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Our net zero journey
We are committed to reaching net zero - but we want to be honest about the challenges involved and the steps we are taking to get there. This page explains where we are now, what we have learned, and what we plan to do next.
Related resources
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OIC Net Zero Transition Executive Summary
This document contains an executive summary of Aether’s assessment of Orkney Islands Council’s route to net zero. It sets out a 2023-24 emissions baseline of about 25,411 tonnes, models future reductions, and finds that planned action alone would cut emissions by 29% by 2045. It identifies ferries and other marine services, buildings, and transport as top priorities, while noting that remaining emissions may need local nature-based projects or future carbon removal technologies. It also recommends faster action and stronger climate planning across the Council.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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OIC Net Zero Transition Full Report
This document contains Aether’s final report for Orkney Islands Council on moving towards net zero. It sets out the Council’s 2023-24 greenhouse gas emissions baseline, future pathways to 2045 and the likely effect of planned and additional action. It identifies marine services, buildings and road transport as the main priorities, alongside waste reduction and renewable energy. It also examines costs, wider benefits, governance needs and local nature-based or engineered solutions for emissions that remain.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
Our emissions today
An independent study by Aether Ltd, commissioned in 2024, found that our total emissions in 2023-24 were approximately 25,411 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The biggest single source is our ferry, tug and harbour craft fleet, which accounts for around 48% of our total. This is unusual for a local authority, but reflects the fact that we operate our own ferry network serving Orkney's island communities. Buildings, including schools, offices and care facilities, account for around 25%, with public transport and fleet vehicles making up most of the remainder.
Why our 2030 target has changed
In 2023 we set an ambition to be on course for net zero by 2030. Following the independent study, it has become clear that this is not achievable. The main reason is our ferry fleet. Zero-emission vessels are not yet commercially available, and with new tugs already procured and ferry replacements under way, some emissions are effectively locked in for the lifespan of those assets, typically 25 to 30 years.
We want to be transparent about this. Rather than keep a target we know we cannot meet, we are aligning with Scotland's national net zero target of 2045 - the same goal that the Scottish Government adopted after the UK Climate Change Committee advised that 2030 was unrealistic at a national level.
Our ambition
Revising the target does not mean reducing our ambition. Our Policy and Resources Committee has agreed to pursue the highest ambition scenario identified in the study, Scenario 3, which aims for a 99% reduction in emissions by 2045. This means fully decarbonising our buildings and land vehicles by 2035, and all ferries, tugs and aircraft by 2045, with any remaining emissions offset through nature-based solutions such as peatland restoration.
Crucially, we are also committing to front-load emissions reductions where the technology already exists - for example in building heating and electric vehicles - rather than waiting for 2045.
Nature-based solutions
Nature-based carbon solutions, such as peatland restoration and appropriate tree planting, have an important role to play in offsetting any residual emissions we cannot eliminate by 2045. Some peatland restoration is already under way in Orkney by other organisations. Given the timescales involved, we need to explore these opportunities sooner rather than later, and national funding sources are available to support them.
What it will cost
The study provides cost estimates to help us plan, seek funding and make the case to national government. For our ferry and marine services, the full replacement cost is estimated at £308-447 million, though much of this would be incurred regardless of net zero, as vessels reach the end of their working lives. In areas like buildings, the net cost of decarbonisation is clearer, and many measures will reduce running costs over time through lower energy bills.
We have already secured over £1 million in external funding for net zero-related projects in the current financial year, and significant national and UK funding is expected to be available to support organisations through the transition.
The challenges we face
We want to be open about the risks. Zero-emission ferries and aircraft are not yet commercially available and may not be ready in time. Funding gaps remain, and some recent asset purchases lock in fossil fuel use for decades. We also need strong leadership across the organisation and the officer capacity to drive projects forward.
Despite these challenges, we are clear that inaction is not an option - both because of our legal duties and because the cost of failing to act on climate change far outweighs the cost of the transition itself.
What happens next
Our Infrastructure and Organisational Development teams are working with directorates to develop a detailed programme and action plan based on the study's recommendations. Progress will be reported to committee in July 2026, and an initial climate change mitigation delivery plan is due to be presented in November 2026.