Taken together, these measures reflect a wider shift towards a more coordinated, programme-led approach to climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience, following the direction agreed by council in March 2026.

Councillor Kate Willis, chair of Highland Council’s Climate Change Committee, said: “We are making steady progress in delivering our Net Zero Programme, and this work reflects our commitment to a more joined-up approach across the council.

“By improving how we measure and manage emissions, embedding Net Zero into investment decisions, and working more closely across services and partners, we can support well-informed decision-making, attract funding and deliver meaningful benefits for communities across the Highlands.”

A key focus of the next phase of work is improving how the council measures and manages carbon emissions. Members welcomed a proposed approach to introduce a centralised system to bring together emissions data across council operations, buildings, fleet and supply chains. This includes emissions linked to the goods and services the council buys, helping to ensure that action to reduce emissions goes beyond its own operations.

Benefits will include:

• More accurate, efficient and transparent reporting
• Better forecasting and scenario planning
• Stronger links between carbon data and investment decisions
• A more robust evidence base to support funding applications

This work also supports the council’s Social Value Charter, helping to ensure procurement activity delivers wider community wealth building benefits alongside emissions reduction.

The council is also making progress in embedding net zero principles into its capital programme and investment decisions.

A recent pilot has helped identify how the carbon impact of projects can be better understood across their full lifespan, from construction through to operation. This will help ensure the long-term impact of projects on emissions is considered alongside cost when making decisions about major investments.

The council has secured significant external funding to support its Net Zero ambitions, totalling in the region of £23.3 million during 2025/26. This includes:

• £16.4m to deliver energy efficiency improvements to 722 domestic properties
• £948,000 invested through the Salix Recycling Fund supporting energy efficiency improvements
• Over £5.6m secured for delivery in 2026/27, including funding for low-emission transport and energy efficiency projects

Work is also underway to develop a coordinated pipeline of projects, helping the council plan ahead, attract further funding and deliver more projects across Highland.