The document “City wide domestic and behavioural change carbon action plan” was produced by the City Council in conjunction with The Energy Saving Trust local authority one-to-one support programme and published in March 2010.

It begins

Vision

We at Coventry City Council recognise the impact on global climate from carbon dioxide emissions arising from our energy related activities. We recognise the need to urgently reduce our carbon dioxide emissions to sustainable and equitable levels in line with national energy and climate change targets to actually make a positive contribution ourselves, but also to show genuine leadership to strategic partners and the people.

This action plan outlines additional actions, to those specified within the Climate Change Strategy for Coventry, which Coventry City Council will take in order to make a positive and real contribution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. We will work, with the Energy Saving Trust and others, to deliver, monitor and update the actions outlined in this action plan, with the aim of achieving a sustainable level of carbon dioxide emissions from across the City.

At that time Coventry had a Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Housing and Sustainability. That function no longer exists.

It also had the Coventry City Climate Change Strategy. That strategy has not been updated since 2008.

Aim of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Action Plan

To develop a strategic approach to the work the Council takes in order to realise reductions in area-wide carbon emissions, with the Council central to facilitating all activities. The action plan encompasses both the Council’s internal organisational activities and the crucial role of Council as community leader, partner to all.

Having been through the Energy Saving Trust’s benchmarking process (a stage in the wider One-to-one support programme – see full report) the Council aims to improve its current benchmark performance across three broad areas: strategic approach; service delivery; community leadership.

It is not clear where these 3 aims stand at present, but community leadership currently seems to lack the required energy.

The city also produced a Carbon Management Plan (CMP) in 2010 which was revised in 2014, the city having failed to meets its aspirational targets. Nevertheless the revised version stated that

Coventry City Council is determined to lead the city to a sustainable and low-carbon future that will ensure that residents, visitors and businesses choose Coventry as a preferred location in which to live, work and invest. However a sustainable and low carbon future won’t happen by chance, it will require a concerted effort by those organisations that influence energy consumption and resource use in Coventry.

The City Council has a duty to lead by example.

The document promised that

The CMP will constantly evolve, and by means of an annual, formal evaluation of its success, will improve its effectiveness and ensure relevance as the Council adapts to internal and external pressures and leads the way in achieving a sustainable and low carbon future.