Sunderland Low Carbon Framework

Climate change represents a significant challenge for our generation. Over the past 50 years, the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in recorded history and the trend is accelerating. 2019 was the second warmest year on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization. It is a global issue in relation to which every person, every organisation and every place has a role to play. Sunderland is committed to playing its part in tackling the global climate change emergency. Young people across the city identified the environment and climate change as their number one priority in the Young People's State of the City Debate held in November 2019, and the council declared a climate emergency earlier that year in March 2019.

We have set up a partnership-wide 2030 Shadow Board, chaired by the Leader of the Council, with representatives from partner organisations to ensure a co-ordinated and strategic approach to low carbon across the city. The 2030 Shadow Board's purpose is to work collectively to drive forward Sunderland's ambitions and commitment to tackling climate change. They have shaped the development of the Sunderland Low Carbon Framework which was adopted by the City Board in December 2020. The 2030 Shadow Board brings together organisations including the council, Together for Children, Sunderland Youth Parliament, South Tyneside and Sunderland's NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group, the University of Sunderland, Sunderland College, Gentoo as well as the Police, Fire Service, Transport for the North, and business partners through the North East England Chamber of Commerce, together with councillors representing each of the political groups on the Council.

The Low Carbon Framework focuses activity around seven strategic priorities, putting people at its heart - changing our behaviours, changing our organisational policies and practices, and setting out five thematic areas under which work will be taken forward. These focus on the built environment, green economy, low carbon energy generation and storage, consumption and waste, and low carbon and active transport.