A new carbon management plan is aiming to make a 15 per cent reduction in emissions by 2023 after Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet gave its approval last week.

The plan will see the council changing street lighting to more efficient LED, investing in energy efficient council vehicles, improving heating systems in the council’s schools and looking at biomass district heating schemes in the county, along with improved solar panels and general efficiency work on its buildings.

The scheme sets out an action plan for reducing carbon emissions over the next five years.

This is the third five-year carbon management plan to be carried out by the council.

Cllr Alun Williams, the council’s sustainability champion, said: “The council has reduced its carbon emissions by 45 per cent since 2007/8, a reduction of over 7,000 tons of CO2.

“This is a huge achievement but, with continued concern being expressed by the world’s scientists about climate change, it’s important that we continue to push ahead with this work.

“The council has invested £2.1m in renewable energy and energy-saving initiatives over the last five years.

“This has resulted in cumulative cost savings of £4.2m, demonstrating that, as well as helping the planet, these initiatives can also save a considerable amount of money which can help to maintain council services during this time of austerity.”

The Cabinet decision to approve the carbon management plan helps the council meet a corporate priority of promoting environmental and community resilience.