Making Sunderland carbon neutral by 2040

City leaders are asking everyone to help make Sunderland a cleaner, greener place - and say it will bring other benefits to Wearside too.

This week, Sunderland City Council’s ruling cabinet will be asked to endorse a Low Carbon Framework which aims to drive down emissions and make the city carbon neutral within 20 years.

A range of people and organisations across the city have helped to shape the framework, which sets out the ways people can play their part in reducing the city’s carbon footprint.

The framework was adopted last month at a meeting of the City Board, which includes representatives from across the city.

The partnership, which has developed the Low Carbon Framework through its 2030 Shadow Board, brings together organisations including the council, Together for Children, Sunderland Youth Parliament, health partners, the University of Sunderland, Sunderland College and Gentoo as well as the police, fire service, Transport for the North and business partners through the North East England Chamber of Commerce.

Through joint working with residents and businesses, the partnership aims to develop practical ways Sunderland can become greener.

This includes encouraging everyone to become more sustainable one small step at a time.

Sunderland City Council has moved to develop its own action plan to reduce carbon emissions which will be reviewed this week when the cabinet endorses the city-wide Low Carbon Framework.

The city council is also aiming to be a carbon neutral organisation by 2030.

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council and chair of the 2030 Shadow Board, said: “The fight to save the planet is a global challenge, but it’s one that very much begins at home with each of us taking individual responsibility for the way we live and the impact our own choices and actions have on our carbon reduction.

“As a local authority, we can play a significant role in supporting our residents to live greener lives – to make a positive difference to the city’s overall sustainability and address this challenge head on, and by working with partners to make this pledge as a city, we are taking a significant step towards carbon neutrality.

“There is much to do, but in adopting a framework to guide our efforts and individual action plans, I am confident we can achieve our ambitious targets.

“Sunderland people always come together when there is a crisis – and this is a very real crisis. It’s one that requires a collective and sustained effort.

“With our own civic leadership on this issue, and the backing of businesses and people, we can make a real difference.”

The partnership is also engaging the next generation to help take forward the framework and hopes the effort is owned, and in many ways led, by young people.

Simon Marshall, director of education at Together for Children and 2030 Shadow Board member, said: “It’s about driving change and empowering young people to be the focus of this change.

“We want to encourage leadership and foster a sense of ownership amongst young people, ensuring they have a strong voice throughout and are the leading force behind this agenda.

“We’re looking forward to continuing to work with partners, including engaging with the city’s schools, in 2021 and onwards to enable them to play a leading role in this effort.”

In papers that will go before its cabinet for review this week, Sunderland City Council outlines a range of interventions that the framework has developed in order to achieve a low carbon economy.

The council’s own action plan also sets out priorities around renewable energy and low carbon/active transport, alongside waste recycling and improved energy efficiency in buildings.

Partners across the city are also developing their own action plans to complement the wider framework for the city.

Progress towards the city’s 2040 carbon neutral target will be monitored with an annual progress report produced in future.

Sunderland City Council’s cabinet is expected to endorse the Low Carbon Framework and approve the council’s action plan at its next meeting on Tuesday, January 12.

The meeting starts at 10am and will be broadcast on the council’s YouTube channel via this this link: – https://youtu.be/l6ViEnM0VFs

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