Zero carbon Sheffield: the challenge of 2030 - John Grant

Sheffield City Council has declared a climate emergency and has established an ambition to become zero carbon by 2030. To this end the SCC set up the Green City Partnership Board comprising the city’s universities, local businesses and environmental organisations and charities. Research commissioned by the GCPB has established that to stay within a cumulative carbon dioxide emissions budget (set in Paris) of 16 million tonnes (MtCO2) for the period of 2020 to 2100 would require cuts in emissions averaging 14% per year.

At 2016 CO2 emission levels, Sheffield would use this entire budget within six years. Can a major UK city possibly achieve zero carbon in a decade? Dramatic action to reduce emissions requires national and local cooperation, as part of a wider collaboration with other local authorities.

This talk was organised by the Yorkshire and North East regional committee.