The council has set out how it aims to tackle the climate emergency over the next five years.

After committing to ‘lead by example’ in achieving a carbon neutral Reading by 2030 in February 2019, the council approved its first climate emergency strategy last night.

Reading has achieved a fall of 52 per cent in ‘per capita’ carbon emissions since 2005, the fourth largest reduction of any local authority area in the country.

READ MORE: Climate emergency declared in Reading with aim to eliminate carbon emissions by 2030

But councillor Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s lead member for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said "there remains much to be done” to reach the council’s net zero carbon target by 2030.

He said the pandemic has presented additional challenges, by reducing public transport use, but has also shown how global issues can be tackled by working in partnership locally.

Cllr Page said the Climate Emergency Strategy will give Reading “a strong framework on which to work” and RBC will continue its leadership role by setting ambitious targets for the town and council, securing funds and engaging with the community.

But he warned: The strategy will only be successful if it is supported by a wide range of Reading’s local businesses, our vibrant community and voluntary sector, our further and higher educational institutions and the many important national and international companies who have their HQs here.

“I hope they will all step up and play their part in delivering Reading’s most ambitious climate strategy.”

The council also approved a new carbon plan for the council to reach an 85 per cent reduction in emissions between 2008 and 2025.

The strategies were unanimously approved at last night’s Policy Committee (November 2).

Neither of the plans set out how Reading could go carbon neutral by 2030 although some plans include targets beyond 2025.

Reading’s Climate Emergency Strategy

The Reading Climate Emergency Strategy 2020-25 sets out plans over the next five years to work towards achieving a net zero carbon Reading by 2030.

The strategy focuses on reducing Reading’s carbon footprint by:

  • Retrofitting existing buildings and building new homes to zero carbon standards
  • Generating 10 or 15 times more energy from renewable sources
  • Reducing transport emissions by encouraging walking, cycling, public transport and a switch to electric vehicles
  • Using natural solutions like tree-planting to absorb carbon dioxide

Transport plans include a clean air zone or workplace parking levy, increasing the amount of people cycling by four per cent, and increasing the number of electric vehicle charging points in the town.

Green Party councillor Rob White Cllr Rob White said he does not agree with everything in the strategy but called it “a good foundation”.

He said 4,000 homes per year need to be insulated in Reading and the council needs to be more ambitious with cycling targets.

Cllr Page responded, saying cycling targets can only be increased when the council knows how many resources it is being given by the government – with tranche 2 of the active travel funding having been “woefully delayed”.

READ MORE: Council announces plans for phase two of Active Travel Bid

Lib Dem councillor Ricky Duveen suggested the council should set up its own energy company and said retrofitting all old housing stock should be a priority, also calling for more ambitious tree planting.

Cllr Page criticised the suggestion of setting up a council-owned energy company given the failures of Bristol City Council and Nottingham Council’s energy companies, while he said retrofitting needed government support because of the scale of resources required.

You can read the strategy here, which will be officially launched as part of Reading Climate Festival, a week of online events and activities from November 9-15.

The council’s own carbon-cutting plan

Councillors also approved a new carbon plan (https://democracy.reading.gov.uk/documents/s14715/Appendix%203%20Carbon%20Plan.pdf) for the next five years, setting out RBC’s plans to work towards becoming net zero by 2030.

The council has cut its own carbon footprint by 62.5 per cent since 2008/09, saving £11 million in energy costs.

As well as aiming for an 85 per cent reduction in emissions from 2008 to 2025, the council also wants to:

  • Generate 50 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2025
  • Reduce its use of fossil fuels by 50 per cent by 2025
  • Achieve a five per cent reduction in water use each year from 2020 to 2025