BP signs deal with Aberdeen council to cut climate emissions

Oil firm BP has signed a deal with council leaders in Aberdeen as par t of effor ts to cut emissions and help it become a “climate-positive city”.

Aberdeen is only the second city in the world after Houston in the US to join forces with the energ y company in such an arrangement.

As par t of the deal, BP will serve as a planning and technical adviser in the deliver y of the local authority’s energy transition strategic infrastructure plan.

The company and the local a u t h o r i t y wi l l a l s o ex p l o r e opportunities for using hydrogen power for transport and heating, while work will take place to increase the fuel efficiency of the council’s fleets of vehicles.

Par tnering with countries, cities and industries to help t h e m r e d u c e e mi s s i o n s o n the path to net-zero is part of

BP’S new strategy, introduced last month.

William Lin, BP executive vice-president for regions, cities and solutions, said: “Over the next decade we expect to partner with 10 to 15 cities globally to provide innovative, integrated and decarbonised energ y solutions at scale to help achieve their goals of net zero emissions.

“We are privileged to be the partner for cit y of Aberdeen on its journey to achieving its carbon reduction ambition.”

He a d d e d : “A b e r d e e n i s a leading energy city in the UK and the world, with whom we share a long history.

“We are committed to bringing our capabilities in integrating and developing energy systems coupled with the cit y’s local knowledge and insights to make a sustainable impact for the citizens of Aberdeen and the surrounding region.”

C o u n c i l c o - l e a d e r Je n n y Laing said the local authority is “delighted” to be working with BP on “the next phase of Aberdeen’s drive to suppor t lo cal, national and international climate change targets”.

She said: “The council and BP have the same goals in reducing our carbon footprint and working with BP provides a major opportunity for Aberdeen to progress our plans.

“Our operations include areas such as transport, district heating, buildings and waste, while BP is a world leader in energ y and has a significant innovation and R&D base for us to draw on and learn from.”

B u t S c o t t i s h Gr e e n s e nv i - r o n me n t s p o ke s ma n Ma r k Ruskell MSP said: “It’s conc e r n i n g t h a t a c o r p o r a t i o n that has made such a massive contribution to causing the climate emergency should be put in charge of tackling it.

“T h e p e o p l e o f A b e r d e e n deser ve to see b old climate action; this won’t be achieved by cosying up to BP.”