To tackle the climate crisis, Nottingham set an ambitious target to be the first carbon neutral city in the UK by 2028 (CN28). The latest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions data published by the UK Government in July 2022 showed that Nottingham has reduced its overall CO2 emissions by nearly 57.7% per person since 2005.
In addition to improving emission reductions following the launch of the CN28 target, Nottingham has also been named one of the top cities for climate action in the world for two consecutive years by CDP.
Nottingham City Council only contributes approximately 3% of Nottingham’s total carbon footprint, so it is vital that everyone plays their part to reach the city’s ambitious climate goal. While the City Council manages the delivery of the Carbon Neutral Action Plan, the strong progress to reduce carbon emissions has been achieved thanks to partnerships with key organisations.
In Nottingham, there is a thriving Green Partnership. This partnership is made up of 23 organisations across the city, including Boots, Nottingham University Hospitals Trust and Nottingham BID. The Green Partnership celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022, and members have recently agreed to report on their own progress towards becoming carbon neutral.
The members are also instrumental in setting up new initiatives to support the CN28 agenda. For example, Nottingham BID and Nottingham Trent University have offered free Carbon Literacy Training to businesses in the city. This training helps them to understand the wider context of the climate crisis and identify meaningful changes they can make to reduce their carbon footprints.
The Green Partnership is also developing a Nottingham Climate Assembly which will represent the views of a diverse range of the city’s residents, to ensure that climate action taken in the city supports everyone.
In 2020, the City Council launched the ‘We Support CN28’ campaign. This allows any Nottingham-based organisation to show their support for the city’s carbon neutral ambition by pledging to decarbonise. Over 40 organisations are signed up so far, including Nottingham Express Transit, The Canal and River Trust, and SMEs such as Romano’s Caterers and Stewarts of Trent Bridge.
Councillor Sally Longford, Portfolio Holder for Energy, Environment and Waste Services, said: “Firstly, I would like to thank all of the partners who have been involved in our work to make Nottingham a carbon neutral city.
“While our progress towards in tackling the climate crisis is good, and we have had lots of great achievements, we cannot be complacent. Much more needs to be done to ensure we protect future generations from the impacts of climate change.
“I would like to encourage organisations in the city to get involved by joining Nottingham’s Green Partnership or pledging to the We Support campaign. Residents also have a part to play and can get started on their journey to reduce their carbon footprints by signing up to the Green Rewards app. This handy tool has lots of easy suggestions to get started, and you can even win prizes for taking action.”
Wayne Bexton, Director of Environment and Sustainability, said: “Partnerships and support from our citizens are crucial pillars underpinning our carbon neutrality objectives. The momentum among businesses, community groups and our universities mean Nottingham is recognised as the leading city on this agenda in the UK. The opportunities to get involved continue to grow, and I’d encourage everyone to visit our webpages and see how they can play a part.’’
Organisations can find out more about We Support CN28 and sign up here. The Green Rewards app can be accessed online or by searching for ‘Notts Green Rewards’ on your device’s app store.