Emissions overview and carbon offset
Scope 1
Scope 1 emissions were 103.7 tCO2e in 2024/25, a fall of 6% from the 2019/2020 baseline. Scope 1 accounted for 3.6% of total emissions from the council estate and operations in 2024/25. In other words, emissions from gas used for heating the council’s offices and emissions from TMBC’s own vehicles were greater than emissions from electricity use (Scope 2), but much less than the indirect emissions of Scope 3.
Gas consumption for heating produces the majority of Scope 1 emissions, and remain broadly equivalent to baseline gas emissions. Emissions from TMBC owned vehicles continue to fall with the introduction of further electric vehicles for parking enforcement. Emissions from TMBC vehicles were 58% lower than the baseline in 2024/25, and fell by 21% year on year from 2023/24.
Scope 2
Scope 2 emissions were 109.6 tCO2e in 2024/25. This is higher than electricity emissions last year, but still a fall of 45% from the baseline year. One reason for higher consumption in the past year may be the increased use of electric vehicles (see Scope 1). However, as TMBC is on a renewable generation electricity tariff, these emissions are accounted as zero for net emissions.
Scope 2 contributed only 3.1% to TMBC’s total gross emissions, although these emissions only come from one source: electricity at TMBC sites.
Scope 3
Scope 3 emissions totalled 3,349.6 tCO2e in 2024/25, which is 2.5% higher than the 2019/20 baseline. However, this small rise in reported figures may also be due to some data issues and lower readings during the baseline year. The leisure facilities are the largest emitters on the council’s estate and operations but, for example, during the 2019 baseline year Larkfield Leisure Centre was partially closed for roofing and maintenance works, providing an unusually low gas use reading for that year. Additionally, the Leisure Trust took on management for Leybourne Lakes Country Park in
November 2021, such that electricity use figures for this site are not reflected in baseline totals. As such it is reasonable to assume that Scope 3 emissions are broadly equivalent to their levels in the baseline year, with the latest reporting year 2024/25 offering a more accurate picture of emissions. Leisure facilities remain the most significant contributor to total and to Scope 3 emissions, producing 2,078.6 tCO2e in 2024/25, or 62% of the Scope 3 total. Refuse collection vehicles were the second largest source of total and Scope 3 emissions, producing 1,091.6 tCO2e, accounting for a third (33%) of the Scope 3 total. Emissions from Refuse Collection Vehicles are 3% higher in 2024/25 than in the previous year, perhaps due to meeting additional demand from increasing number of households.
Staff commuting by car or van was the third largest source of Scope 3 emissions, producing 118.5 tCO2e or 4% of the Scope 3 total. Other sources produced less than 1% of Scope 3 emissions, including business travel (20.4 tCO2e) and the Grounds Maintenance contract (30 tCO2e). Water supply and treatment, and transmissions and distribution losses accounted for 0.3% of Scope 3 emissions.
Carbon offsets
TMBC continued its renewable electricity tariff. Therefore, emissions associated from electricity consumption are 0 tCO2e for reporting purposes. However, for clarity, and to highlight the emissions impact of energy consumption, we report on gross emissions (without the renewable tariff) and net emissions, which considers the tariff. This approach is highlighted in the emissions breakdown section on page 4.
TMBC’s net emissions are reported as the final net emissions figure for the corresponding fiscal year. Therefore, for 2024 / 2025, TMBC’s net total emissions are reported as 3,479.2 tCO2e.
Significant emissions and consumption changes
As in previous years, the largest changes from baseline are due to the introduction of electric vehicles for parking enforcement, and changes in working patterns that have significantly reduced utilities use and commuting emissions. The reduction in electricity (Scope 2) emissions is significant at 45% lower than baseline, over and above reductions due to increasing use of renewables for supply from the National Grid. As noted in sections 7.1 and 7.2, the switch to electric vehicles has reduced Scope 1 vehicle emissions significantly from the baseline and year-on-year, while increasingly electricity use at the offices. However, this remains an overall improvement in emissions, particularly with the use of renewable energy supply.
Although emissions from commuting by car or van are 66% lower than the baseline in 2024/25, they have risen by 3% to 118.5 tCO2e since 2023/24. This may reflect further changes in working patterns, with more people travelling into the office more frequently, as there has also been a positive shift towards hybrid and electric vehicle ownership by staff. Conversely, the council seems to have retained the reduction in business travel that followed the COVID pandemic, with emissions falling for a fifth year in a row to 20.4 tCO2e, although there is likely some under-claiming of business travel. Emissions from home-working in 2024/25 have not been calculated.
Emissions from the largest emitting sources, leisure facilities and Refuse Collection Vehicles, remain high and, as noted above, are both increasingly slightly year-on-year. Emissions from leisure facilities rose 11% in 2024/25 compared to the previous year, although data issues and seasonal variability should be taken into account. Due to the investments in solar panels, a heat pump at Larkfield
Leisure Centre, due to be installed in 2025, and other energy efficiency measures, this source of emissions should start to come down.
Largest emitting sources
- Leisure facilities (2,078.6 tCO2e)
- Refuse collection vehicles fuel (1,091.6 tCO2e)
- Gas consumption at council offices (124 tCO2e)
- Commuting by car or van (118.5 tCO2e)