County Durham
Climate Action Plan

Nationally, the UK has a legally binding target to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050. Many local councils have more ambitious targets. There are nearly 400 principal councils across the country: the majority have a net-zero target of 2030. Further information from the Council.

Local net-zero target date

2050

Plan published

February 2020

Plan scope

Plan covers entire local area

Climate emergency declared

June 2019

Working together

We use data on Climate Action Plans fromĀ data.climateemergency.uk

If you have more recent Climate Action Plan information for this area, please contact mySociety atĀ [email protected]

CO2 emissions

It's hard to visualise CO2 emissions. The data talks about 'tonnes of CO2' - but what does a tonne of gas look like? Well, imagine a typical large hot air balloon (almost 3,000 cubic metres in volume). One tonne of CO2 would fill one of these hot air balloons.

Additional local carbon emissions

Carbon emissions embedded in the imported goods we consume locally are typically not counted. However, these goods are produced and then transported here because of our consumer demands. Imported emissions are so big they should not be hidden*.

* Note: Imported emissions are estimated based on the Total UK Goods & Services Greenhouse Gases imported emissions (Defra UK's Carbon Footprint 2016: 353mt CO2 eq) pro-rated based on Local Authority population size and assumed equal per capita consumption of imported goods and services across all Local Authorities.

CO2 emissions in total

2,017,241 tonnes

People in the local area

533,149

CO2 per person per year

3.8 tonnes

Additional local carbon emissions

2,805,670 tonnes

Source: BEIS Local Authority territorial CO2 emissions within the scope of influence of Local Authorities (2020).

Local carbon emissions by sector

In getting to net zero as quickly as possible, we need to look at how we do things differently in every sector.

(000t)

2018
2019
2020

High-impact, low-carbon initiatives

Total published on Carbon Copy across the UK: 1044 See all Initiatives

There are some amazing collaborations between local councils, communities and companies. Some examples in/around County Durham:

Durham Chargepoint Delivery

Making public EV chargepoints more accessible in order to promote electric vehicles.

County Durham
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon emissions
  • Transport

Durham's Plastics Pledge

Eliminating all unnecessary single-use plastics.

County Durham
  • Carbon emissions
  • Waste
  • Circular Economy
  • Built Environment

Greener Heating

Providing rural, off grid homes with renewable, clean heating systems.

County Durham
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon emissions
  • Health & wellbeing
  • Energy
  • Built Environment

Karbon Homes

Lowering the carbon footprint of homes, whilst positively impacting the lives of customers.

County Durham
  • Carbon emissions
  • Greater fairness
  • Health & wellbeing
  • Built Environment
  • Energy

NEE OneVoice

Working collaboratively to ensure we deliver on decarbonising the region’sĀ­ built environment.

County Durham
  • Carbon emissions
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Built Environment
  • Circular Economy
  • Energy

REBUS

Sharing experiences of renovating public buildings to enhance energy efficiency via Interreg Europe.

County Durham
  • Carbon emissions
  • Excessive consumption
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Energy
  • Built Environment
  • Finance

ECO2 Smart Schools

Partnering schools from County Durham and across the globe, sharing learning and climate actions.

County Durham
  • Biodiversity loss
  • Carbon emissions
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Energy
  • Biodiversity & Nature
  • Built Environment

ISO Systems

Championing environmental management systems.

County Durham
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon emissions
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Energy
  • Built Environment
  • Transport

Lanchester Wine

Reducing carbon with Adam Black from Lanchester Wine on the Zero Carbon Tour.

County Durham
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon emissions
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Energy
  • Built Environment

Mott MacDonald

Working together to achieve carbon neutral status.

County Durham
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon emissions
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Energy
  • Built Environment
  • Transport

Stronger Shores

Quantifying how nature-based solutions reduce erosion and flood risk.

County Durham
  • Biodiversity loss
  • Carbon emissions
  • Flooding & drought
  • Biodiversity & Nature

Energi Coast Skills Group

Building a skilled workforce for the offshore wind industry in North East England.

County Durham
  • Carbon emissions
  • Greater fairness
  • Energy

Chestnut Natural Capital

Eliminating single-use plastics in forestry by replacing them with a biodegradable alternative.

County Durham
  • Air pollution
  • Biodiversity loss
  • Excessive consumption
  • Biodiversity & Nature
  • Land Use, Food & Agriculture

Business Energy Efficiency Project

Helping small businesses reduce carbon emissions through auditing and grant funding.

County Durham
  • Carbon emissions
  • Excessive consumption
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Energy
  • Built Environment
  • Transport

Green Durham

Providing free information about sustainable businesses and projects around County Durham

County Durham
  • Carbon emissions
  • Food security & supply
  • Land Use, Food & Agriculture
  • Biodiversity & Nature
  • Transport