Wirral Council's progress on climate emergency 'slowing'

An update to Wirral Council’s Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee confirmed the authority is still aiming to reach net zero by 2030, though emissions reductions in 2023-24 and 2024-25 have fallen short of targets.

Councillor Liz Grey, chair of the committee, said: "The Environment, Climate Emergency Action Plan report is full of really good, positive stuff and I’d particularly like to emphasise the work done with the Eco Schools programme.

"It is really interesting to read about how much work is being done by the young people engaged with the programme and how well informed they are; there are people who have been with the programme right the way through their education and are now leaving school so well informed about the environment thanks to this work that has been ongoing for quite some time now.

"We now have 66 Green Flag schools, which is amazing and should be celebrated, as should the fact that 25 out of only 41 schools nationally who have achieved Hedgehog Friendly Campus status are in Wirral."

The council declared a climate emergency in July 2019 and exceeded its annual targets for the first three years.

However, a recent report says progress has plateaued as the ‘low-cost, quick-win’ actions have been completed, leaving more complex and expensive changes still to be made.

These include switching council buildings and vehicles from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

The committee also reviewed the Environment and Climate Emergency Action Plan, which outlines steps for the coming year, including improving energy efficiency in council buildings, expanding heat networks, and continuing to purchase green electricity.

The council has secured two rounds of Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding to support these efforts.

The first round in 2024 secured £900,000 for work already underway at Wirral Country Park and Landican Cemetery, with completion expected by March 31, 2026.

A second, larger allocation of £13.75m, part of a Liverpool City Region bid, will be used to decarbonise nine additional council buildings.

Both reports were approved by the committee and highlight the council’s ongoing efforts to meet its climate commitments despite growing challenges.