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Local government performance framework

NI 186 – Per capita reduction in 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.

Statistics

Definitive data representing Emissions of carbon dioxide for local authority areas (Microsoft Excel format 922 KB) during 2006 for every Local Authority (NUTS4) and Government Office (NUTS1) are now available.

A revised version of the 2005 dataset has also been published alongside the 2006 data.  Improvements to the way the data are produced (see “How the figures are calculated” below) mean we have had to revise the 2005 figures to make them comparable with the new methods used to calculate the 2006 figures.  The 2005 and 2006 data are consistent and comparable with one another allowing change to be monitored over time. 

How the figures are calculated

The data are based upon LA CO2 estimates produced by AEA technology on behalf of Defra.  These National Statistics estimate all emissions in an area and have been modified slightly for this indicator to exclude certain emissions such as those from Motorways.  The document below gives a short accessible explanation of how the emissions are modelled, and also explains which emissions are then excluded from the National Statistics to produce the figures used to monitor this indicator (i.e. the figures downloadable from the “Statistics” section above).

Revisions to the 2005 data

In order to ensure there is a consistent time series, production of the 2006 figures has included revising the 2005 baseline values.  In most cases, these revisions are very minor.  Nevertheless, it is these most recent values that are now to be used for the indicator. 

Previously released figures for emissions in 2005 include the original release in 2007 and revised figures in spring 2008.  The revised figures released in spring 2008 used Office for National Statistics 2005 mid-year population estimates instead of 2001 Census data when converting total emissions in each area into a per capita figure.  It is these figures users may recognise as those referenced when setting targets against their 2005 baseline.

Please note that procedures relating to the use and publication of National Statistics require that the statistics page on the Defra website is free from policy content, including links to policy pages of the website.

Supplementary Guidance and FAQ

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.

Further information
  • Priorities agreed in each LAA, can be found on the CLG website.
  • 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: 8 April 2009

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs