Find out about the district's carbon emissions
About carbon emissions
When humans extract, refine, transport, and burn fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil, we release extra carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.
Every year the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) releases local authority area estimates for carbon dioxide emissions (CO2). We'll review this data on an annual basis to report on how our district's emissions have changed.
District emissions reports
You can also view the 2017/18 update report and 2005-2017 comparison report.
BEIS data sets always detail local authority emissions data two year prior to the current date. For instance, the data set released in 2021, details local authority emissions data for the year 2019.
2019 emissions changes
Emissions for 2019 have changed from previous releases, with all historical data to 2005 being updated because of improved methodology. The most significant change can be observed in the LULUCF sector, which is now the largest emitting sector.
The revised methodology accounts for a historical change in LULUCF emissions of over 600% from previous estimates.
It’s important to stress that the now larger recorded emissions from LULUCF have always been there. They are now only just being accounted for due to the much-improved calculation and estimation methodology.
LULUCF emissions in our district are mainly from the cropland subsector, which is the lowland drained peat, from our fenlands. These areas of land were drained hundreds of years ago, prior to our knowledge and understanding of the drained peatlands effects on climate change.
LULUCF emissions from our peatlands are not from our agricultural processes. These are accounted for in the Industry sector. LULUCF emissions from cropland are solely emissions from the natural process by which the peat oxidises and releases emissions.
Our actions to tackle district emissions
The council published its strategy and action plan in 2021, which highlights its approach to tackling corporate emissions and emissions from the district.
The council has the biggest scope of influence over the domestic emissions sector.
Actions to tackle emissions from the district include, but aren’t limited to:
- Development of a Norfolk Climate Change Partnership (NCCP) bid to the community renewal fund for a hydrogen transport and community energy feasibility studies.
- Take forward EV Charging network work through the NCCP.
- Green Homes Grant LAD1a,1b&2 work.
- Dedicated local plan climate change policy.
- Delivery of MEES projects / enforcement.
- Investigating district heating options for the district.
- Promotion of resident carbon reduction measures on our website.
- Monitor publication of government peat strategy.
- Engagement with the NFU.
You can also read our strategy and action plan to see the full suite of actions the council will be undertaking to reduce emissions from its activities and from across the district.
View our strategy and action plan
Further information
The reports and links below provide some further information and data about the district’s emissions:
- Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Local Authority Emissions Data
- New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership/University of East Anglia Scoping Study 2019
- Carbon Dioxide Emissions in west Norfolk - analysis and recommendations
- PowerPoint - Overview of 2017 district emissions
- PowerPoint - Overview of the 2018 district emissions