Bedford Borough Council to take Steps Towards Carbon Neutrality as it Joins the Declaration of a ‘Climate Emergency’

- Mayor's Executive to identify actions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030

- Report Recommends Joining Other Public Bodies in Declaring a 'Climate Emergency'

- Mayor Dave determined to maintain remarkable record on energy saving, which has seen carbon emissions across council's buildings fall by 53%

Bedford Borough Council is set to carry out work to identify how it can achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. The move is proposed in a report to be considered by Mayor Dave Hodgson's Executive on Tuesday March 5th. The report also recommends that the Council joins other local authorities in declaring a 'climate emergency' due to the urgent need for action on a national and international scale to tackle climate change.

Bedford Borough Council has a remarkable record on climate change and energy conservation, with carbon emissions down by a stunning 53% across Council buildings. The wide array of measures taken have included the installation of 8 'solar arrays' at Council buildings, the new hydropower facility on the River Great Ouse in Bedford and an award-winning evaporative cooling system for the Council's data centre.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "Saving energy and cutting our carbon emissions has always been a clear priority for us, and that's why we've achieved such dramatic results. However, we want to go even further in saving energy, cutting our bills and reducing our impact on the environment."

"Carbon neutrality is an ambitious aim, but so was our target of cutting our emissions by 40% and we've not only met that but gone well beyond it."

The proposals to be considered at the March 5th Executive also include a commitment to continue the council's drive for greater efficiency and sustainability, recognition of the whole Council's responsibility to tackle climate change, a pledge to work with other councils and encourage them to declare a Climate Emergency and a commitment to work with MPs to call on parliament to provide Bedford Borough and other councils with the powers and resources to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.