Cambridgeshire Constabulary recognises that, as a large employer in the county and a community leader, we have a responsibility to address our carbon footprint. Therefore, we have made a commitment to achieving this through the Carbon Management Plan, together with the Carbon Trust. This document sets out our baseline carbon footprint, targets for its reduction and identifies the projects which will help us to achieve the target.

One of the main incentives for the constabulary to reduce its CO2 emissions is to become more efficient in using its resources and reducing their associated costs. All police forces are facing significant budget cuts and the projects in this plan will help to reduce our organisational running costs. In addition, it is predicted that fuel and energy costs will rise dramatically over the coming years and this programme will help to offset these rising costs.

The baseline for the Carbon Management Plan refers back to 2009/10 when Cambridgeshire Constabulary was responsible for the emission of 8,941 tonnes of CO2, costing the organisation £2.8 million. The two main sources of CO2 from the force are energy use in the constabulary-owned buildings which account for 61% of the baseline (blue sections in the chart below) and fuel consumption from fleet vehicles which accounts for 36% (red section on chart below). Fuel consumption from business mileage in staff-owned vehicles is also included in the programme, although the associated emissions only account for only 3% of the baseline (orange section).

Cambridgeshire Constabulary has committed to working towards the carbon reduction targets outlined below. Over 30 projects have been devised which will get the organisation 91% of the way towards achieving these targets.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary will reduce CO2 emissions from its operations by 30% by March 31, 2015 (from 2009/10 levels)

The constabulary will also aspire to an intermediate target of a 15% reduction in CO2 by March 31, 2012

If the constabulary continues on a ‘business as usual’ trend, the carbon emissions and costs would increase steadily over the next five years and we could incur additional costs of £2.8m by 2015. However, if all the projects in this plan are implemented, the constabulary could reach its target scenario and reduce its carbon footprint to 6,256 tonnes CO2.

Total investment needed for all projects in this programme is around £1.1m, with a total payback of less than two years. Annual savings by year five of the project will be over £600,000.

Some projects within the Carbon Management Plan have already started or are completed. These include installing energy efficient lighting inside and outside certain sites, improving boiler controls and settings, implementing a staff awareness campaign and improving the ICT equipment for more efficient models.

Related documents

Carbon Management Plan