Climate Change
Action Plan
2024-2026

Recruited skilled team to deliver climate change action plan

Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

Secured over £28million pounds of grant funding

The Council's planning system now includes climate change throughout the local plan

Collaborated with the third sector to deliver climate change initiatives

Net zero has been embedded within the new North East Combined Authority (NECA) as a cross-cutting priority

Received dedicated support for the Climate change team from the North of Tyne Combined Authority

Collaborated with the North of Tyne and other regional Local Authorities to secure almost £2m for two regional services for home energy advice in the North East

Supported the Borderlands energy masterplan, which is due to begin delivery in 2024

Created online learning for Council staff, with a 90.99% completion rate

Delivered Carbon Literacy training to 123 Council employees, and 2 elected members

Developed and distributed Town and Parish Council Climate Change Tool Kit

Attended over 50 Town and Parish Council meetings

Issued 77 press releases (2022-2023) relating to the Council's climate change and environment initiatives

Distributed monthly climate change newsletter to 6969 subscribers

Produced social media posts that generated 180,000 engagements (2022-2023)

Co-developed Community leaders Carbon Literacy Toolkit

Given out 51,691 free tree saplings as part of the Council's annual free tree scheme

Awarded £105k of funding to community groups as part Northumberland Climate and Environment fund

Developed a local resource pack for Northumberland schools in partnership with the Ministry of Eco Education

The Northumberland Schools Sustainability Network (NSSN) is now made up of 28 schools

Hosted the ‘Climate Change Youth Voice Event’ at County Hall in December 2023

As part of the Northumberland Tree Warden Scheme, 23 Tree Wardens have been recruited

Secured funding for six domestic energy projects

Retrofitted 323 homes in Northumberland and supported retrofit in 86

Established Warmer Homes team – creating 14 highly skilled green sector jobs

Sourced feasibility studies for low carbon district heat networks in eight towns

Developed procurement strategy for heat network delivery partner

Secured funding for 15 heat decarbonisation plans for Council buildings

Secured funding to install heat pumps in 6 Council buildings

Supported the building of solar car port at county hall

Developed and adopted an electric vehicle charging strategy

Collaborated with Council teams to secure funding to purchase and install 155 individual EV charge points across the county

Supported the procurement of 42 electric vans and 3 electric cars, which are now operational in the Council's fleet

Delivered a low-carbon synthetic fuel pilot project in two Council refuse collection vehicles

Developed The Northumberland Line, which is nearing completion, helping to reduce congestion and improve air quality on key corridors by moving people away from car travel and onto public transport​

Secured active travel capability funding for delivery bikes for school and community use

Developed Twelve Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans. Identifying key cycling and walking corridors in Northumberland

Started the capital delivery stage of cycling and walking schemes in Ashington, Ponteland, Blyth, Bedlington, Hexham and Corbridge

Secured grant funding for the Bus Service Improvement Plan which has improved frequency of bus services and supported a new rural service and low-fares as part of the national £2 fare cap

Secured funding for a pilot project working with the farming community to identify ways of decarbonisation agricultire and support access to sustainability funding

Led the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) pilot which is now being developmed for the North of Tyne area

The Great Northumberland Forest project has led to 932 hectares of new woodland creation and 2.9 million individual trees or hedgerow trees being planted since 2019

Joined the Northumberland Peat Partnership and supported the delivery of detailed surveys of vulnerable upland peat

Supported trials for new kerbside glass and food waste collection

Co-delivered a pilot project for food and garden waste from rural domestic properties

Supported establishment of vape collection bins at household waste recovers centers