Transforming to Net Zero remains a key strategic priority for Exeter

Published: 26 January 2024

Exeter’s Lead Councillor for Climate and Ecological Crisis said the city’s ambition to become Net Zero by 2030 continues to be a key strategic priority for the Council.

Cllr Josie Parkhouse said the Council is planning to create a new role which will coordinate all the activity among key partners in the city who are working towards Net Zero.

Community activity will also be coordinated to support the work being carried out by groups and individuals across the city.

Cllr Parkhouse said: “We have an ambitious target to be Net Zero by 2030. It is something that we take incredibly seriously as one of our key strategic priorities.

“It was revealed how successful we have been when we were recently found to be one of the best performing district councils in the country for our internal Net Zero work. That shows the dedication and expertise of our team.”

Cllr Parkhouse said all city council staff and councillors are being given the opportunity to undertake carbon literacy training to ensure the issue is at the forefront of everything they do.

She added: “We are not going to get to Net Zero as a city council on our own – we need to work with partners like Exeter College, the University of Exeter and the NHS on how to achieve it.

“That’s why we are planning to create a new strategic group which will look at Net Zero in the city and look at how we can work more closely together to reach our aims.

“We are also working with community groups and individuals through a Community Net Zero group which will help with the work already happening throughout the city.”

Cllr Parkhouse said the Council had cut its own carbon footprint through a range of measures including retrofitting properties, generating green electricity through solar arrays and taking measures to increasing biodiversity.