City is named as one of world's 'climate leaders'
Sunderland has been named a ‘climate leader’ in the world’s environmental battle after receiving a top score from an international agency.
The city is one of just 11 in the UK and 95 worldwide, to be named a climate leader for environmentalaction and a commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2040.
It received the top A score from international environmental impact non-profit, CDP, which designed the “Cities A-List” to encourage and support cities to ramp up climate action and ambition.
In Sunderland’s first submission to the Cities A-List, it showcased plans to tackle the climate emergency and highlight action and projects to limit the impact of climate change.
Sunderland City Council leader Graeme Miller said Wear side is driving ambitious plans to reduce emissions and become completely carbon neutral by 2040, working with partners that have helped shape its Low Carbon Framework, which sets out ways to reduce the city’s carbon footprint.
Plans are now underway to work closely with businesses and organisations, as well as residents and community groups, that will help to deliver the framework.
The council itself has committed to becoming a carbon neutral local authority by 2030.
Cllr Miller said: “We must act like our lives depend on it ... because they do.
"We are seeing increased flooding, extreme weather – from record heatwaves to devastating storms – and yet collectively we do little to address it.
“There is still much to do, but it is extremely reassuring to know that our city has been highlighted as a climate leader by an organisation the world’s economy looks to as the gold standard of environmental reporting.
Among ambitious plans for a greener future is the Nissan EV36Zero project, a flagship Electrical Vehicle (EV) Hub that will provide a 360-degree solution for zero-emission motoring.
Sunderland’s councilowned port has also attracted a waste recovery project that will process end-of-life car and truck tyres, and Quantafuel’s first UK site, which will transform plastic waste into sustainable products, helping reduce plastic waste.