Climate Change Action Plan

Our annual Climate Change Action Plan Progress Reports provide an update on the Council’s progress in delivering its climate commitments and achieving the objectives set out within the Climate Change Action Plan.

The reports highlight key achievements, track progress across priority themes and identify opportunities and challenges encountered throughout delivery. They demonstrate how climate action is being embedded across Council services and provide transparency on the measures being taken to reduce emissions, build resilience to climate change and support a sustainable future for our communities.

By monitoring performance and reporting on outcomes, these reports help ensure the Action Plan remains responsive, evidence-based and focused on delivering meaningful environmental, social and economic benefits.

Climate Change Action plan Annual Progress Report 2025-2026

This section presents the Council’s carbon emissions data from 2019/20 to 2025/26, enabling progress to be tracked over time and helping to identify trends, opportunities and areas for improvement.

The emissions figures currently reported relate to the Council’s Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, covering direct emissions from Council-operated sources and indirect emissions associated with purchased electricity. Monitoring these emissions provides an important measure of the Council’s operational carbon footprint and the effectiveness of actions taken to reduce it.

The Council is also working to quantify its Scope 3 emissions, which include emissions arising from activities such as procurement, waste management, business travel and other indirect sources within the Council’s value chain. Developing a fuller understanding of Scope 3 emissions will provide a more comprehensive picture of the Council’s overall carbon impact and help inform future climate action and target setting.

Annual monitoring and reporting of emissions supports the Council’s commitment to transparency, accountability and continuous improvement as it works towards its long-term climate change objectives.

The Council is delivering a wide range of initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, improve resource efficiency, support biodiversity and build resilience to climate change. Key achievements and actions include:

• Achieved the highest recycling rate (59.5%) for Local Authority Collected (LAC) municipal waste in Northern Ireland during 2024/25.
• Awarded Platinum Status in the Business in the Community Environmental Benchmarking Survey, recognising excellence in environmental management and sustainability.
• Named the most improved Council in Northern Ireland in the 2025 Climate Emergency UK Climate Action Scorecards.
• Established a dedicated Capital Fund to support energy-efficiency improvements across Council buildings and facilities.
• Introduced a Fleet Decarbonisation Strategy to reduce emissions associated with Council vehicles and support the transition to lower-carbon transport.
• Achieved a 29% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions between 2019/20 and 2025/26.
• Committed to planting one million trees, with 320,803 native trees planted by May 2026, including 54,308 trees during the 2025/26 planting season.
• Delivered the Green for Business programme, providing decarbonisation support to small and micro-businesses across the borough.
• Supported waste prevention and the circular economy through initiatives such as the Community Fridge Network, School Uniform Recycling Scheme, Christmas Toy Reuse Scheme, and a range of food waste reduction programmes.
• Operated Bicycle, Furniture and Spectacles Reuse Schemes at Household Recycling Centres, helping to reduce waste and extend the life of valuable resources.
• Continued to improve energy efficiency and sustainability across Council operations through building upgrades and low-carbon technologies.
• Promoted sustainable travel and environmental awareness through community engagement, partnerships and climate action initiatives.

Together, these actions demonstrate the Council’s commitment to delivering meaningful climate action, reducing its environmental impact and supporting the transition to a more sustainable and resilient future for residents, businesses and communities.

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