Climate Change Committee welcomes progress in Highland Council's Net Zero Programme

At a 28 January meeting the Climate Change Committee welcomed progress across the Net Zero Programme, with fleet rationalisation removing 34 vehicles since January 2025 and migration of EV chargers to EZO on track for completion by April 2026.

Members of Highland Council's Climate Change Committee met on 28 January to review delivery across the Council's Net Zero Programme. Updates covered the Sustainable Travel and Built Estate & Energy workstreams. Members welcomed reported progress in reducing emissions, improving operational efficiency and aligning asset decisions with Net Zero goals. Councillor Kate Willis highlighted practical changes in fleet, buildings and assets that the Committee said strengthen resilience and make better use of public resources. Key updates: - At the 28 January meeting Members received updates on the Sustainable Travel and Built Estate & Energy workstreams. - Fleet rationalisation work has resulted in the removal of 34 vehicles from the Council fleet since January 2025. - Migration of EV charging points from Charge Place Scotland to EZO is progressing as part of the North of Scotland EV charging partnership and is reported to be on track for completion by April 2026, with new locations identified for future expansion. - A pilot trial is underway to assess hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as a lower-carbon fuel using a public bus and a refuse collection vehicle; findings are expected to inform recommendations on scalability and wider fleet use. - More than 200 non-domestic Council properties have been surveyed to identify practical pathways to Net Zero, with priority given to energy-intensive assets such as schools and leisure centres. - The Housing & Property Committee approved a Strategic Asset Management Plan that places sustainability and climate resilience at the centre of asset decision making, and the Committee agreed to recommend four additional projects for inclusion in the Net Zero Programme, including work to embed Net Zero principles into Highland Investment Plan Community Points of Delivery projects; proposed Net Zero and Sustainability Design Standards will be brought to Members for approval. Summary: The Committee reported continued, practical progress across a range of projects aimed at cutting emissions and improving operational efficiency while aligning capital plans with Net Zero aims. Next steps reported include completion of the EV charger migration by April 2026, review of the HVO trial results to inform recommendations on wider adoption, and formal consideration of the proposed Net Zero and Sustainability Design Standards by Council Members.