Newark and Sherwood District Council has reduced its corporate carbon emissions by 12% over the past year, taking another significant step towards its ambitious target of becoming Net Zero by 2035. The Council's latest annual carbon emissions update shows emissions fell to 2,542.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) during 2025/26, continuing a clear downward trend and reflecting the impact of a growing programme of climate action across the organisation.
Through its Carbon Programme, the Council is delivering a range of projects to reduce emissions, increase renewable energy generation and embed climate considerations into service delivery and decision making. This work is supported by strong governance arrangements, with the Council recently receiving Substantial Assurance from Internal Audit for its approach to managing and monitoring progress towards its Net Zero 2035 commitment.
Solar generation across the Council's estate increased significantly during 2025/26, rising from 84,921 kWh to more than 360,000 kWh as additional solar PV installations came online at sites including Newark Sports and Fitness Centre and Alexander Lodge. The four-fold increase in solar electricity generated and used on site is helping to reduce reliance on grid electricity and support long-term emissions reductions.
The Council has also continued to invest in improving the energy efficiency of its housing stock, securing £5.5 million in funding over two years to support retrofit and energy efficiency improvements to council homes. Alongside this, Alexander Lodge, the Council's low-carbon temporary accommodation scheme, generated more than 67,000 kWh of renewable electricity during its first full year of operation (delivering estimated carbon savings of around 15 tCO₂e annually) while continuing to provide safe, modern accommodation for local households.
Biodiversity remains an important part of the Council's climate programme. During 2025/26, approximately 110,000 trees were planted across Newark and Sherwood through a combination of Council, partner and externally funded schemes, helping to enhance biodiversity, increase carbon capture and improve climate resilience across the district.
The Council is also reducing emissions through its day-to-day operations, including increasing the use of electric vehicles and equipment, improving service efficiency through route optimisation technology and exploring lower-carbon alternatives to diesel for its fleet.
Community engagement is also playing an important role in the Council's climate ambitions. Through the Green Rewards scheme, more than 700 households have completed over 66,000 low-carbon actions, contributing to estimated carbon savings of 157 tonnes of CO₂e while encouraging residents to make more sustainable choices in their day-to-day lives.
The Council's progress has also attracted recognition beyond the district. Earlier this year, Newark and Sherwood District Council was shortlisted for Green Council of the Year at the Political Purpose Awards for its climate and environmental work. Alexander Lodge has also been shortlisted for external recognition for its sustainable design and delivery, highlighting how innovative low-carbon development can deliver environmental benefits alongside high-quality accommodation for local people.
Councillor Paul Peacock, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said:
Reducing our carbon emissions by a further 12% is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates the progress we are making towards our ambitious Net Zero 2035 target. This reduction is the result of continued investment and action across a wide range of projects, from expanding renewable energy generation and delivering solar PV schemes to improving the energy efficiency of our homes, planting thousands of trees and increasing the use of lower-carbon technologies across our services. We're seeing the benefits of embedding climate action into everything we do, whether that's investing in low-carbon developments such as Alexander Lodge, supporting residents through retrofit programmes or encouraging more sustainable behaviours through initiatives such as Green Rewards. Tackling climate change requires a long-term commitment, and we remain focused on taking practical steps that reduce our environmental impact while delivering benefits for residents and future generations. While there is still more to do, we are continuing to build momentum and are committed to creating a greener and more sustainable future for Newark and Sherwood.
The Council's climate programme continues to support the transition to a low-carbon future through a range of projects and initiatives. Alongside the work already underway, future priorities include decarbonising the Council's operational fleet, increasing the use of low-carbon technologies and fuels, delivering further energy efficiency improvements, expanding renewable energy generation and progressing projects linked to sustainable transport and biodiversity.
The Council remains committed to achieving Net Zero by 2035 and will continue to embed climate considerations into decision making, service planning and project delivery. By maintaining momentum and investing in practical carbon reduction measures, the authority aims to play its part in creating a more sustainable future for Newark and Sherwood.