Gloucester City Council brings forward carbon neutral commitment by five years

It's ahead of COP26 which begins in October

Author: Isabel KimbreyPublished 15th Sep 2021

Gloucester City Council is set to bring forward its emissions target as part of broader commitment to join the UK100.

They've committed to being carbon net zero by 2045 - exceeding the national target by five years.

UK100 is a network of highly ambitious local government leaders doing everything in their power to get to net carbon zero as soon as possible,

It is the only local government network focused solely on climate, clean energy and clean air policy.

In advance of the 2021 Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, the city council’s Cabinet which meets this evening, has been recommended to approve its plans to join the UK100.

The move will place Gloucester City Council alongside Cotswold and Stroud District Councils, who are already members of UK100, as well as Gloucestershire County Council.

It comes ahead of COP26, which runs from 31 October to 12 November, where world leaders will arrive in Glasgow for 12 days of talks on how to tackle to climate emergency.

The city council is also taking part in the ‘Greener Gloucestershire’ initiative to promote the positive work of councils, the police, NHS and other partners across the county.

They're also raising awareness of how residents, businesses and communities can cut carbon and support the fight against climate change.

Gloucester City Council, alongside others councils across Gloucestershire, declared a climate emergency in 2019.

Councillor Richard Cook, leader of Gloucester City Council and Cabinet member for environment, said: “Acting to address the climate emergency is crucial, and we need to get it right now for future generations.

“I am happy that we have moved to increase the ambition of our decarbonisation programme, which membership of the UK100 network will support through greater collaboration with other ambitious councils across the country.

“Our increased decarbonisation ambitions reflect both what we believe is achievable and, crucially, what we know is necessary in order to avert the worst effects of a climate crisis that is already upon us."

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