MEETING climate change targets in Dorset is likely to become increasingly difficult – according to a report reviewing progress so far.

While gains have been made by Dorset Council, many of these were only possible because of multi-million pound Government funding, which has now been reduced.

Some areas have already ‘slipped’ with national greenhouse gas emissions having increased by 6% in what is described as “a post-Covid rebound.”

A council report, to be considered on Tuesday this week, says the three most significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Dorset are transport (29%), agriculture (33%) and from households (22%).

The council itself has seen its own emissions reduce by 27 per cent, compared to its baseline year of 2019, mainly through reducing energy use in its buildings and fuel use for its fleet of vehicles.

Said the report to the Place and Resources Scrutiny committee to take place at County Hall on: “We have achieved much over the year, however as we proceed our trajectory will likely get more difficult – and it will take significant effort to reach our next interim operational target and to get our county-wide trajectory back on target.

"Achieving this will require (a) increasing the pace and scale of our activity; (b) delivering ‘smarter’ by giving greater definition to our pathways and targets; and (c) strengthening our facilitation work by working more closely with our communities.”

To help the process along the council says it has recently recruited four members of staff to its ‘sustainability team’ and is aiming to recruit another two. A director-level post was appointed in the previous year.

The report warns that, given the high level of public interest in the climate change agenda, not to continue to report on progress should be considered potentially damaging to the council’s reputation.

“The publication of this report is in line with commitments made and shows a significant level of progress; but notes that there remains a need for increased urgency and further progress.

"In addition, the impacts of climate change pose a significant risk to council services and budgets and the wider Dorset area in the medium and long-term. Failure to effectively address the climate and ecological emergency and resilience will increase the risks associated with climate change.”