Overview
In 2019, we declared a climate emergency and established a Net-Zero goal for 2030.
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. There is no set standard for Local Authorities and the Net Zero challenge however, North Tyneside Council has adopted a ‘no regrets’ approach in setting out its ambition and programme of actions.
The North Tyneside Net Zero 2030 Action Plan is a rolling programme of projects which are identified by the Authority and its stakeholders on an ongoing basis and therefore whilst some projects have a defined life cycle; others do not and will be managed on an on-going basis.
We understand the seriousness of the climate debate and do all we can across all Council services to reduce our carbon emissions and increase biodiversity taking into account the national picture and funding opportunities. At the same time we help with information to help our people make the right decisions of what to do with their waste and the wider circular economy.
Our Borough Climate Board continues to support us in partnership working. This enables businesses and public sector organisations to share best practice and develop further ways of working to do all we can to improve the environment of our borough and have those light bulb moments. In late 2023, we were awarded an ‘A’ rating for our submission to the international Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and this provides solid evidence that demonstrates our leadership in this field.
We are proud that since 2011, we have decreased our Council emissions by 59%. But we're not stopping there - we know there's more we can do and are committed to achieving our vision of Net-Zero by 2030.
Links with North Tyneside's plan
The Authority’s Our North Tyneside Plan 2021-2025, sets out bold ambitions for making the borough an even greater place to live, work and visit by 2025. The plan outlines a vision of building a better borough, looking to the future, and listening to and working better for residents. There are four key areas within this document which supports the Climate Emergency, and these are as follows:
- 1. We will keep increasing the amount of waste that can be recycled and introduce food waste collections and deposit return schemes
- We will secure funding to help low-income households to install low-carbon heating
- We will increase opportunities for safe walking and cycling, including providing a segregated cycleway at the coast
- We will publish an Action Plan of the steps we will take and the national investment we will seek to make North Tyneside carbon net zero by 2030
This Action Plan addresses both Council operation emissions, and borough-wide emissions, and will continue to be updated annually.
Links with National Policy
The UK Government continues to introduce a range of policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions which cause climate change. The Government’s main climate change policy document is the Net Zero Strategy (Build Back Greener) which was published on 19 October 2021 (updated April 2022). It set out policies and proposals for decarbonising all sectors of the UK economy to meet the Government’s net zero target by 2050. The Authority monitors the development of key supporting policies and consultation opportunities which build upon the Government’s Ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution which was published on 18 November 2020.