Energy use must be halved in less than 20 years for the Liverpool City Region (LCR) to reach its target to be net zero carbon by 2040 or sooner, according to a new report.
The Liverpool City Region Pathway to Net Zero document also reveals the cost of becoming net zero, the economic and individual benefits and the effect climate change will have on the city region.
It says the target is achievable with rapid, collective action that will protect populations and prosperity across the city region and help people live longer and healthier lives. And it stresses the need to create a fair future with help for vulnerable people and those less able to afford the switch to zero carbon.
In 2019, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority became the first in the country to declare a Climate Emergency, committing to become net zero carbon by 2040 – 10 years ahead of the UK target.
Work already underway has ranged from support for grassroots organisations through the Metro Mayor’s £500,000 Community Environment Fund to progress on projects to cut transport emissions – through low and zero-carbon public transport and a 600km walking and cycling network. Thousands of the city region’s least energy efficient homes are also being retrofitted to use less power.
Clean energy schemes including plans to triple the size of wind power generation in Liverpool Bay and the Mersey Tidal Project are being progressed – building on existing and developing strengths in hydrogen and wind power.
Public transport use needs to rise by 5% a year by 2025 and 10% a year by 2030 – with the aim to create a London-style system that’s quick, safe, reliable and affordable seen as crucial to encourage people away from cars.
The report’s vision is for 50% of journeys in towns and cities to be active and for remaining cars to be electric.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “We are facing a race against time to save our planet from the threat of climate change. It will not happen overnight and will not be easy, but we all have our part to play – and there is a world of opportunity available to us by embracing that change.
“If trains, docks, and canals made us the gateway to the first industrial revolution – then our emerging strengths in wind, tidal and hydrogen can make us leaders in the green industrial revolution, creating tens of thousands of high-quality, high paying jobs for local people.
“At COP26 in Glasgow in November we showed to the world that we are one of the places leading the way through innovative and significant industrial projects including Mersey Tidal, Glass Futures and HyNet. Make no mistake, this is our moment. I want others to look to the Liverpool City Region as the exemplar when it comes to tackling climate change.”
To view the full Liverpool City Region Pathway to Net Zero report click here.
