Moray Council reports over 40% emissions reduction as climate strategy update signals shift in Net Zero targets
Moray Council has published its 2025 update to the Climate Change Plan and Routemap to Net Zero, revealing significant progress in reducing carbon emissions across its operations. The report highlights a 40% reduction in recorded emissions since the baseline year of 2017/18, driven by strategic investment and coordinated action across key sectors.
While the headline is positive news, it has also reported carbon emissions arising from the council’s fleet and property are proving difficult to reduce at pace. This underlines a need for accelerated action and resources if the council is to meet its net zero targets.
The council’s Climate Change Strategy 2020–2030 outlines its commitment to mitigating emissions, enhancing community resilience, and embedding sustainability throughout its services. This year’s update provides a comprehensive overview of performance during the 2023/24 financial year, including detailed emissions data and a revised pathway to net zero.
Key achievements include:
- Waste emissions cut by 65%: the operationalisation of the NESS Energy from Waste facility has significantly reduced emissions from municipal waste, diverting non-recyclable waste from landfill and generating electricity and heat.
- Fleet emissions down 12%: a milder winter and increased use of electric vehicles contributed to a notable reduction in diesel usage.
- LED lighting upgrades: energy-efficient lighting replacements at key council sites have saved approximately 140 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
- Solar energy growth: council-owned solar PV installations generated over 51,000 kWh of renewable electricity, a 24% increase on the previous year.
Despite these successes, the report acknowledges that emissions from building heating and fleet operations remain stubbornly high, and that the council’s original target of achieving net zero by 2030 is no longer viable. A revised Climate Change Strategy, due in September 2025, will adopt sector-specific decarbonisation targets aligned with national goals, including a backstop date of 2045.
To accelerate progress, the council is prioritising decarbonising fleet and buildings through the Zero Emission Fleet Replacement Strategy and Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES); Securing external funding, including bids to the Scottish Government’s £500m North East Just Transition Fund and Salix funding for retrofit projects; enhancing biodiversity and nature-based solutions via the Moray Nature Network and forthcoming Biodiversity Strategy; improving climate adaptation readiness, including local climate impact profiling and embedding adaptation planning in the updated strategy.
The council is also strengthening its governance and capacity, with a new Senior Project Officer appointed to lead delivery of priority projects.
Moray Council Leader, Cllr Kathleen Robertson spoke after the update to full council: “Moray Council recognises that climate change and biodiversity loss are interconnected challenges requiring urgent and sustained action. The upcoming strategy update will provide a renewed framework to meet statutory obligations, support community wellbeing, and ensure a just transition for Moray’s residents and economy. We all have our part to play in reducing climate emissions to secure a sustainable future for Moray and we’re adapting our efforts to reflect the changing climate landscape.”