Case summary

• Glasgow City Council (GCC) has set ambitious goals of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

• Working closely with Mott MacDonald and ClimateView, the City translated its high-level climate goals into quantified, data-driven targets and actions to achieve these outcomes across a range of sectors.

• Based on this data gathering and analysis, the GCC has developed two pathways to support future decision-making and investment planning – both supported by the ClimateView Platform and the Transition Element Framework.

The power of data leads to stronger decisions

In order to make significant inroads in their emission reduction ambitions, the GCC knew the focus should be on four distinct areas: Energy, Heat, Transport and Waste, which make up 95% of Scope 1 and 2 emissions. The City had already established an ambitious set of policies and actions across various sectors to achieve their net zero goals and have achieved some good results. The GCC identified, however, that it lacked a science-based approach to setting targets and planning across sectors, and a need for greater visibility of how the City will be able to deliver on its goals, and the costs and responsibilities of doing so. This need led to the commissioning of the study ultimately delivered by Mott MacDonald and ClimateView.

Through detailed existing policy and programme reviews, GCC stakeholder engagement and cross sectoral workshops and data analysis, the Mott MacDonald and ClimateView team utilised ClimateView’s ClimateOS platform to demonstrate the scale and impact of the necessary cross sectoral actions required. The study demonstrated that to achieve the City’s ambitious 2030 goal, a significant acceleration of actions and investment would be required. The extent of sequestration to overcome remaining emissions following active infrastructure interventions was also scaled, with two key ‘pathway’ scenarios presented for the GCC’s consideration. Ultimately, Mott MacDonald created "An Integrated Net Zero Routemap for Glasgow" report, supported by insights from the ClimateView Platform, which is enabling the GCC to drive a progressive approach to infrastructure investment decision-making, and establishing third party active involvement and investment planning needs.

The use of the ClimateView platform and Transition Elements, enabling live dynamic scenario planning with key City Council and specialist personnel, helped the GCC to understand the scale of ambition required within each sector, and how each sector’s actions influence others i.e. the impact of a significant shift to electric vehicles and electrified heating on the City’s electrical infrastructure. The Platform and Transition Element approach also illustrated to the GCC the extent of control and responsibility its own actions and investment will have in meeting their goals by 2030 and the extent of stakeholders in both the public and private sector that will be required to adopt a progressive approach to decarbonisation projects and investment.

A proactive approach to reduce emissions

The GCC has retained its ambitions and this study has provided two data-based pathways that will take the City closer to its net zero targets once actionable goals start to be implemented.

By working with the ClimateView platform and Transition Elements, local officials have a Routemap with clear actionable recommendations that will enable Glasgow to focus on activity shifts that would be as cost-effective as possible, and maximise impact. This means accelerating district heating project plans, for example, and promoting less energy-intensive travel methods.

Social and environmental benefits of decarbonisation projects have also been identified and tracked within the Platform, helping to drive a business case in investment which is multi-faceted in benefit outcomes (i.e. quantifying air quality impacts and potential job creation alongside carbon reduction outcomes).

In creating the Routemap, theoretical intentions were supported by meaningful conversations across the GCC’s specialist teams, to provide confidence that this active approach will seek to place investments in the right areas and lead to a transition with a shared ownership, essential to achieving success.

Transition technology for areas worldwide

The approach undertaken by Mott MacDonald and through the ClimateView Platform enables cities and regions to design structured transition plans, refine targets, and develop strategies that accelerate sustainable progress, that will ultimately improve residents' quality of life.

"I am very excited about the fact that we now have a dynamic platform that isn’t just a snapshot in time, but a live, living, breathing tool that will continue to evolve with our needs." said Gavin Slater, Head of Sustainability at Glasgow City Council.