plan published

November 2020

Plan scope

Plan covers entire local area

Climate emergency declared

February 2019

Working together

We use data on Climate Action Plans fromĀ data.climateemergency.uk

If you have more recent Climate Action Plan information for this area, please contact mySociety atĀ [email protected]

CO2 emissions

It's hard to visualise CO2 emissions. The data talks about 'tonnes of CO2' - but what does a tonne of gas look like? Well, imagine a typical large hot air balloon (almost 3,000 cubic metres in volume). One tonne of CO2 would fill one of these hot air balloons.

Additional local carbon emissions

Carbon emissions embedded in the imported goods we consume locally are typically not counted. However, these goods are produced and then transported here because of our consumer demands. Imported emissions are so big they should not be hidden*.

* Note: Imported emissions are estimated based on the Total UK Goods & Services Greenhouse Gases imported emissions (Defra UK's Carbon Footprint 2016: 353mt CO2 eq) pro-rated based on Local Authority population size and assumed equal per capita consumption of imported goods and services across all Local Authorities.

CO2 emissions in total

448,149 tonnes

People in the local area

160,337

CO2 per person per year

2.8 tonnes

Additional local carbon emissions

874,868 tonnes

Source: BEIS Local Authority territorial CO2 emissions within the scope of influence of Local Authorities (2020).

Local carbon emissions by sector

In getting to net zero as quickly as possible, we need to look at how we do things differently in every sector.

(000t)

2018
2019
2020

High-impact, low-carbon initiatives

Total published on Carbon Copy across the UK: 1044 See all Initiatives

There are some amazing collaborations between local councils, communities and companies. Some examples in/around Reading:

Reading Hydro CBS - A community funded, built and operated hydropower plant

To harness the power of water to generate renewable low-carbon electricity on the River Thames

Reading
  • Carbon emissions
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Energy
  • Biodiversity & Nature

Reading Zero Carbon Housing Developments

Ensuring big housing developments aim for zero carbon.

Reading
  • Carbon emissions
  • Built Environment

Accelerating Innovation on Big-Engine Decarbonisation

Promoting decarbonisation innovation for big-engine emissions.

Basingstoke and Deane
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon emissions
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Transport
  • Built Environment

Bennet Road

Reducing carbon emissions by depot-wide upgrades and technology investment.

Reading
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon emissions
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Energy
  • Transport

Reading Buses

Reducing carbon with Robert Williams on the Zero Carbon Tour.

Reading
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon emissions
  • Transport
  • Circular Economy
  • Energy

City Farm Systems

Reducing waste with Jonathan Lodge from City Farm Systems on the Zero Carbon Tour.

Reading
  • Carbon emissions
  • Food security & supply
  • Waste
  • Land Use, Food & Agriculture
  • Circular Economy

Reading Borough Council

Reducing carbon with Cllr Tony Page from Reading Borough Council on the Zero Carbon Tour.

Reading
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon emissions
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Transport
  • Built Environment
  • Circular Economy

Street Trees and their Benefits

Exploring the benefits of planting street trees on carbon and air pollution.

Reading
  • Air pollution
  • Biodiversity loss
  • Carbon emissions
  • Biodiversity & Nature
  • Built Environment