Key Council Climate Updates

Councillors will be updated on progress made in two key Council Climate plans for the city next week.

The first update report focuses on Dundee’s Net Zero Transition Plan 2024-2030 and shows that the Council has reduced its total carbon emissions by around four percent in the last reporting year of 2024/25 and a total reduction of 55% since reporting began.

This decrease has been driven largely by a reduction in energy use across Council buildings and improvements to fleet performance. Other progress has been made through efficiencies to operations and action taken on buildings, transport, waste, procurement, climate resilience and community engagement.

Secondly, the city’s Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy annual progress report will also update Councillors on the initial steps being taken to decarbonise heat in buildings, improve overall energy efficiency and reduce fuel poverty.

Key achievements have included strengthening partnership working with Registered Social Landlords through the Dundee Social Housing Net Zero Forum, as well as continued partnership working with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), the National Energy System Operator (NESO), NHS Tayside, the city’s universities and third sector organisations.

Significant progress has also been made in advancing heat network development studies supported by external funding to undertake technical and delivery model appraisal.

It has been noted that barriers remain to delivery, consistent with many Scottish local authorities, which highlight the importance of sustained funding, alignment of national programmes, and continued partnership working in order to enable delivery at pace and scale.

Climate, Net Zero & Environment Committee Convener Cllr Heather Anderson said: “The scale of the challenge facing us all is considerable and these strategies play an important role in guiding us towards our long-term sustainable goals.

“In the last year, progress has been made through the publishing of key documents such as the Local Area Energy Plan, the ongoing expansion of electric fleet vehicles, the completion of the Green Transport Hub and more community-led climate action through the Dundee Climate Fund.

“In order to achieve Net Zero and continue this momentum, the Council remains committed to the ongoing exploration of funding opportunities to support the implementation of future key large-scale actions.”

Both reports will be considered by Councillors at Dundee City Council’s Monday 20^th April meeting of the Climate, Net Zero & Environment Committee.