Two-thirds of local authorities in England are not confident they will meet net-zero targets by 2050, new freedom of information (FOI) requests have revealed.
Research released by energy technology experts Schneider Electric indicates that many local authorities in England are making progress towards net-zero targets by retrofitting buildings, investing in renewable energy and electrifying infrastructure.
The findings are based on FOI responses from 199 councils and show that 95% have improved the energy efficiency of existing buildings. A further 83% have electrified infrastructure such as EV charging points, buildings and heating systems, while 82% have invested in renewable technologies. In addition, 61% are using real-time energy monitoring to identify cost savings and improve performance.
Despite this progress, two-thirds of councils are not confident they will meet net-zero targets by 2050. Budget constraints were cited as the most significant barrier by 79% of respondents. Technology challenges (37%) and skills shortages (33%) were also identified as obstacles, although 89% reported receiving external funding support in the past three years.
