HEREFORDSHIRE Council leaders have agreed to reduce the local authority’s carbon emissions by 75% by 2026.

The council declared a climate emergency in March last year and unanimously resolved to call on the executive to produce a successor to their carbon management plan which runs from 2019 to 2023.

This is the third carbon management plan and builds on strong momentum reducing the council’s organisational carbon emissions.

The council’s second carbon management plan achieved its target of a 40% reduction on baseline two years early.

This latest plan sets out their aspiration to become carbon neutral by 2030 it will be made up of two separate five year plans.

Environment, economy and skills cabinet member Ellie Chowns said: “I’m really delighted to be presenting this.

“Our new council plan for the next five years to put us on track to be zero carbon council by 2030 in line with our commitments and our declaration of climate emergency last year.

“And I want to pay tribute to the work of colleagues, both officers and members of the previous administration for all that they did to push forward this agenda.

“The plan includes a whole range of activities such as supporting schools and academies generating renewable energy with behaviour change.

“Working very closely with our partners and contractors such as Halo and Balfour Beatty.

“Purchasing 100% renewable energy for our buildings, I’m really pleased that we’ve made that shift already.

“Investing in further energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across all of our estate.

“A big continued focus on sustainable and active travel and that ties in very nicely with our better ways of working agenda and the changes that have been forced on us by the Covid crisis.”