Community assets and services
The NHS
NHS England endeavours ‘to deliver the world’s first net zero health service and respond to climate change, improving the health now and for future generations.
The NHS is responsible for 4% of the country’s carbon emissions. Delivering a new net zero NHS report outlines plan to reduce the emissions directly controlled by the service, as well as those they influence. In 2022, the NHS embedded net zero into the Health and Care Act 2022. In 2024, NHS England decommissioned the first medicine, desflurane (a general anaesthetic), on environmental grounds.
North Tyneside Council
The council declared a climate emergency in 2019. The Carbon Net Zero 2030 Action Plan details how the council plans to reach net zero ahead of the Government target of 2050. The plan, which is updated annually, addresses both council operation emissions and borough-wide emissions.
The council contributes 2% of the borough’s overall carbon footprint and has reduced its carbon emissions by 59% since 2010/11. Key projects include increasing the energy efficiency of buildings (both council sites and social housing stock), the decarbonisation of travel and street lighting (transitioning to more energy efficient lighting and Ultra-low emission vehicles), as well as promoting carbon reduction and biodiversity across the borough through schemes such as the council’s Green Homes Grant and the North East Community Forest.
In the last year, health professionals have made multiple calls for climate change mitigation and adaptation actions to protect public health. In order to embrace this in North Tyneside, Public Health were invited to sit on the Authority Net Zero 2030 Board as one of 12 Workstreams and to lead on a suite of actions with defined co- benefits.
Figure 9: North Tyneside Borough Carbon Footprint, Carbon Net Zero 2030 Action Plan 23/24
North Tyneside Borough Climate Board
The North Tyneside 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. The Board brings together senior representatives from the business and public sector who wish to work together to achieve carbon net zero targets.
Each representative organisation has embarked on a pathway to reduce carbon emissions and has agreed to work collaboratively where possible to:
- Mobilise individuals and organisations to work towards actions which will contribute to the council’s borough-wide Carbon Net Zero Action Plan. This can include working with staff members, customers and the supply chain
- Support the development of projects which will contribute to the 2030 Action Plan
- Strategically monitor the progress of projects and emissions in the Borough
The Northumbria Local Resilience Forum
The Northumbria Local Resilience Forum have created a Northumbria Community Risk Register of potential impacts of future risks on local communities. These include the impacts of climate change, as well as strategies to reduce adverse effects.