Newcastle Faces Climate Goal Gap Halfway to 2030 Net Zero Target

Newcastle struggles to meet its climate goals. Campaigners say the city needs faster action. In 2019, Newcastle declared a climate emergency. The goal is net zero emissions by 2030.

The council planned to recycle more waste and cut home energy use. The city hoped to increase electric cars. Experts say government funding is needed.

Activists feel progress is slow and want more dramatic changes now. They accuse the council of avoiding hard choices. City emissions fell 10% from 2019 to 2022.

Walking and cycling groups are concerned that only two of 27 actions are done, including the Clean Air Zone and e-scooter trials. Car reduction efforts stalled, and transport emissions rose almost 4% from 2021 to 2022.

The groups say action grows more urgent as 2024 may be the hottest year ever recorded. The council promised yearly progress reports, and they question if the plan is adequate.

A transport group head wants action and suggests emissions-based parking fees. He also wants road space for greener travel.

The council will hold a climate forum that focuses on nature and biodiversity. A council member says more work is needed, and that a city cannot fix it alone. She insists they have done much already, and one climate group ranked Newcastle’s plan highly.

She says they are modernizing infrastructure, cutting waste and testing new recycling. The city is updating heat networks, planted thousands of trees and are exploring electric car infrastructure. Flooding resilience is improving, and renewable energy sources are being installed.

The council will push for more support and influence national policy too. This will help them protect the environment.

A Green Party member criticizes the council, saying they still avoid major decisions. He asks for detailed emissions data, suggests better transport and waste solutions and thinks home insulation is key, while development standards are too low.

The council faced criticism before when they signed up for a waste incinerator plan and recycling rates hit a 15-year low. A local politician says they have delivered little, though some public buildings did get upgrades.

The politician stated the 2030 goal was always ambitious. They are trying to push the council forward, as he believes the council has failed to deliver.