Newcastle City Council claims it is making good progress in meeting its 2030 Net Zero target with a reported 42% drop in CO2 emissions since 2005.
30 major buildings across the city have been de-carbonised with over 346 homes made more energy efficient.
The local authority has managed the planting of 8,500 trees and 657 metres of hedgerows with thousands more planned in 2004 including the city’s Town Moor and Nuns Moor Meadow.
According to the Council’s figures neighbourhood pop-up waste collections has led to a ”staggering” 26 tonnes of rubbish being recycled with residents calling for more in places like Kenton Bar and North Kenton.
Clean City
Cllr Marion Williams, Cabinet Member for a Clean City, said:
”We are all becoming more aware of the impact of climate change. Severe weather events should give us an indication of what awaits us.”
”Delivering on our Net Zero commitment is a key priority for the city, and I’m pleased with the progress we are making towards this ambitious goal. We’ll continue to bid for funding, invest in infrastructure, support community initiatives, and change our own behaviour to make the future for Newcastle Greener, cleaner, and healthier”
Throughout 2023 the council has secured over £37m to decarbonise and add eco updates such as heat pumps and solar panels to key buildings, including 15 schools (Kenton), Gosforth and East End pools and the city’s Discovery Museum. Residents have also gained from retrofit upgrades to make their homes warmer and more energy efficient thanks to a £1.2m investment.
This work has been supported by local communities with over 6,000 resident and volunteers, 2,000 youngsters from eight schools participating in the collection of 1,600 bags of litter in the past year.
Cllr Williams says the authority’s ”proactive approach” to tackling the ”climate emergency” is not just a positive step for the city’s health, but for the local economy also.
She said: ”Net Zero is one of our core priorities, to build an inclusive economy with the aim of creating more ‘green jobs’.”
Adapted from a Newcastle City Council Press Release.
