The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero publishes data on the emissions of each local authority area. The current data ranges from 2005 to 2021. The data is released with a delay of around 2 years, so the 2022 data is not expected to be available until spring or summer 2024.
This data comes from activities taking place and the energy we’re using. This includes emissions from:
- houses
- vehicles
- shops
- offices
- farms
- industry
It doesn’t reflect emissions taking place elsewhere from the goods and services we consume (aside from energy).
Transport and domestic heating account for a large proportion of our area emissions footprint.
The graph below shows the change in emissions from 2005 to 2021. Significant reductions can be seen in the borough between 2005 and 2020. The increase after 2021 is due to pandemic restrictions lifting.
Bracknell Forest Council’s emissions
The emissions of individual organisations can be broken down as follows:
- Scope 1 emissions - direct emissions released from buildings or vehicles we own or manage (for example, from burning gas in our boilers and fuel in our vehicles)
- Scope 2 emissions - emissions released elsewhere to generate the energy we use (primarily electricity)
- Scope 3 emissions - all other emissions released elsewhere as an indirect result of our activities
We currently measure our scope 1 and 2 emissions, as well as emissions from our water use which fall under scope 3 in line with the methodology set out by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The chart below shows these emissions have been falling over the last few years.
However, we know that the rest of our scope 3 emissions are likely to be much larger. Key sources include:
- emissions from services we outsource such as social care and waste disposal
- emissions caused by the products and services we purchase
- emissions from buildings we lease to others
- emissions from staff travel and commuting
- emissions linked to our investments
Measuring and reducing our scope 3 emissions is one of our key aims for the next 4 years.