East Dunbartonshire Council has agreed a number of new early actions to support the transition to net zero emissions across its services and the continued reduction of its carbon footprint.

The Council previously agreed, ahead of the UN Climate Summit in Glasgow at the end of last year, that it would produce a Climate Action Plan, which will be finalised in 2023. That Climate Action Plan is being developed, with a draft due for consideration towards the end of 2022 with a full consultation on that draft in early Spring 2023. In advance of the Climate Action Plan being finalised, there was unanimous agreement on a number of early actions.

Chief Executive Gerry Cornes said: "The Council has already made significant progress in reducing its carbon footprint, with a 52% reduction since 2012/13. This has primarily been achieved through transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables for heat and energy, encouraging recycling and diverting waste from landfill, improving energy efficiency in our buildings and reducing the number of buildings we need to operate.

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"However, to meet net zero emissions in line with Scottish Government targets there needs to be a further step change. This latest Council decision agrees to actions in our own buildings, our Council housing stock, our fleet and environmental improvements – all delivering carbon reduction and sustainability benefits."

Over 60% of the Council's carbon footprint is related to emissions from buildings, 22% related to waste, and 11% related to fleet and measures are being implemented to address these. In addition to the development of the Climate Action Plan and associated Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy, the further measures include:

• A strategy for decarbonising Council buildings

• A study on zero or low carbon solutions for the replacement Balmuildy Primary and Lenzie Academy buildings

• Preparation of a fleet decarbonisation plan, building on the electric vehicles already introduced

• Feasibility to reduce waste and carbon emissions from road building and maintenance

• River restoration, peatland restoration and tree planting opportunities across East Dunbartonshire

Progress on the Climate Action Plan, its delivery milestones, and the achievement of these early action commitments will be reported to future meetings of Council.