With the effects of climate change developing rapidly, Nottingham City Council pledged to cut carbon emissions by 26%, by 2020. This month they released a statement saying they had in fact cut carbon emissions by 39%. Two years earlier than their original target.
The council announced they have ambitious plans to become the first carbon neutral city in the UK. There are a handful of cities that have made a pledge to become carbon neutral over the next couple of decades. However, what does this look like and what commitments have been made?
Nottingham City Council (NCC) achieved their first carbon emissions target through a variety of avenues. Some of the projects implemented were:
Looking forwards, NCC have laid out new plans as part of their next goals. Working to a continue the road towards a carbon neutral city. NCC are looking to:
Naturally energy supply for electric vehicles must come from somewhere and preferably a low-emission source. Alongside NCC’s energy strategy target, they are working towards a 20% energy generation using low carbon sources.
Whilst the three D's of energy have been on the agenda for quite some time now, it's going to take collaboration across the entire industry in order to affect real change. Only through a combined effort by the regulators, investors, and suppliers will we see a paradigm shift in the 'last analogue industry'. Local councils, like Nottingham, play a vital role in setting the agenda for smart cities and driving this positive change from the ground up.
Together is Better - Energy Suppliers may be required to support EV owners to deliver this carbon neutral vision.