The total carbon emissions reported by local authorities in our table is 7,142,996 t/CO2.
If a similar quantity is reported next year, the total cost of carbon allowances will be £85.7million at £12/t.
The total reported by all 2103 participants in the league table is 61,168,143 t/CO2, costing £734million next year at £12/t.
The local authority spend is therefore just 11.7% of the total – but amidst the current spending cuts, it’s a large sum to find for most councils. Birmingham City Council will be the largest local authority contributor paying around £1.2million, but there are more than 50 councils facing a carbon bill of more than half a million pounds next year.