Climate change

South Tyneside residents, businesses and organisations have asked us to act on climate change, with 99% of people who responded to our public consultation saying they are concerned about the impacts of climate change.

We have committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 to protect South Tyneside.

This is to:

• support our local economy and rates of employment, to make us resilient and to embrace innovation and opportunity
• improve and protect residents' health and reduce pressure on the NHS
• protect South Tyneside's long-term growth and provide the best future we can for our children and grandchildren
• protect our countryside and wildlife
• reduce climate inequality and support the most disadvantaged in our community

We believe that:

• We have the opportunity to be world leaders, driving forward the North East's Green Industrial Revolution. For more information, see North East Local Enterprise Partnership: Low carbon and climate change strategy.
• We have a responsibility to protect countries most affected by climate change, who have contributed the least to the problem.  
• Protecting the environment has cross-cutting, social benefits for health, education, security, the economy and overall happiness.
• Acting to reduce the impact of climate change can help financially - see Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit: Climate change - costs and benefits.