Local government performance framework
NI 186 – Per capita CO2 emissions in the LA area
Action by local authorities will be critical to the achievement of the Government’s climate change objectives. Local authorities are uniquely placed to provide vision and leadership to local communities by raising awareness and to influence behaviour change. In addition, through their powers and responsibilities (housing, planning, local transport and powers to promote well-being) and by working with their Local Strategic Partnership, LAs can have significant influence over emissions in their local areas.
The indicator relies on centrally produced statistics to measure end user CO2 emissions in the Local Area from:
- Business and Public Sector,
- Domestic housing, and
- Road transport
This data is already captured and analysed to produce area by area carbon emissions per capita. Analysis carried out by AEA Energy and Environment has confirmed that the data available for the construction of this local area Climate Change Indicator are sufficiently robust with relatively low levels of uncertainty.
The percentage reduction in CO2 per capita in each LA will be reported annually. The statistics for 2005, the most recent data available, will be used as the baseline from which performance improvements will be measured.
Defra’s full publication of the experimental statistics of carbon dioxide emissions for Local Authority (NUTS4) and Government Office Region (NUTS1) areas for the year 2005, published on 20 November 2007, underpins NI186.
- 2005 Main Report (PDF 2.2 MB)
- 2005 Main Report spreadsheet (Excel 550 KB)
The main report and data tables were produced on behalf of Defra by AEA Energy and Environment.
The full statistical release and supporting documents can be found elsewhere on the Defra website. Data for subsequent years, along with the NI186 performance data, will also be published here in the same location as the 2005 data.
Supplementary Guidance and FAQ
- A supplementary guidance note and FAQ (PDF 90 KB) has been developed to support the Technical Definition of NI 186.
- Defra commissioned a research project (PDF 1.5 MB) to inform the development of its proposal for the community climate change performance indicator. This project examined the sources of emissions that could be included in an indicator to monitor reductions in emissions from a local authority area and the levels of uncertainties in the current statistics on Local Authority emission estimates. It provided estimates of CO2 savings which local authorities could expect to achieve by 2010 and 2020.
- 2004 figures emissions tool (Excel 1 MB)
- In addition, the figures were updated for 2005 (Excel 1 MB)
Further Information
- The Energy Measures Report, published on 18 September 2007, sets out the steps that local authorities can take to improve energy efficiency, increase the levels of microgeneration and low carbon technologies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and reduce the number of households living in fuel poverty.
- The report was a requirement of the Climate change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006. The Act also requires that Local authorities ‘have regard’ to the report when exercising their functions.
- The Energy Saving Trust’s remit covers sustainable energy in housing and transport, and its Practical Help service (0870 241 2089, practicalhelp@est.org.uk) is a dedicated service for local authorities that offers a range of information on sustainable energy: Energy Saving Trust – Housing & Buildings
- The Nottingham Declaration Action Pack can be found at: The Nottingham Declaration – Action Pack
Page published: 10 April 2008