An ambitious target for Devon County Council to be carbon neutral by 2030 has been set by the authority’s cabinet.

Councillors have agreed to revise the authority's energy and carbon strategy in response to the climate emergency.

The county council's carbon footprint has already fallen by almost 40 per cent since 2012/13 - and it is likely to reach the authority's original target of a 50 per cent reduction next year, nine years earlier than planned.

The authority will now aim to reach a seven per cent reduction by 2030. The remainder of the carbon footprint will be offset at levels which will gradually increase to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.

This will initially be achieved through government-approved tree planting schemes.

Councillor Roger Croad, cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: "We're making great strides in reducing the carbon footprint of the county council and it has reduced much more rapidly since 2012/13 than we had originally envisaged. As we are likely to achieve our 2030 target next year it's a positive step to set an even more ambitious goal of being carbon neutral in the next 10 years."

The county council will reduce its carbon emissions by improving the energy efficiency of county council buildings, installing solar panels on Devon County Council assets and buying renewable energy direct from new solar power projects in Devon.

It also plans to install in-car technology in county council-owned vehicles and school transport contract vehicles to encourage more efficient driving and reduce emissions. The aim is for 50 per cent of the authority's vehicle fleet and 100 per cent of school transport contract vehicles with fewer than eight seats to be converted to electric vehicles by 2030.

Councillors approved recommendations to engage with contracted providers of goods and services commissioned by the county council, to ensure its supply chain is carbon neutral by 2030.

This would start initially as a pilot scheme with the ten highest-value contract providers to develop an approach that can then be adopted by other contractors.

The county council retained its existing target to source 30% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030.