Miller Research, commissioned by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) as part of their Transition and Recovery Support Programme, collaborated with Cylchog to provide support to Local Authorities in Wales as they work towards achieving a net-zero public sector by 2030.

This ambitious target, first introduced in Net Zero Wales, recognises the unique position of the public sector to influence emissions and demonstrates that government in Wales is attempting to show the way through everyday actions, policy, and purchases. However, achieving a net zero public sector by 2030 will require radical transitions in the functioning of Local Authorities. Across Wales Councils are balancing the need for such transitions with challenges in maintaining and enhancing service delivery standards within budgetary constraints against a background of rising material and energy costs, increasing vulnerability, and ongoing uncertainty over future funding.

Public procurement is a key instrument for driving innovation, it supports existing low-carbon solutions in the market and creates ‘lead’ markets where government demand is significant. With Local Authorities in Wales spending approximately £4bn a year, embedding sustainable procurement practice presents a key opportunity to inspire change.

While procurement has a role in the decarbonisation of all Local Authority activities, including scope 1 and 2 emission sources linked to Authorities’ own estates and internal operations, supply chain emissions currently account for approximately 75 per cent of Local Authority emissions.

The project involved a comprehensive desk-based review of procurement practices and policy within Wales and internationally and qualitative engagement with the WLGA, Welsh Government Public Sector Decarbonisation, Welsh Government Commercial Policy, the National Procurement Network, the Welsh Government Public Sector Spend Reporting Tool (Atamis), and Local Authority Heads of Service, Procurement Leads, Climate Change Officers, and Reporting Leads.

The project delivered a detailed report and toolkit to support Local Authorities progress towards the net-zero 2030 ambition for public sector Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services.

Our report provides practical recommendations and insights for short and longer term action from the Welsh Government, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), and Local Authorities to drive forward decarbonisation through procurement. It outlines strategies for leveraging the buying power of Local Authorities to increase demand for low-carbon goods and services, encourage data collection from suppliers, and reduce carbon in new and existing contracts. The accompanying toolkit provides support and resources to support sustainable procurement practices in Wales and was delivered alongside training to support its role out by Local Authority officers.

You can read the full report and access the toolkit here: https://www.wlga.wales/resources-%E2%80%93-procurement

For more information on the research, please contact Dom at Dom@miller-research.co.uk