Emissions from Cherwell District Council's facilities have risen - despite a target to cut the amount by 4.2%.
According to the latest figures, its emissions total went from 4,071 tonnes of CO2e in 2022/23 to 4,119 tonnes of CO2e in 2023/24.
The authority said it was "committed" to doing more to tackle the problem.
It added the rise was down to more visitors to its leisure centres, and an increase in the carbon intensity of the UK electricity grid, among other factors.
A council report said the "main reason" was related to decarbonisation equipment installed previously "not realising reductions in gas demand", particularly at leisure centres.
The council has announced that four leisure centres are set to go undergo further eco-friendly enhancement works, after receiving a government grant worth £1.1m.
A spokesperson said: "Work is ongoing to optimise the technology that supports the decarbonisation programme across the council, such as air source heat pumps, installed at council leisure centres so that it can reach its full potential and help us reduce our reliance on gas heating.
"Contributing factors that can be aligned to the increase in emissions include: the need to complete the optimisation of the technology; a welcome increase of around 4% in visitors to our leisure centres; the fact that we are for the first time reporting emissions linked to water supply, water treatment and waste disposal; and an overall 5% increase in the carbon intensity of the UK electricity grid – something that will be affecting emissions reporting by councils and other public bodies up and down the country."
Ian Middleton leads the Green party group on Cherwell District Council, who are part of a Liberal Democrat minority administration that have been running the authority since May 2024.
He said the rise took place under the previous Conservative administration - but he was hopeful for the future.
"Since the new administration took over last year, there has been much more focus on opportunities to reduce emissions, which I hope will bear fruit soon," he said.
"In general, I'm pleased that the council are being transparent about their emissions reduction performance as I think that's a key factor in getting to grips with decarbonisation."
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