Citizen magazine Winter 2024 - text version - Being a climate responsive city

Being a climate responsive city  

Fine city, bright future: a ten-year plan for a Climate Responsive Norwich

Climate change is a reality facing us all, and Norwich City Council has big plans to make Norwich a climate-friendly city. With everyone’s help, we are aiming for a low-carbon, eco-friendly future through our new ten-year action plan.

The story so far

As a city, we have a strong track record in climate action:

• 48% reduction in citywide emissions since 2008
• 80% Friends of the Earth rated our overall approach to tackling climate change
• 40% increase in cycling since 2013
• 24% of people in Norwich walk to work
• 100+ new Passivhaus homes built
• 3.2% decrease in household waste
• 2.6% increase in recycling since 2013
• 6,664+ solar panels fitted to Norwich homes through the Solar Together scheme

Net Zero Norwich

Our main goal is to reach “net zero” emissions for the council by 2030, meaning no more carbon pollution from its own activities. 

For the whole city, the goal is net zero by 2045. This means fewer greenhouse gases, more biodiversity, better energy use, and a city ready to handle any climate challenges. These targets underpin our action plan.

The Climate Responsive Norwich Programme (2024- 2025) has several focus areas that cover every part of the city’s climate action plan, and work is already underway.

• leadership and teamwork: working together with local, regional, and national groups to make climate goals possible. In 2022, we helped establish the Norwich Climate Commission, an independent advisory body set up to bring partners from the public, private and third sectors together to support, guide and track the impact of ambitious climate change and sustainability actions across Norwich.
• funding: Finding money for eco-projects from government and private groups and helping people afford home improvements that save energy.
• community involvement: Supporting residents and businesses to take climate action and creating neighbourhood projects that save energy. Look out for community-led project, Our Power, working with residents to share information and resources, providing freeenergy efficiency training, signposting to existing grants and offering impartial advice to reduce energy, bills and carbon output.
• buildings and infrastructure: Updating older buildings, decarbonising our council homes, boosting energy efficiency, and building more renewable energy systems. Did you know, we are now replacing gas boilers with air source heat Pumps wherever possible across council houses, and all new builds will have this more sustainable system.
• transport: Encouraging more public transport, reducing vehicle pollution, and increasing electric vehicle charging spots.
• waste: Cutting down on waste, recycling more, and reusing materials as part of a “circular economy.”

Our dedicated ten year Biodiversity plan is also already underway. It aims to create a city where biodiversity can sustainably recover and thrive, halt species decline and increase species diversity by 2030 or sooner.

Tracking our progress

Every bit of progress will be tracked using global standards to make sure we’re on track, and adjustments will be made as needed. This plan is Norwich’s big step toward a sustainable future, and every resident’s action makes a difference!

Councillor Emma Hampton, Norwich City Council’s cabinet member for a Climate Responsive Norwich said: “We are proud of the work we have already done to tackle climate change and know that we need to do even more.

“Helping the city reach net- zero is a key part of the city council’s work approach to being a climate responsive Norwich, a priority at the heart of our community-led plan.

“By working together, we can reduce emissions while achieving other positive outcomes including an improved city, improved community health, prosperity and biodiversity.”

Join the conversation and inspire others. Share your ideas, successes and queries on social media using the hashtags #NetZeroNorwich and #ClimateResponsiveNorwich.