We actively track and measure our sustainability progress and share results openly - so our community can see real impact and hold us accountable.
The council’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have reduced by 43% (2025-26) since first measured in 2018-19. Reductions in GHGs are from:
- building decarbonisation
- sale of buildings
- LEDs on all our streetlights
- part of our fleet moving to electric alternatives.
We regularly report to Cabinet Panel on our carbon reductions. The latest data is:
HCC yearly carbon operational emissions scope 1, 2 and 3 since 2018-19
| Year | tCO2e emitted | % CO2e reduced |
|---|
| 2018-19 |
17,801
|
0
|
|---|
| 2019-20 |
16,483
|
7
|
|---|
| 2020-21 |
13,771
|
23
|
|---|
| 2021-22 |
12,234
|
31
|
|---|
| 2022-23 |
11,010
|
38
|
|---|
| 2023-24 |
11,027
|
38
|
|---|
| 2024-25 |
10,671
|
40
|
|---|
| 2025-26 |
10,094
|
43
|
|---|
HCC Carbon emission measurement approach
HCC follows the GHG protocol to define its scope 1,2 and 3 as follow:
- Scope 1 includes emissions from gas used in HCC owned and managed buildings, as well as emissions from the HCC owned and managed fleet (petrol and diesel use).
- Scope 2 includes all electricity paid for by the Council for owned and self-managed buildings, owned street furniture, and any owned and managed electric vehicles.
- Scope 3 includes mandated transmission and distribution losses (T&D losses) from all electricity consumed via the grid.
To measure and report on its carbon emissions, HCC uses the Local Partnership carbon accounting tool - Greenhouse gas accounting tool - Local Partnerships
All projects that need to be approved by Cabinet within the council, use our Sustainability and Equality Evaluation Decision Support (SEEDS) tool.
SEEDS is a key part of our sustainability and resilience strategy, helping teams embed climate-conscious decision-making into everyday work.
SEEDS aims to support cross-cutting decision making from the earliest possible opportunity, focused around 6 question areas:
- Biodiversity and Environment
- Built Environment
- Equality and Diversity
- Healthy Places
- • Waste, emissions and procurement
- • Movement.
The framework enables officers and elected members to take a holistic approach to decision-making, incorporating guidance, links, and an automatically generated RAG (Red, Amber, Green) rated report which can be attached to any panel paper or department report.
SEEDS is mandatory for all Cabinet panel decisions, and we are continuing to expand the use across all department for all relevant projects, strategies and programmes for all business-as-usual decision making within departments.