Council pushes net zero target back ten years

REPORT SUGGESTS 2030 AIM IS NO LONGER ACHIEVABLE

- By STUART ARNOLD Local democracy reporter

A COUNCIL has rowed back on a promised aim for its area to be carbon neutral by 2030.

Redcar and Cleveland Council put tackling climate change at the top of its list of priorities in a corporate plan five years ago. It said Redcar and Cleveland would be net zero carbon emitting by 2030, including the council.

But a report for councillors covering the climate change and culture portfolio of deputy leader Carrie Richardson said it had now aligned its aspirations with the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) which had a target of 2040 instead a further ten years away.

The report said the council had already "drastically reduced" its own carbon emissions, but conceded that an "honest assessment" was needed as to whether the 2030 target was achievable - suggesting it wasn't. It said substantial additional investment was required to keep to the original target, although leaders said it remained a goal.