A Climate Emergency Board will be set up as North Tyneside Council’s mission to reduce the borough’s carbon footprint continues.
A report to Cabinet on Monday (Nov 25) will detail the good progress made since the declaration of a climate emergency in July 2019.
Since 2011, significant progress has been made to reduce the council’s carbon emissions by 45% and the borough’s carbon emissions by 39%.
North Tyneside Council has reduced the borough’s carbon footprint through schemes such as the replacement of 7,300 street lamps with energy-efficient LEDs, the addition of electric vehicles, a reduction in the number of operational buildings and vehicles, investment in energy efficiency technologies and work to rebuild and refurbish 26 sheltered accommodation schemes.
And now, a number of steps have been taken to move further towards the goal of reducing the council’s carbon footprint by 50% by 2023.
These steps will be detailed in an update to Cabinet at the meeting on November 25, where it was agreed that a Climate Emergency Board will be set up to ensure this progress continues.
As part of this commitment to the environment, the council has pledged to include a separate budget in the 2020/2021 Investment Plan dedicated to projects addressing the climate emergency.
Immediate steps being taken include:
- A review of over 22,000 street lights is being conducted to assess the feasibility of saving energy by converting these to LED, as well as reviewing renewable electricity options within council buildings.
- A public consultation was launched on a new taxi licensing policy which, for the first time, includes the proposed introduction of emissions standards for taxis and private hire vehicles.
- Continuing the refurbishment of the council’s Killingworth Depot, which is intended to be a leading example of energy efficiency and renewable energy regeneration.
- Developing an action plan to identify carbon reduction projects in council buildings.
- Working with Young Cabinet and Youth Council to shape future plans.
Phil Scott, North Tyneside Council’s Head of Environment, Housing and Leisure, said: “Providing a clean, green, healthy, attractive, safe and sustainable environment is one of our top priorities as a council.
“I am pleased with the progress we’ve made to reduce our carbon footprint over the last few years, but we know it doesn’t stop here – the climate emergency means that we will be embedding environmental sustainability throughout every area of council business.
“Climate change is a global problem and you can see that it is being taken seriously in North Tyneside, the wider region and the whole country. It’s great to see councils and communities united in our goal to address the climate emergency.”
The council are taking steps to involve local people, especially young people, such as the borough’s Youth Council and Cabinet, in the development, delivery and review of key environmental actions, to ensure they have a voice in shaping the borough’s future.
The first annual performance update, detailing work and progress being made towards reducing North Tyneside’s carbon footprint, was published in August.
A further report and action plan will be presented to Cabinet in the summer of 2020.
ENDS
North Tyneside Council’s Young Cabinet published a ten-step guide in the Our North Tyneside residents’ magazine on how residents can take simple steps to help support the fight against climate change.
- Reduce food waste
- Eat more meat-free meals
- Avoid single-use plastics
- Think before you buy new clothes
- Use energy wisely, and save money
- Embrace sustainable travel
- Take the train, not the plane
- Wash, squash and recycle
- Start a climate conversation
- Support a youth-led movement
