What is the North East Declaration on Climate Change?
The North East Declaration on Climate Change is an extension of the Nottingham Declaration.
By signing the North East Declaration on Climate Change you acknowledge that climate change is occurring and will have far reaching effects on the region's people, places, economy, society and the environment.
Signing the declaration also represents your commitment to tackling the causes and effects of a changing climate on our region.
Download and sign the Declaration.
Who has already signed up?
Key regional partners in the public, private and voluntary sector have already signed the North East Declaration on Climate Change. This includes: all 12 North East England Local Authorities; Association of North East Councils; Business in the Community; Confederation of British Industry; Environment Agency; Federation of Small Businesses; Government Office for the North East; Natural England; North East Chamber of Commerce; Northumberland National Park Authority; One North East; Voluntary Organisations Network North East.
Download and sign the Declaration.
Why should you sign the Declaration?
Climate change affects everyone and we can all play our part. Local authority, business and community leadership, and individual action will be essential to success. We will make better progress if we are prepared to work together.
Councillor Mick Henry, Chair of the Association of North East Councils, said: "Climate change is one of, if not the greatest challenge and threat to the 21st Century and to our planet's long-term future. Signing this Declaration represents a commitment by different organisations in the region, including its 25 councils, to work together to tackle climate change.
"We stand the best chance of tackling climate change and living in a greener future if we work together."
Jonathan Blackie, Regional Director for Government Office for the North East, said:"I encourage all organisations in the North East to sign the Declaration and join us in working together on this critical issue. There is some excellent, groundbreaking work ongoing in the region and it is essential that partners in the region work together, not only to reduce emissions and mitigate against the impacts of climate change, but also to put in place the necessary adaptation measures to counter the inevitable consequences that we are already facing."
Wyn Jones, Chair of Sustaine, said: "Here in the North East, we are one of only two regions in the whole of the UK where ALL of our local authorities have signed up - this is exactly the kind of support we need if we are going to meet the challenges that climate change presents not only in reducing our CO2 emissions and our own effect on the climate but in making sure we can adapt to cope with climate change."
Download and sign the Declaration.
What does the Declaration say?
Here is the content of the Declaration:
We acknowledge that:
- Evidence shows that climate change is occurring.
- Climate change will continue to have far reaching effects on the Region's people and places, economy, society and environment.
We welcome the:
- Social, economic and environmental benefits which come from tackling climate change.
- Emissions targets agreed by Central Government and the programme for delivering change, as set out in the UK Climate Change Programme.
- Opportunity for regional stakeholders, in partnership, to lead the response at regional and local levels, encouraging and helping residents, businesses and other organisations - to reduce their energy costs, to reduce congestion, to adapt to the impacts of climate change, to improve the local environment and to deal with fuel poverty in our communities.
- Endorsement of this declaration by Central Government.
We commit our Organisation from this date to:
- Work with Central Government to contribute, at a regional level, to the delivery of the UK Climate Change Programme, the Kyoto Protocol and the target for carbon dioxide reduction by 2050.
- Participate in local and regional networks for support.
Within the next two years develop plans with our partners and local communities to progressively address the causes and the impacts of climate change, according to our regional priorities, securing maximum benefit for our communities. - Publicly declare, within appropriate plans and strategies, the commitment to achieve a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from our own operations, especially energy sourcing and use, travel and transport, waste production and disposal and the purchasing of goods and services.
- Assess the risk associated with climate change and the implications for our businesses, services and our communities of climate change impacts and adapt accordingly.
- Encourage all sectors in our community to take the opportunity to adapt to the impacts of climate change, to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions and to make public their commitment to action.
- Monitor the progress of our plans against the actions needed and publish the result.
Download and sign the Declaration.
