The financial year 2019/20 was chosen as the baseline year as it was the most readily available data set following the Council’s climate emergency declaration. The Borough data is published with a two-year time lag therefore 2019 is the most recent dataset for the Borough as a whole.
Choosing 2019/20 as the baseline year also predates the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic. As with most organisations COVID-19 had a significant impact upon our activities, due to people working from home, events and meetings cancelled and closure of our offices and leisure centres etc. This would mean our baseline carbon footprint would be artificially low. Using 2019/20 will also allow us to see the impact of the pandemic and associated changes in working practices on our footprint going forwards.
