The City of London Corporation cut carbon emissions within its “scope of influence” more than any other local authority in the UK between 2005 and 2023.
Government data published earlier this month indicated the corporation oversaw a 74% drop, with the largest contributor being the reduction of emissions from its commercial electricity sector.
However the City recorded the highest emissions per capita in 2023, due to its large commercial sector compared with its small resident population.
Deputy Chris Hayward, policy chairman at the City of London, said the corporation was “proud to be playing our part in shaping a greener, healthier future for London and beyond”.
The data, which assessed local and regional greenhouse gas statistics, noted a decrease in emissions in the City of London for public sector electricity and gas.
And when assessing emissions “within the scope of influence of local authorities” between 2005 and 2023, which removes inputs such as motorways and certain land use changes, the City saw the largest percentage decrease of 74%.
It also recorded a 59% decrease in emissions in the transport sector over the same period.
However it recorded one of the largest percentage hikes for overall emissions between 2022 and 2023 at 16%. This was due to higher landfill emissions, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
Paul Lincoln, from resident-led cycling project Imagine Golden Lane at Net Zero, said the data on commercial emissions was good news.
“It is important that it now focuses on emissions from its residential properties by improving insulation and double glazing across all of the estates that it owns and manages,” he said.
Izzy Romilly, sustainable transport manager at climate charity Possible, said 96% of journeys in the City of London were taken by public transport, walking or cycling.
“Going forward, we’ve got to see councils across the UK going further and faster to unpick car dependency,” she said.
Mr Hayward said the data represented the corporation’s “long-term commitment to bold climate action”.
He added that the City of London Corporation had cut emissions in its own operations by 65% since 2018-19.