The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT) has already announced strong progress within its Carbon Leadership Programme, that was launched earlier this year to help local highway authorities measure and reduce their carbon emissions.

Supported by the Department for Transport (DfT) and developed and delivered by Proving Services in partnership with ADEPT, the programme provides a standardised framework for assessing and managing carbon emissions from local road maintenance and construction activities.

Since its launch in June, the first eight participating authorities have now submitted their completed baseline and best practice workbooks, with draft reports currently in production. Review and certification meetings are scheduled over the coming weeks, marking an important milestone in the programme’s first phase.

To support further participation, and in answer to demand for spaces in upcoming cohorts, ADEPT has also announced two new training webinar sessions for local authorities on 20 January and 27 January 2026. These sessions will provide guidance on the assessment process, reporting requirements and how to integrate the findings into local carbon reduction strategies. 

The Carbon Leadership Programme is the first initiative of its kind to offer a consistent approach for local authorities to quantify emissions across the highways sector. It allows councils to identify the main sources of carbon within their operations, benchmark performance and plan practical actions to reduce emissions.

Hannah Bartram, Chief Executive Officer of ADEPT, said:

It’s fantastic to see the first authorities completing their assessments and moving into the reporting and certification stage. This demonstrates how quickly the sector can take practical steps towards reducing its carbon footprint when given the right tools and support.

“The Carbon Leadership Programme is helping local highway authorities turn ambition into action, providing a clear framework based on evidence for reducing emissions and driving sustainable change.

Simon Wilson, Director of Proving Services, added:

The engagement from authorities so far has been excellent. These first submissions represent a significant step forward in developing a robust national picture of carbon in highways services. The certification process will ensure consistent, credible reporting that supports both local and national decarbonisation goals.

The Carbon Leadership Programme builds on research undertaken by Proving Services on behalf of the Future Highways Research Group (FHRG) and further refined through ADEPT’s Live Labs 2: Decarbonising Local Roads programme.

The initiative supports the DfT’s commitment to equipping local authorities with the evidence and tools needed to accelerate the highways sector’s reduction of carbon emissions.

For more information on the Carbon Leadership Programme, including details of upcoming webinars and how to get involved, visit the Carbon Leadership Programme information page or the Carbon Leadership FAQs.