Council adopts “net zero” strategy

The first ever Net Zero Strategy and Action Plan sets out the authority’s vision for a low carbon future, with the aim of cutting emissions by 30% every five years.

It reflects the Council’s responsibility to support the UK Government’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100% from 1990 levels by 2050.

The strategy will enable the authority to lead from the front, and support other stakeholders to cut their emissions and decarbonise their operations.

“By getting our house in order and reducing our impact year on year, we will be better placed to support communities and the wider borough in tackling climate change,” said Councillor Mike Young, Leader of the Council.

The Council has already taken important steps over recent years towards reducing its emissions, including publishing a “Climate Pledge” in 2021. Achievements include securing funding of £275,000 for energy efficiency improvements to Council buildings, fitting all street lighting columns with LED bulbs and trialling the use of solar-powered street lighting, and delivering energy efficiency improvements to more than 140 domestic properties through the Sustainable Warmth Scheme.

The strategy aims to build on this work and deliver a pathway to net zero emissions through a long-term, comprehensive plan of action across a range of operations and services.

It proposes action in five key areas:

• Reduction of local authority emissions.
• Resource maximisation and waste reduction.
• Domestic energy and sustainable warmth.
• The natural environment.
• Climate resilience and adaptation.

Actions include reducing energy demand and improving energy efficiency, reducing vehicle fleet emissions, increasing sustainable energy capacity, supporting a shift towards sustainable domestic energy, adapting the built and natural environment to make them resilient to future climate change impacts, increasing tree cover across the borough, maintaining good local air quality, improving waste management to maximise the use of existing resources and procuring goods and services sustainably.

Councillor Young added: “This marks only the beginning of a remarkable transformation, and the proposed actions will continually evolve. In essence, the strategy is designed to be dynamic, serving as a “live” document where actions are regularly monitored and reviewed as we learn from early implementation, improve our evidence database and broaden our engagement with other stakeholders.”

The full Net Zero Strategy and Action Plan can be read at www.hartlepool.gov.uk/net-zero-strategy