Flintshire county GHG emissions

Flintshire county has seen an overall reduction in GHG emissions since 2005 as shown in Figure 6. The emissions during this time have had periods of increase specifically around 2011/12 and 2017/18.

Figure 7 provides a further breakdown of the emission sources that contribute to the County’s overall GHG emissions from 2014-2018*.  Largest contributors to this footprint are large industrial installations and road transport. There are significant industrial areas in the county including Deeside, and the heavily used coast road also runs the length of the county.

Flintshire County Council is responsible for approximately 3% of the County’s GHG emissions.

There are a number of actions that can be taken by the Council to reduce GHG emissions from the wider county. Through its leadership role, the Council can steer and influence as well as inspire individual and collective action and responsibility. Many actions such as rolling out electric vehicle charging infrastructure require a joined up, common approach which can only be brought about through joint working across boundaries.

However, collaboration and partnership working will be vital as many GHG emission sources lie outside of the Council’s control and will therefore require cross sector input.

These are the actions within the key themes that do not contribute to our direct carbon footprint but that we can deliver in order to engage, influence and empower others.

We are reducing our energy consumption and emissions from homes and businesses in Flintshire by promoting energy efficiency measures, sustainable construction, renewable energy source, and behaviour change.

• Developing plans for the decarbonisation of Council homes in line with Welsh Government guidance to ensure optimised thermal efficiency and minimised cost of heating
• Supporting Town & Community Councils to reduce operation’s emissions and engaging with our building users to encourage positive behaviour change
• Continuing to deliver programmes with private households and local businesses to reduce fuel poverty and provide access to wider energy efficiency and renewable energy schemes.
• Providing support through Flood Risk Planning to businesses and households to better implement property flood resilience.

• Reducing emissions from transport by promoting sustainable transport, reducing car travel and traffic congestion, and encouraging behaviour change
• Promoting use of public transport, active travel, and further develop the Council’s walking and cycling network
• Promoting multi-modal transport journeys and the development of strategic transport hubs. Improve access to storage, charging and hiring facilities.
• Investigating further opportunities for reducing car use with consideration for local contexts and accessibility through ultra-low emission areas, car free zones and pedestrianised streets.
• Working with partners to enable greener fleet in the public transport sector (buses, rail, taxis) including Council contracted services such as school transport.

• Supporting other landowners and the community to utilise green spaces and maximise carbon absorption.
• Working with Tenant farmers to share best practice on sustainable farming and increasing carbon absorption
• Exploring best practice policies and encourage provision of space for community food growing in new developments and vacant and under used sites
• Undertaking a land use strategy to ensure land is managed and protected for green infrastructure, decarbonisation and biodiversity benefit.
• Working with Tenant farmers to share best practice on sustainable farming, increasing carbon absorption and biodiversity value.
• Working with communities to increase biodiversity value and carbon storage
• Identifying opportunities to acquire new Council land for the purpose of carbon sequestration and biodiversity enhancement.

• Supporting Council services, residents and businesses to adapt to the impacts of climate change
• Investigating the possibility of divesting pensions and other investment portfolios away from fossil fuels in support of green energy.
• Facilitating community events and activities to raise awareness of climate change and how to reduce carbon footprints.