City underlines its commitment to help combat the climate crisis
Council bosses in Sunderland have underlined their commitment to plans for the city’s low carbon future.
Sunderland City Council has renewed its UK100 pledge –adeclarationofcommitment to combat the climate crisis and put in place plans to reach thegoalofnetzerogreenhouse gasemissionsby2030forcouncil operations and 2040 for the city.
UK100isanationalnetwork of locally elected leaders who recognise their responsibility to tackle the climate emergency by accelerating the transition to a Net Zero society.
Sunderlandhasalreadydeveloped a Low Carbon Framework
with representatives from organisations across the city to collectively drive down emissions and the council also hasitsownLowCarbonAction Plan,whichsetsouthowthelocalauthorityitselfwillbecome carbon neutral by 2030.
Councilleader,CllrGraeme Miller, said: “We’re absolutely committed to doing our bit in Sunderland to take action on climate change, and to work with partner businesses and our residents to support them to be more sustainable too.
“Recommitting to this pledge is a clear statement of intentthatweintendtodeliver against,workingwithourpartners to achieve.”
Housing group Gentoo and South Tyneside and Sunderland’s NHS Foundation Trust are among the organisations that helped to develop the Low
Carbon Framework.
Trust chief executive Ken Bremner, said: “Reducing our
carbon footprint is one of our keyprioritiesandofsignificant benefit to our patients, staff and the communities that we serve.
“Working closely with our partners and stakeholders we can deliver more sustainable reductionsinourcarbonemissions and fully embrace our role as a responsible employer. We are proud to support a city-wide approach to carbon reduction and welcome the opportunity to work together and share experiences across Sunderland to help us achieve our goals.”
Christopher Hammond, Network Membership Director of UK100, said: ‘’We’re thrilled to welcome the leader of Sunderland City Council to UK100’s network. "By signing UK100’s Net Zero Pledge and committing to bold targets, Sunderland City Council has demonstrated that it is facing these challenges and playing a decisiveroleintacklingclimate change ahead of the National Government’s target.’’