Sustainability and climate change

The council reports yearly on its own carbon emissions. 

The table below shows the council’s annual carbon emissions (tonnes CO2e) compared with the 2018/2019 baseline, together with the percentage reduction achieve in each reporting year.

The Council is committed to reducing its carbon footprint. Since establishing a baseline of 4,585 tonnes CO2e in 2018/2019, the Council has achieved a sustained reduction in emissions year on year. By 2024/2025 emissions had fallen to 2,996 tonnes CO2e, representing a 34.7% reduction compared with 2018/2019.

• Total Tonnes of CO2 from the Highest Electricity-Consuming buildings: 528.
• % of Total 2025 CO2 Emissions: 76%.

This pipeline supports the retrofit of the highest electricity-consuming RBWM buildings. The emissions across these buildings account for 76% of the Council’s total estate emissions.

This data does not include schools.

The data is indicative and has been generated using retrofit consultant feasibility reports alongside industry standard benchmarks. This data supports our ability to understand the scale of the challenge and identify the next appropriate steps to decarbonise the Council’s Estate.

Each asset will require an in-depth on-site survey prior to work to understand the exact project scope, costs and emissions impact.

The order of works will be largely determined by the assets with the highest emissions. However, funding opportunities for certain building types may support a review and amendment to the order of works, subject to the scope of funding available. 

The refreshed Environment and Climate Strategy 2026–2035 provides the long-term framework for climate action across the borough. It builds upon the previous Environment and Climate Strategy 2020 – 2025, while recognising the increasing urgency of both the climate and biodiversity crises.

You can read about our work so far in the Environment and Climate Strategy page.

The strategy will be supported by annual reporting, two five-year action plans to cover the 10-year period and regular reviews to ensure progress remains measurable and accountable.  

Areas of action 

The council’s ambitions span multiple themes including our priority themes:

• Energy: improving energy efficiency, promoting renewable energy and supporting the transition away from fossil fuels.
• Sustainable Transport: encouraging walking, cycling, public transport and electric vehicles while reducing transport emissions.
• Natural Environment: protecting biodiversity, increasing tree planting, improving habitats and expanding green infrastructure.
• Circular Economy: reducing waste, encouraging repair and reuse, and supporting sustainable consumption.
• Climate Adaptation: preparing communities and infrastructure for hotter summers, flooding and extreme weather events.

Golden Threads 

These run through all our priorities.

• Behaviour Change: helping to shift habits, choices and consumption to reduce emissions and support sustainable actions.
• Health and Wellbeing: recognising that cleaner air, greener spaces and active travel improve both physical and mental health.  

By combining strategic leadership with strong community engagement, RBWM aims to demonstrate how local government, residents and partners can work together to address the climate crisis while improving quality of life across the borough.