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Climate change strategy 2022

Consultation and Partnership

Consultation and partnership

In February 2022 we hosted a stakeholder workshop at BALTIC, with the aim of beginning a dialogue with our communities, and creating networks between individuals, groups and organisations. 

A residents survey was also carried out between January and May 2022, to gain a better understanding of our communities attitudes towards the climate emergency, and what action  our community would be willing to take. The survey received a strong response, with 942 respondents. 86% were concerned about the impact of climate change, and 81% supported the council taking action on climate change. When asked who should do more to tackle climate change, 90% of respondents identified large businesses, 87% for the national government, and 82% for Gateshead Council.

On actions to reduce their own carbon footprint, people indicated they would be willing to reduce the amount of energy they used, would plant or retain trees or shrubs, or would be willing to switch to 'green' energy tariffs. However, respondents were more resistant to the suggestion of avoiding air travel, with 35% unwilling to do this. 

Draft Climate Strategy consolation 2022 - what people said

Nearly 70% of respondents said they agreed with the climate strategy vision. Almost 70% said they would be willing to make a personal climate pledge.

Over 200 pins were dropped on the interactive map either to suggest actions that are needed to take place for climate change, or to show us where best practice exists in Gateshead. These suggestions will feed into the ward level action plans which will be subject to ongoing community and stakeholder engagement. 

Health and Wellbeing board 

The Health and Wellbeing Board, included many of our key partners that will help with the delivery of the Climate Strategy, endorsed the strategy in April 2022. Other partners are able to sign up to endorse the Climate Strategy and pledge to help to deliver it. 

Commitments 

In response to the climate emergency declared in 2019, we are committed to:

  • making the council's activities carbon neutral by 2030
  • achieving 100% clean energy across the council's full range of functions by 2030
  • ensuring that all strategic decisions, budgets and approaches to planning decisions are in line with a shift to zero carbon by 2030
  • ensuring that political and chief officers embed this work in all areas and take responsibility for reducing, as rapidly as possible, the carbon emissions resulting from the council's activities, guaranteeing that any recommendations are fully costed
  • supporting and working with all other relevant agencies towards making the entire area carbon neutral within the same timescale
  • working with, influencing and inspiring partners across the borough to help deliver this goal through all relevant strategies, plans and shares resources by developing a series of meetings, events and partner workshops
  • the council and its partners taking steps to proactivitely include young people in the process, ensuring that they have a voice in shaping the future
  • calling on the UK Government to provide the powers, resources and help with funding to make this possible, and asking local MPs to do the same

Your commitments 

Delivering the Climate Change Strategy is not just the responsibility of us. You can make your own personal or organisational pledge.

Examples of pledges to make:

  • businesses can make a pledge to begin monitoring carbon emissions
  • organisations can pledge to embed climate and environmental action within all activities 
  • individuals can pledge to reduce waste going into the green waste bin 
  • individuals can pledge to reuse, recycle, begin composting and wasting less
  • individuals can pledge to swapping one of their car journeys and instead walk, cycle or use public transport instead

We recognise that not every action will be popular with everyone, but to ensure that we still have a planet that is liveable, some sacrifices will need to be made. Fortunately, many changes have additional benefits to saving the planet, like saving money or improving your health, all of which will encourage the change.