City urged to spell out how it will hit green goal

NEWCASTLE must be “realistic” about its pledge to reach net zero emissions, leaders on Tyneside have been told.

- DANIEL HOLLAND Local democracy reporter [e-mail]

The city council laid down a commitment in April 2019 to make Newcastle carbon neutral by 2030. But there have been major questions around whether that ambition can become a reality and pressure is mounting on civic centre officials over how to hit the goal.

Blakelaw councillor Marion Williams, who was in charge of transport and climate change issues on Newcastle City Council's cabinet until October, warned last week the 2030 net zero target cannot be met without “big step changes” in the next few years.

The former Labour councillor, who now represents the East End and Associates Independent group in the council chamber, told a meeting of the council's climate change committee: “Unless we make big step changes we are not going to meet the target. It is great to be ambitious but we have to be realistic.

“What are we going to do and what are the measures to make that big step to make the difference?”