MAKING progress, but could do better.

That’s the verdict on the efforts of Winchester City Council in cutting gas emissions over the last decade.

A report by Winchester Action on Climate Change highlights that Winchester’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased over the decade 2005-2015.

The report, the seventh, produced each year for WinACC, analysed official energy and emissions data.

It offers some good news but highlights the need for concerted action to keep the district’s future emissions on target.

In 2009, in a bid to reduce the district’s carbon dioxide emissions, the former Winchester District Strategic Partnership set a target of a 30 per cent reduction by 2015, relative to 2004 levels.

Recently available Government data for 2015 show that Winchester’s emissions in 2015 reduced significantly, but ended up greater than the target figure by 6.5 per cent (or 79,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide).

However, allowing for the growing population of the district, up 11 per cent since 2004, the target was exceeded on a per capita basis by just 0.8 per cent.

However, it will be a challenge to meet the current target of a 40 per cent reduction by 2020 (compared to 2004) adopted by Winchester City Council in April 2015.

Tom Brenan, WinACC executive director, said: “This latest report give some good news but it also demonstrates that there is much work still to do. Winchester district’s total greenhouse gas emissions will need to reduce by a considerable amount each year to meet the current target. WinACC looks forward to working closely with residents, businesses and policy-makers to help achieve a lower carbon future.”

Two key areas are commercial electricity and road transport:

l Commercial electricity consumption actually increased over the decade. But because of the closure across the UK of many relatively ‘dirty’ coal-burning power stations and their replacement by sources of renewable energy, electricity emissions from the commercial sector decreased although by less than in adjacent local authorities, and even other parts of the UK.

l Fuel consumption by, and emissions from, road vehicles barely decreased over the decade because the number of goods vehicles increased by over 14 per cent since 2009.

Win ACC says that while the data in the report, compiled by by Prof Bob Whitmarsh, reflect the national picture, local actions will play a key part in determining the outcome.

The report concludes that commercial organisations should be encouraged to reduce their electricity consumption and home owners and others to replace old, inefficient central heating boilers and improve building insulation. Planning applications for renewable energy developments should also continue to be supported wherever possible.

The forthcoming Movement Strategy for Winchester, commissioned by the county council, gives an opportunity to promote lower-carbon vehicles and better infrastructure, including more public transport, walking and cycling.

A council spokesman said: “We have introduced measures to help reduce its carbon footprint and improve the air quality.

“The council has also incorporated a commitment tackling harmful emissions within the Council Strategy 2017-20. Our Air Quality Action Plan was published earlier this year and targets a reduction in emissions from delivery vehicles and new parking charges to limit diesel and high-polluting petrol cars.”

, reduce emissions from lorries, buses and council owned vehicles.

“The council aims to put in place requirements to integrate air quality fully into the planning process and also encourage people to use park and ride facilities.

“Examples of the council making carbon savings include replacing old heating systems in housing with more efficient modern ones, improving insulation and educating tenants about the most effective way to manage heating.”

Cllr Jan Warwick, council’s portfolio holder for environment, said: “We work with and listens to WinACC, and look at new ways of making the Winchester and the wider district a greener, cleaner environment to live and work in.”