Climate change strategy 2022

Gateshead Council has made significant progress in recent years in reducing the carbon emissions from its own activities. Investment in new technologies has helped us reduce reliance on fossil fuels for providing heat and power to our buildings. Improving the efficiency of street lighting and the vehicles we use has also had a significant impact. Since 2010, we have reduced the carbon emissions associated with the Council's activities by 55%. In February 2021, we published a Climate Emergency Action Plan that will deliver on the council's commitment to make its own activities carbon neutral by 2030.

However, the Council's own activities account for only around 2.5% of Gateshead's total emissions. Clearly, achieving a significant reduction in total emissions from Gateshead requires action from everybody - from our communities, from Gateshead businesses, and from our partners.

The activities that help reduce carbon emissions also help to address:

• the cost of living crisis and poverty facing our communities
• challenges to health and wellbeing
• the need to improve air quality in some locations
• reducing fuel poverty, ensuring access to good quality and affordable food,
• supporting Gateshead's economic recovery from the devastating effects of Covid-19

We can help Gateshead Thrive whilst also protecting our planet, saving money and ensuring our future residents can also thrive without the devastating effects of climate change.

This Strategy aims to deliver on our commitment of making the whole of Gateshead carbon neutral by 2030. It sets out how communities, businesses and other agencies can reduce their carbon footprint, and the steps that the Council can take in enabling this. It is vital that we act collectively to deliver change. It is everyone's responsibility to take the action necessary to reduce the negative impact we have on our planet and every small step makes a difference. From residents, businesses, public services, charities to government. Climate change is happening. Countries and businesses are responding, and Gateshead needs to be part of that movement if it is to succeed in grasping the many opportunities arising from a green economy and thriving neighbourhoods.

We look forward to working with Gateshead residents and business so we can all play our part in the vital action to deliver a zero-carbon future.