First carbon neutral city aim for Nottingham

Nottingham City Council has set itself an ambitious target to become the first carbon neutral city in the UK, with a target of 2028 for completion.

The city, which has already met its Energy Strategy target of a 26 per cent reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 2020, is on track to meet its 2020 target of 20 per cent of energy generation from low carbon sources, partly due to a reduction in the city’s energy demand and its renewable energy projects programme.

The council is a leading light in becoming a more sustainable city, having already invested in one of the UK’s largest electric bus fleets, improving cycling facilities, including bike hubs and a cycle hire scheme, and installing solar panels on 4500 domestic properties across the city.

Nottingham City Council, which has reduced overall emissions by 39 per cent since 2005, has also retrofitted 400 homes with energy efficient measures through the REMOURBAN and Green HousiNG Project and introduced the Workplace Parking Levy – tackling congestion and containing traffic growth, while generating funds to invest in public transport.

Sally Longford, Portfolio Holder for Energy & Environment, said: “We have been making good progress for a long time, but it is incumbent on us to do more. We are already seeing the effects of climate change with 650 extra deaths nationally last year because of the heatwave. In Nottingham we have 10,000 properties that are vulnerable to surface water flooding which will increase as the effects of climate change worsen.

“We need a shift in the way we produce and use energy, more sustainable management of waste and ways to travel and to look at things like shortening supply chains by buying goods and services locally.  We are looking at a range of schemes that involve innovative technology, such as installing large batteries that can store solar energy – initially at council premises but also exploring this for domestic properties too.”