How do we manage our Net Zero Plan
We have direct control over all our own operations as an Authority however, we continue to strive and influence others to make their best efforts to reduce their impacts on the climate. This includes our continued work with residents, businesses and third sector organisations.
The overall governance of the Climate Emergency is split between the authority’s Carbon Net Zero 2030 Board (Internal) and the borough wide Climate Emergency Board (External). The authority has a role in managing the continuity between the two Boards and this extends to the reporting of progress. The internal Board has 14 separate workstreams led by senior managers and officers and is jointly chaired by the Cabinet Member for Climate and the Director of Environment.
The Borough Climate Board has a focus on commercial and industrial related emissions and brings together senior representatives from the public and private sector who have a shared goal of decarbonising their operations and the Borough.
Despite our successes and continued progress, there are ongoing external factors impeding progress, both for the Council and for our communities.A challenge of this scale continues to require additional funding from central Government and therefore the Council will seek to make maximum use of any opportunities to bid for funding and other direct support from central government as well as other bodies to assist us.
* Net-zero means achieving a balance between the number of emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. It requires the reduction of existing emissions and the subsequent removal of remaining emissions.
North Tyneside Council recognises the significant role it can play in helping to accelerate the national transition towards developing a low carbon economy. The broad themes of have remained the same since the first Action Plan in 2020 and include the following:
- Energy Efficiency - The authority is clear that to reduce the demand for power and heat in buildings across all sectors, the energy efficiency of existing buildings must continue to improve. The co benefits of doing this are well known, such as health benefits (from reduced air pollution) or reduced household energy bills (from lower energy use in a better insulated house).
- Power and Heat Generation - Within the borough, the authority is clear that opportunities may exist to enable the generation of renewable heat and power to support its own demands as well as those of businesses and households. The co benefits of renewable energy sources like solar do not produce the same air pollutants as fossil fuels and this improves local air quality, which is beneficial for public health, especially for vulnerable populations, local energy security and a contribution to local economic development and job creation.
- Travel - Reducing vehicle emissions and usage by encouraging modal shift and accelerating the transition to low carbon transport is integral to decarbonisation and improving air quality. Decarbonising road transport and modal shift is a national ambition. The co benefits of this are reduced noise pollution, local air quality improvements, improved physical and mental health in the case of self-powered travel, increased accessibility and inclusivity for employment opportunities related to local economic development.
- Waste - The Authority has a statutory duty to collect and dispose of household waste arising within the borough. To achieve this, it directly provides a kerbside collection service and contract arrangements are in place to dispose of residual waste, reprocess recyclable material and operate a Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC). The co benefits of this are reduced greenhouse gas emissions and the impacts of these on climate change, resource efficiency and reuse cost savings to business, job creation and economic development.
- Food - The authority recognises that the potential impact of more sustainable food policies can be a significant factor in carbon emissions reduction. The co benefits of this are better nutrient-rich food, better overall wellbeing, local economic development and job retention and creation and improved and enhanced local and national biodiversity.
- Adaptation - Adapting to current and predicted changes to our climate, both at the national and local levels, is a vital necessity and the co benefits of this protect the economy and society. Adapting to the physical risks of climate change is a pre-requisite for delivering the path to Net Zero. Otherwise, our plans risk being less effective or in a worst-case scenario, become more costly.
- Offsetting & Insetting Emissions - There is recognition that there are some emissions which will not be addressed by physical technology interventions or cultural behaviour. It is these emissions which the authority will focus its approach on in terms of identifying offsetting options. The co benefits of this are enhanced brand reputation, support for local communities and projects, local economic development opportunities and enhanced biodiversity.
- Economy and Skills - The development of a net zero future will provide the Borough with the opportunity to be well placed in taking advantage of a low carbon future and its associated economic and development opportunities.
- Behaviour change - The authority has a long history of promoting messages to households to make small and easy changes to reduce the impacts of lifestyle on the environment. It is now recognised that there is a need to raise the profile of this messaging further to shift consumer behaviours and choices to the scale needed to match the pace of the authority’s action planning.