Exeter City Futures work will be taken forward by board partners
Published: 19 June 2023
Exeter has an ambitious goal to be a net zero city by 2030. Since 2015 Exeter City Futures has provided a vehicle for partners to come together to define our approach to this vital task. Now the Exeter City Futures Board has decided that the time is right for the Net Zero Exeter 2030 Plan to move to delivery by the founding partners collaborating to create a greener, healthier future for local communities.
The Exeter City Futures Community Interest Company will close at the end of June and the goals will be delivered through the strategies of Exeter City Council, Devon County Council, the University of Exeter, Exeter College and the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Exeter City Futures was instrumental in developing the Net Zero Exeter 2030 Plan and bringing institutions and communities together around four themes: energy, transport, capability and sustainability, and the net zero plan has been adopted by leaders across all partners.
Bindu Arjoon, Chief Executive at Exeter City Council says:
“I want to thank the Exeter City Futures team for their significant role in developing the Net Zero Exeter 2030 Plan and engaging the local community in creating a more sustainable future. Achieving net zero offers significant opportunities for Exeter and is central to our commitment to develop a successful and thriving city in areas such as transport, energy, housing, health and wellbeing which will all bring positive change for people living, working, studying in and visiting the city. I look forward to working with partners across the city to deliver the critical net zero mission through our existing partnership boards, structures and strategies.”
Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, said: “Delivering net zero is a top priority for Devon County Council. The plans we have developed together based on scientific evidence and community engagement sets the course to create a resilient, sustainable county where people and nature can thrive. We are committed to working with partners across Devon to create a better future and new opportunities for our local communities.”
Professor Lisa Roberts, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Exeter says:
“The University of Exeter is proud of our work with our partners across the city and region to drive a net zero future and a greener, healthier and fairer way of life. The Exeter City Futures team can be proud of all that they have achieved and it is incumbent upon all of us now to work together as one community to grasp the opportunities ahead in a green economy and ensure everyone in Exeter can thrive in our beautiful surroundings.
“The University of Exeter will ensure that we use our expertise, which includes over 1500 people working on environment and climate and more of the world’s top climate scientists than any other university on the planet, to lead the solutions required for our region. We have recently been rated as the number one university in the UK on climate action (2023 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings) and by working in partnership with the many outstanding local public and private sector organisations we are confident that Exeter can be a leading sustainable city in the world.”
John Laramy, Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive says:
“Exeter College is committed to playing our part in making Exeter and Devon a leader in the mission of becoming net zero. As a college, our Board, our staff and our students are committed to making a positive difference to our environment. Exeter College is committed to the work developed with Exeter City Futures with the aim of making Exeter carbon neutral by 2030.”
Chris Tidman, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust says:
“The sustainability of the city is really important to the health and wellbeing of our patients and staff, which is why we have been such strong supporters of Exeter City Futures over the last 8 years. We are committed to continuing to play our part in this strong partnership, using our collective strength to drive Exeter’s journey to net zero.”
Glenn Woodcock, Oxygen House and founder and board Chair of Exeter City Futures says:
“I am more than pleased that the partners across Exeter will take forward so much of what Exeter City Futures has achieved, and believe that together they will be able to take our vision further and grow it larger than we could at the Community Interest Company. The combined vision and objectives have become so aligned on net zero and the expertise so great across all the institutions that I am confident Exeter can be a world leading city and show the way to a sustainable economy and future.”