A progress report on the local authority’s carbon reduction initiatives highlighted the success of an HVO pilot scheme which saw the council switch from traditional fuels to HVO for 80% of its fuel use.

The scheme helped the council reduce its fleet emissions by 1,207 tonnes – the equivalent to driving over 2.7 million miles.

HVO is produced from 100% sustainable renewable waste feedstocks and is a drop-in replacement for other fuels.

According to the progress report, the pilot project has indicated that HVO has the potential to reduce carbon emissions in the fleet by almost 90%.

Hampshire County Council’s executive member for Climate Change and Sustainability, Cllr Jan Warwick, welcomed the report: ‘Without doubt, the recent heatwave has heightened in our consciousness, the urgent need to combat climate change.

‘I am extremely impressed to see how much has been achieved in the first year of our Climate Change programme, particularly having declared this year the Year of Climate Resilience, and I am really encouraged by this report.’