A range of new measures designed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout Plymouth are set to be discussed by members next week.
The latest incarnation of the Net Zero Action Plan (NZAP), a three-year delivery strategy that sets out the City Council’s response to its pledge to reach net zero, will be debated by the Natural Infrastructure and Growth scrutiny panel on Wednesday 12 February.
While detailing updates on a number of ongoing actions like the continuing electrification of fleet vehicles, as well as the retro-fitting of low-carbon heating methods on buildings, new initiatives are also in the pipeline.
These include:
- Beginning the delivery of the externally-funded £400m heat network which will see major buildings in the city centre with the waterfront connected and heated by a central source
- Submitting an expression of interest for participation in the Department of Transport's e-scooter trial scheme
- Support the delivery of the UK’s first end-to-end commercial waste recycling plant for electric vehicle batteries in Plymouth
- Following the lead of other similar-sized cities by exploring the feasibility, potential role and benefits of emissions-based vehicle charging tariffs.
Councillor Tom Briars-Delve, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change, will present the plan to colleagues.
Tom said: "This latest version of the Net Zero Action Plan is bold and brings forward a raft of measures that will make great strides towards our net zero ambitions.
"Although previous plans have also been effective, this time we have gone back to the data and thus have an increased focus on the city's most high emitting sectors, namely transport and buildings.
"I do understand that for some people, parts of this plan may seem ambitious but ambitious is what we must be if we are to ensure the environmental sustainability of our city and planet.”
The NZAP covers two areas - commitments to reduce emissions from Council-owned facilities and also how the Council can use its influence to help the city as a whole move towards net zero.
The Council has been producing the plan with annual updates since it first declared a climate emergency in 2019, and through actions already completed has reduced its own carbon emissions by 18.1 per cent between 2019 and 2022.
Following its appearance at the cross-party scrutiny committee, any recommendations will be considered before the NZAP is voted on by Full Council on 17 March.