Net Zero North East England has launched to accelerate the region's contribution to a greener economy and inspire action to decarbonise the economy from business, communities and institutions across the region.
The new collaboration between local government, business, education, the public sector and civil society is designed to provide a joined-up and immediate regional response to the climate emergency.
Its work will use the region’s significant green knowledge and assets to encourage changes that will enable the North East to not only reach but surpass net zero targets and be used as an exemplar on a national and sectoral stage.
The ambition of Net Zero North East England is to create a greener, cleaner, fairer and more resilient region through:
Decarbonisation and the delivery of the North East’s contribution to national and global net zero targets
Clean and innovative growth leading to more and better jobs
Environmental protection, restoration and improvement
A just and inclusive transition that leads to improvements in quality of life and growth in opportunity for all.
Heidi Mottram, Chair of Net Zero North East England said: “It’s a privilege to be leading a collaborative response from regional leaders all deeply committed to addressing the climate emergency.
“The region is already home to significant, sector-leading decarbonisation activity such as in water innovation and green energy for growth, and we should rightly promote and celebrate this. By bringing these approaches and the areas in which we excel together, we can showcase best practice and find new partnership solutions to the challenges that remain.”
Elected Metro Mayor for the North of Tyne, Jamie Driscoll, said: “The climate emergency is no longer a thing of the future. It’s upon us. It’s now. And it is too serious and too urgent for us to wait on world leaders. That’s why we’re taking action ourselves – here, in the North East. I’m pleased to be part of this coalition. Working together, we can achieve so much more, so much faster than we can by acting alone.”
Chair of the North East Combined Authority, Graeme Miller, said: “Net Zero North East England is a powerful, shared vehicle for meeting our decarbonisation goals and leading the way in sustainable energy.
“In the months ahead we will be establishing, adopting and publishing clear and ambitious targets that can be monitored and evaluated, as well as aligning key regional strategies and programmes in support of our vision.
“Thanks to its natural geography and existing clean energy strengths the North East is extremely well placed for use as a test bed for pioneering new approaches, attracting funding and placing the region at the forefront of the UK’s much-needed decarbonisation journey. We look forward to engaging with government to make this happen.”