Sunderland City Council

Sunderland City Council declared a climate emergency in 2019. This declaration committed Sunderland to reduce its citywide emissions and help global temperature rise stay well below 2.0°C, pursuing 1.5°C by 2050, in-line with the Paris Agreement of 2015. 

Sunderland's Current Position:  

• The city has a carbon budget of 8.2 million tonnes CO2 for the period 2020 to 2100.  
• At 2017 levels, Sunderland would use this by 2026. 
• Sunderland exceeded the interim 5-year reduction target of 16.1% from 2015-2020, reducing emissions 26.1%.  
• Due to exceeding this target, Sunderland is on track to meet its first interim recommended 5-year carbon budget period of 5.8 MtCO₂ between 2018-2022 (aligned with the carbon budget of 8.2 million tonnes).

CO2 Citywide emissions targets 

• Sunderland aims to be a carbon neutral city by 2040. 
• From 2020, we must reduce our carbon emissions by 14.4% per year.