Fife Council hits target for reduction in carbon emissions

The local authority's environmental strategy officer, Hayley Williamson, told a committee on Thursday that the council had exceeded expectations, having been given a target of a 56% reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from 1996 levels by 2020.

In all, the council was directly responsible for 55,784 tonnes of CO2 emissions between April 2019 and March 2020, a drop of 11% from the previous year and the sixth year in a row that the local authority cut its carbon footprint.

The drop in emissions has been attributed to, among other factors, eco-friendly street lights, the Glenrothes Energy Network district heating project and more energy efficient buildings.

It is estimated that the Glenrothes project - which uses the heat from a nearby biomass plant to provide hot water to homes and businesses - saved the equivalent of 209 medium-sized homes' annual gas usage last year.

However, like other local authorities in Scotland, Fife Council is expected to reduce its CO2 emissions to 'net-zero' - where it is either not creating or offsetting all of its CO2 emissions - by 2045.

In her report to the council's environment and protective services sub-committee, Ms Williamson said: "The impacts of Covid-19 this year will have a significant impact on how Fife Council addresses the climate emergency.

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"Fife Council has met its initial target for carbon reduction but recognise the continued challenge to meet the longer-term ambitions for becoming net zero."

Meanwhile, two areas of the Kingdom which suffer from especially poor air quality are set to have restrictions lifted in light of recent improvements.

Bonnygate in Cupar and Dunfermline's Appin Crescent are both currently designated as Air Quality Management Areas.

That is because they are either close to, or exceeding, legal limits of both nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate emissions.

However, measurements in both streets have shown the emissions have dropped to safer levels, meaning the labels can be rescinded.

Committee convener Cllr Ross Vettraino (SNP, Glenrothes Central and Thornton) said: "This is a good news report."

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