Headlines

Scope 1 (direct) emissions are broadly unchanged since 2023/24.

• An overall 5% reduction since 2015/16 is driven primarily by an 8% net decrease in gas consumption.
• Warmer winters, combined with increasing public sector estate rationalisation and decarbonisation, have contributed to reduced heating demand.
• Natural gas use is still the largest source of total reported emissions (25%) and represents 72% of scope 1 emissions.
• Fleet, which accounts for 20% of scope 1 emissions and 7% of total emissions, increased by 2% since 2023/24 and by 8% since 2015/16. This is despite some evidence of growing fleet decarbonisation.

Scope 2 (indirect) emissions reduced by 7% since 2023/24 and by 63% since 2015/16.

• Due mainly to decarbonisation of the UK electricity grid, however, consumption has decreased by nearly 15% in the last decade, due to energy efficiency measures and installation of renewable electricity infrastructure on the public estate, specifically solar panels.

Scope 3 (indirect) emissions present a more complex pattern.

• More bodies reporting additional emission sources and improvements in reporting methodologies.
• Following pronounced increases in recent years, procurement emissions were only 2% higher and commuting emissions were 2% lower when compared to 2023/24 (Neither emissions source was reported to any material degree prior to 2019/20).
• Although both sources are significantly under-reported, they account for one third of total emissions.
• Reported procurement emissions rank second overall contributing 24% of total emissions.