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To help limit the impact of climate change, we:

1. declared a climate change emergency.
2. are taking all necessary steps to make the Council carbon neutral by 2030 (25% reduction by March 2023 and a 50% reduction by March 2025).
3. are a champion for a carbon neutral future for South Tyneside. This includes using our advocacy role to influence actions that promote carbon reductions, across all our communities and the region.
4. asked the Leader and Chief Executive of the Council to write to the government to pass the necessary legislation, and provide the rights and resources needed to deliver our climate change goals.
5. created a climate change strategy and action plan.
6. prepare a Sustainable South Tyneside annual update for full Council every year, setting out performance against agreed targets and recommending any changes to the published action plan.
7. make sure that all Council strategic decisions, policies and strategies are in line with the move to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
8. produced a Green Economic Recovery Plan.

What we have done to reduce our emissions

Our pledge to become carbon neutral by 2030 refers to the carbon emissions from:

• our gas and electricity usage
• our fleet's fuel usage

Some of the work we have done to reduce emissions includes:

• implemented the Viking Energy Network in Jarrow (VENJ): A renewable energy scheme that harnesses low-grade heat from the River Tyne to heat a number of Council buildings
• implemented the Hebburn Renewable Energy Scheme: A scheme that provides renewable heat to a large leisure facility and a high-rise residential block, with future network expansion opportunities
• installed solar panels to a number of Council buildings
• delivered a significant improvement programme of LED upgrades to street lighting, with continued capital investment taking place
• building modernisation and retrofit improvement programmes
• installed Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units at some of our highest consuming sites  
• expanded our fleet of electric vehicles
• trialled an electric refuse collection vehicle for our waste services to gain a better understanding of requirements and opportunities going forward
• provided online climate change training for our staff
• delivering a significant building rationalisation programme
• began deliering carbon literacy training to out elected members and Council officers
• installed ground source heat pumps at 2 schools

What we have done to protect our environment and tackle climate change

Our strategy goes beyond our direct carbon emissions, looking at how we can:

• protect and improve our natural environment
• reduce our indirect carbon emissions
• adapt to a changing climate

To protect our environment and tackle climate change, we have made improvements to:

Transport

• introduced two School Street trials
• improved access to our Metros, through the Healthier Metro Neighbourhoods
• produced a
• continue to provide Bikeability training within all of our schools
• supported the introduction of a new bus route to Sunderland
• improved our cycle route network
• increased the amount of electric car charging points

Trees and nature

• continue to plant at least 3,000 trees a year
• supported the
• undertaken saltmarsh restoration, working with the
• continue to manage our Local Nature Reserves to protect and enhance their biodiversity
• planted a Tiny Forest, a densely packed native forest roughly the size of a tennis court, with a local school.
• launched South Tyneside, raising awareness of the challenges faced by coastline wildlife and to encourage wildlife positive behaviours.

Education, engagement and collaboration

• worked with schools to raise awareness on climate change, creating a , giving workshops and talks, and running competitions
• started training our Elected Members and staff to be Carbon Literate
• supported local businesses with our
• joined to collaborate and accelerate our decarbonisation across the region
• provided work experience to students from the borough to help gain experience in the Environmental Sustainability sector

Food

• continue to support South Tyneside's
• provided fruit trees to schools across the borough
• worked with pupils and school caterers on reducing our food waste and low-carbon menus
• supported with our VCSE partners

Energy and procurement

• improved the energy efficiency of residential accommodation, focusing on areas with the highest fuel poverty levels in the Borough
• supported the launch of the service, to provide in-person advice to residents across the region for underserved communities, and hard-to-treat properties
• embedded social value in procurement

Adaptation

• continue to lead on the Stronger Shores coastal adaptation project
• completed flood alleviation schemes in Monkton and Cleadon
• retrofitted Sustainable Drainage Schemes at two primary schools
• completed a property flood resilience scheme in the Stanhope Road area
• completed the A183 Coast Road realignment to protect the road from erosion risk and prolong the lifespan of the coastal route
• continuing to protect South Tyneside against flood and coastal changes.

Future plans

Our future plans include: 

• The Middlefields Energy Scheme: The scheme will provide on-site renewable electricity energy generation to key Council buildings
• upgrade the remainder of our street lights to LEDs
• an awareness and engagement programme to increase understanding of climate change across the Borough, and highlight what can be done to reduce its worst effects
• Investigating expansion opportunities for our heat networks
• Developing a Heat Decarbonisation Strategy
• Phased upgrades of our electric vehicle charging network

For more information about what are doing and what we plan to do about climate change, read our climate change strategy and action plan. 

Energy efficiency of residential accommodation

The reports below outline what we have done to improve the energy efficiency of residential accommodation in the South Tyneside area.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Home Energy Conservation Act Progress Report 2017

Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Home Energy Conservation Act Progress Report 2015

Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Home Energy Conservation Act Further Report 2013