North Tyneside Council is once again being recognised as one of the best in the world for its commitment to creating greener and more sustainable communities.
Receiving an ‘A’ grade for the second year running from the Carbon Disclosure project, the Council is placed alongside cities such as New York, Paris, Melbourne and Tokyo as just 112 authorities worldwide achieved this accolade.
Of the 1000 cities assessed by CDP, just 15% received an A grade, highlighting North Tyneside’s commitment to creating a greener and cleaner future for residents.
The Council has used external funding effectively to deliver a wide range of initiatives which reduce the Borough’s carbon footprint while providing good value for money for its residents. These include replacing streetlights with energy-efficiency alternatives, installing solar panels on council buildings and introducing air source heat pumps at leisure centres.
The Council has also planted 13,000 trees as part of the North East Community Forest with the help of local volunteers and school groups and improved energy efficiency in hundreds of homes across the Borough
The Council’s commitment to building a circular economy has contributed to the award, particularly its work to increase reuse, repair and recycling rates.
The award reflects the collective effort of the Council, its partners and the community. Residents, businesses, schools and voluntary groups across the Borough have all played a vital role in helping to reduce emissions and protect the environment.
Councillor Sandra Graham, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Tackling the Climate Emergency at North Tyneside Council, said: “I am really proud to see North Tyneside recognised as a global leader in building a greener future.”
“We couldn’t do it without our communities, and I’d like to thank every resident who has ever volunteered to plant a tree, every business we have worked with to reduce their emissions, every tenant who saves electricity with solar panelling, every school who has helped us litter pick and recycle, and the thousands of residents who reuse, repair or recycle rather than throwing away. ”
“Our focus has always been to create a Borough that is healthy, more resilient, environmentally responsible, and better prepared for the future. While we’ve made great strides, we recognise that there’s more to be done and we’re committed to deliver lasting change for our future generations.”
The Council continues to support local businesses and community organisations with resources and advice, including a Climate Adaptation Toolkit designed to help them assess and plan for climate-related risks. This is part of a wider commitment to work with all parts of the community to build resilience and deliver lasting change.
The Council is one of only 28 councils invited to join the DEFRA Climate Adaptation Reporting Pilot.
To secure an A grade, authorities must meet strict criteria, including publishing their climate data, maintaining a comprehensive emissions inventory, and having detailed plans for climate action, risk assessment and hazard mitigation. A-List cities take four times as many climate mitigation and adaptation measures as non-A Listers.
North Tyneside Council is proud to be taking positive action to create a better future for everyone who lives in, works in and visits the Borough.