Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director Net Zero Exeter & City Management.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

(1)   note the Devon Carbon Plan;

(2)   reflecton the implications for the City of Exeter’s goal of a Net Zero Exeter 2030, given the Devon Carbon Plan target for Net Zero being 2050, in-line with Government’s goal for the country. Transport being one of the largest sources of carbon emissions for the City and County, the consequences of reductions to Net Zero by 2030 were profound and Members may wish to satisfy themselves that the 2050 goal provided a supportive policy context for the city of Exeter’s Net Zero plans:

(3)   agree to continue working in collaboration with the Devon Climate Emergency Partnership in reducing county carbon emissions;

(4)   agree that Exeter City Council led projects on the implementation of the Devon Carbon Plan be scrutinised by Exeter City Council’s Strategic Scrutiny Committee;

(5)   request that a biannual update be presented to the Strategic Scrutiny Committee on the progress made in delivering the Devon Carbon Plan;

(6)   reflect and discuss the ambition of the Devon Carbon Plan and how it relates to the ambition of a clean growth region;

(7)   request that Devon County Council, identify Exeter as an early innovation zone or test bed for net zero initiatives; and

(8)   request that an all-Member Briefing/Scrutiny be arranged with presentations provided from Devon County Council.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report and amended at the meeting.

The Executive received the report of the recently released Devon Carbon Plan, which had been produced by the Devon Climate Emergency Partnership. The report outlined the work of the Devon Climate Emergency Partnership in researching and producing the Devon Carbon Plan. The report highlighted the two Net Zero target dates of 2030 for Exeter City Council and 2050 for Devon County Council and the impact on achieving the target. The report highlighted that transport was the third largest emitter of carbon emissions in the region and the importance of working with Devon County Council as the transport authority to align the work.

The Leader moved for the following additional recommendation to be included:-

·        To request that Devon County Council identify Exeter as an early innovation zone or test bed for net zero initiatives.

It was explained that the reason for the additional recommendation was that the 2050 County target for Net Zero was a challenge. Exeter City Council had already been undertaking implementation work with a focus on practical actions and interventions which had highlighted the expertise available in the area on delivering the Net Zero target. If Devon County were to identify Exeter as an Innovation Zone for Net Zero, the expertise available in the City could assist the County 2050 target and also help advance the City Council 2030 target.

The Leader confirmed Exeter City Council would continue to work to the established target for Net Zero 2030 and highlighted that the Devon Carbon Plan was Devon County Councils’ plan.

Emily Reed, (Climate Emergency Project Manager) from the Devon Climate Emergency Partnership was in attendance and provided a presentation on the Devon Carbon Plan. Particular points raised during the presentation included:-

·        The Devon Climate Emergency Partnership was established in 2019, and included a broad range of partners, which included all local authorities in Devon, third sector and private organisations.

·        The Partnership had committed to working to reduce carbon emissions to Net Zero by 2050 at the latest, despite some partners having earlier target dates. The Partnership was also working to improve the resilience of Devon’s environment and prepare communities for living in a warmer world.

·        The Net Zero task force was formed of 15 specialists and chaired by Patrick Devine-Wright from the University of Exeter to develop the Devon Carbon Plan, which was a strategic county wide plan.

·        The Devon Carbon Plan was developed through an open call for evidence with 893 submissions received, a Youth Parliament meeting with 75 representatives from schools across Devon and thematic hearings to bring expertise to address the themes and create the Interim Devon Carbon Plan. Public consultations were also undertaken to form the final plan.

·        There were eight objectives outlined in the Devon Carbon Plan, which included minimised energy consumption and phasing out fossil fuels.

·        Key themes included changing behaviours and encouraging community engagement, sharing knowledge and skills, accessing finance and additional resources.

·        Energy supply options included using less energy, moving to renewable energy and developing a means to capture unavoidable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 112