news

Exeter City Futures releases plan to achieve carbon neutrality

Posted: 15 April 2020 |

The Plan sets out a series of actions that local authorities, organisations and individuals can take, with associated carbon savings and cost, such as those related to mobility and transport.

Exeter City Futures releases plan to achieve carbon neutrality

Exeter City Futures, an organisation that aims to work collaboratively with Exeter City to plan the transition to carbon neutrality, has released its ‘Plan for a Net Zero Exeter.’

Some of the key findings from the plan include a 53,000 tonnes of carbon saving if 100 per cent of Exeter’s electricity was generated from clean sources, as well as 140,000 tonnes of carbon saving if Exeter were to exploit the maximum potential for renewable generation (including solar, wind, geothermal).

Priority actions recommended in the Plan also include that the city:

  • Revises the local plan to identify sites for new housing and commercial developments that can be served by quality public transport links and attractive cycle and walking connections (2,579 tonnes of carbon saving per year)
  • Launch a city-wide low carbon mobility scheme, supported by integrated multimodal ticketing, that improves movement into and around the city (8,751 tonnes of carbon saving per year)
  • Deliver a safe, segregated convenient cycle and walking network that is accessible to all supported by infrastructure across the city centre and at major employment / education site (246 tonnes of carbon saving per year)
  • Encourage all Exeter businesses to implement sustainable travel initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint (1,168 tonnes of carbon saving per year)
  • Build a network of work and healthcare hubs in Exeter’s travel travel-to-work area, contributing to a reduction in the need to travel into the city for work or health (2,159 tonnes of carbon saving per year)
  • Make the city centre, and core walking areas, free from motorised vehicles to provide a vibrant public space and free up land currently used for driving and parking (1,248 tonnes of carbon saving per year)
  • Establish freight consolidation centres at key access routes to reduce the number of vehicles entering the city: ensure onward deliveries within the city centre are made by non-fossil fuel vehicles (272 tonnes of carbon saving per year).

Whilst the formal launch of this document was due to take place at the Net Zero Exeter Mobilisation Summit, which had to be postponed as a result of COVID-19, Exeter City Futures has now presented it to the City Council.

Liz O’Driscoll, Managing Director at Exeter City Futures, said: “Despite the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic, I’m extremely pleased to present the Net Zero Exeter Plan to Exeter City Council and the city, on how Exeter can be carbon neutral by 2030.

“It has been four years in the making with collaboration with the many different communities, institutions, organisations and individuals who make up our city.

“Everyone across Exeter has a role to play, this isn’t something that can be delivered by any local authority alone.

“This plan represents the contribution of hundreds of businesses and individuals across Exeter, who have engaged with us to set out the action plan to become a carbon-neutral city and ensure it remains one of the best places to live in the UK.

“Many businesses and individuals are now struggling to deal with the impacts of COVID-19 and this is likely to change the way the city views and responds to the plan.

“More than ever the city needs to come together to think about the kind of future that we really want, and make it a reality.”