Council says its carbon emissions dropped 2.9 per cent last year

Powys County Council’s carbon emissions dropped by 2.9 per cent last year, and the authority has saved £277,000 by putting solar panels on its buildings.

At a meeting of the council’s Liberal Democrat/Labour cabinet on Tuesday, September 22, senior councillors received the net zero annual report for 2025, which explains the work being conducted by the council to address the climate and nature emergency declarations made by councillors.

Cabinet member for climate change and environmental matters, Cllr Jackie Charlton (Liberal Democrat – Llangattock and Llangynidr), said: “I’m really pleased to present the report that shows how Powys Council is monitoring progress towards net zero and nature recovery, highlights practical examples of action already being taken and makes clear where we need to go further.

“The report reminds us that the impacts of climate change are here to stay.

“Our communities are seeing this through flooding, drought and wildfires, which is why it’s important we monitor our progress openly, report on it clearly and keep turning our commitment into annual actions.

“We can give the public assurance that the council is actively working to reduce carbon, protect and restore nature, and prepare our services and communities for more extreme weather.”

Cllr Charlton asked cabinet to note the progress so far and support the priorities for the future and “continue putting climate resilience and nature recovery at the heart of our decisions”.

Council leader Cllr Jake Berriman (Liberal Democrat – Llandrindod North) asked: “What are we doing to promote the findings of this report? It says so many important things.”

He wanted to know how the council would “share” the report so that individuals and community councils could get “behind” the council’s net zero ambitions.

Cllr Charlton said that a communications strategy had been included with the report.

“At the moment, it’s focussed internally,” said Cllr Charlton.

She believed that council staff and teachers could “take a powerful” message out into the community based on the report.

Cabinet then agreed the report.

The highlights in the report show that the council’s carbon emissions have dropped by 2.9 per cent from the figures in 2023/24.

The council has also conducted an energy-saving project by installing PV solar panels on buildings including County Hall in Llandrindod Wells and Ladywell House in Newtown, which has shaved £277,000 from the authority’s energy bill.

The report also says that, by August 2025, a total of 819 council properties had been upgraded with insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, smart controls and domestic battery storage systems. This work continues at an average rate of 25 a month.

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service