New partnership to help Cambridge reach net-zero emissions

Cambridge local authorities have announced a new partnership to help enable the city to achieve its net-zero carbon goals. 

In 2019, Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils declared a climate emergency and committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Both local authorities have announced today (June 11) a new partnership with sustainability engineers Etude and sustainability charity Bioregional to support the councils in the shared planning needed to achieve net-zero emissions.

The partner will work with the councils to provide evidence to determine how net-zero should be defined and accounted for and what measures will be necessary for key sectors, including costings, feasibility and the potential role of offsetting.

Ronan Leyden, head of sustainable places at Bioregional, said: ‘Greater Cambridge is committed to turning its Climate Emergency declaration into tangible carbon-reduction actions.

‘With time quickly running out to address the issue, we will be setting out a route map to net-zero carbon. This will involve looking at which areas are most suitable for development and the form that development should take, taking into account the need for people to keep going about their lives while keeping carbon emissions to an absolute minimum.

‘It’s really exciting for us to be involved in exploring how this wonderful city could develop into an example of how to grow in a way that enables truly sustainable living.’

Thomas Lefevre of Etude added: ‘We are really excited to work with Bioregional on the carbon evidence base for the Local Plan: it is a great opportunity to establish clearly what is required to achieve Net Zero Carbon and demonstrate that it is technically feasible and economically viable.’