Newcastle unveils plans for a Net Zero city

Newcastle City Council has outlined how people in the city can work together to drastically cut emissions and see a lasting reduction to our climate impact.

The draft Net Zero Newcastle: 2030 Action Plan sets out over 150 actions that the city can take to decarbonise over the next decade while taking advantage of the huge opportunities for ‘green growth’ in the local economy.

The two main areas targeted in the plan are energy use in homes and non-domestic properties, which accounts for 64 per cent of the city’s emissions, and transport, which is just under 30 per cent.

It also sets out how a new Net Zero Pledge could soon invite individuals, businesses and groups to sign up and show their commitment to taking meaningful steps to significantly reduce their own carbon footprint.

Nick Forbes, leader of Newcastle City Council and co-chair of the city’s Net Zero Task Force, said: “Recent months have given us a brief glimpse of a more environmentally friendly future with less traffic, more active travel, less air pollution and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. However, any lockdown benefits look set to be minimal and short-lived, the Climate Emergency is as real as it was before the pandemic, and only last month we saw the highest temperature ever reliably recorded on the planet.

“The wholesale decarbonisation of a city has never been done before and the challenge is quite simply enormous. But despite the devastating impacts of Covid-19, our city’s determination and cross-party commitment to achieving Net Zero status by 2030 remains undiminished. We have a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to transform our city for the benefit of residents, businesses, the environment and generations to come, while ensuring that the economic recovery from the testing times of the pandemic places Newcastle in the best position to capitalise on the opportunities of our greener future.”