Theme four: Our planet
Creating a net zero emissions and climate resilient city
Renaturing the city and increasing resilience to climate change
- 148,173 trees and 3,599 metres of hedgerow planted and 6,285 people engaged in the programme across Belfast.
- Achieved bronze sustainable food award through participation in the UK and NI Sustainable Food Places initiative.
- Delivery of nature-based solutions via the UPSURGE Community Garden at Lower Botanic Gardens.
- Developed a Sustainable Food Strategy for the city.
- Held Belfast’s first ‘Living Lab’ project to help build climate resilience.
- Completed the £33 million Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme, providing enhanced protection for over 3,000 homes and businesses by constructing flood defences along 8.5km of the River Lagan.
Creating a sustainable circular economy
- Achieved a 38.9 per cent recycling rate for Belfast, generating the lowest waste per capita in NI.
- Commenced the expansion of the kerbside glass collection scheme to approximately 70,000 households which will result in citywide provision of kerbside glass collections by March 2027.
- Since 2020, Belfast has moved from 47th out of 48 destinations to 9th out of 100 destinations in the Global Destination Sustainability Index. It is the highest ranking destination in the UK and Ireland.
- Commenced work to develop a low-carbon heat network within central Belfast City.
- Established the Belfast Retrofit Delivering Hub to help accelerate retrofit activity across public and private buildings, engaging 120 representatives from 66 organisations.
Innovating to Net Zero
- Launched the Belfast Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) to provide a roadmap for Belfast to achieve net-zero carbon emissions and transition to a sustainable, affordable energy system. It outlines pathways, and steps for decarbonisation, supporting wider socio-economic goals like job creation and prosperity for residents.
- Delivery of 22 climate projects costing almost £1 million, including energy audits, installation of metering and monitoring in Belfast City Council buildings and the development of a digital twin for city hall, recycling pilots, baseline species rich grassland and other initiatives.
- Achieved an ‘A’ rating for the third year in a row in the Carbon Disclosure Project.
- Belfast Harbour has witnessed a 35 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 and has electrified 30 per cent of its fleet.
- The Housing Executive has been appointed the HEARTH Advisory Board. Led by Oxford Brookes University, this research project is examining the benefits to vulnerable populations of transitioning to net zero.
Tackling climate, resilience, and sustainability
Belfast faces major challenges related to climate change and sustainability. These challenges will have a profound impact on economic and social objectives unless they are addressed with urgency and in a collaborative manner.
Re-naturing the city and increasing resilience to climate change
We are committed to shaping a green, transformed and healthy city that is resilient to climate change, attractive for green investment and offers a high quality of urban life for residents.
Delivery highlights and progress
- Planted 148,173 trees and 3,599 metres of hedgerow planted, with 6,285 people engaged in the programme across Belfast.
- Achieved bronze sustainable food award through participation in the UK and NI Sustainable Food Places initiative.
- Delivered an urban agroecological garden, demonstrating sustainable agricultural practices and investing in sustainable soil management to promote benefits in terms of food security, nutrition, poverty reduction, provision of ecosystem services, climate change mitigation, habitat restoration and sustainable urban land development.
- Continued to coordinate the climate elements of the Belfast sustainable food partnership and establishment of two city-wide working groups dedicated to food access and community growing.
- Worked with community groups to develop an urban growing and an urban greening project to demonstrate opportunities for biodiverse cities.
- Completed the £33 million Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme constructing flood defences along 8.5km of the Lagan from Stranmillis Weir to Belfast Harbour.
UPSURGE Project
A major highlight is the UPSURGE Community Garden at Lower Botanic Gardens, funded through the EU Horizon programme. This tests nature-based solutions (NBS) to mitigate air pollution and reduce the impact of climate change stressors. The project started in September 2021 and is due to be completed in February 2026. It promotes shared learning and good practice on the management of green spaces for pollution alleviation, supporting citizen health and climate resilience.
Delivered by Belfast City Council and Queen’s University, working in partnership with 24 partners, the demonstrator site features research trials which measure the transmission of contaminates to food and plant matter, a community garden and a resilience garden. The installation of environmental sensors is also planned for the site which will measure temperature, humidity, pressure, ozone, Nitric Dioxide (NO), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Particle Matter (Dust) and noise levels. Other exciting additions have included the installation of solar panels on the roof of the shipping containers and an innovative water pump and compost toilet.
The project is intended to serve as a ‘lighthouse’ to accelerate, transfer and upscale the use of nature-based solutions and mainstream them into the urban agenda through co-design processes with citizens and stakeholders.
TALX2 Project
TALX2 establishes an innovative 'living lab' approach, engaging communities, government agencies, and stakeholders as equal partners to plan and adapt for an uncertain future. Belfast is one of three living labs across the island of Ireland (alongside Dublin and Mayo). Launched in March 2024, the TALX team has collaborated closely with local authorities in these locations.
Delivery highlights and progress
- Held first Belfast Living Lab Workshop in June 2025, gathering cross-departmental Council officers to map current and planned projects building climate resilience.
- Conducted early-stage activities: literature review on successful partnership principles; development of an All-Island Climate Action Database; Community Collaboration workshop at Mary Robinson Climate and Nature Conference in May 2025.
Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme (BTFAS)
Completed in December 2024, the BTFAS helps Belfast manage tidal flood risks from climate change, providing enhanced protection for over 3,000 homes and businesses. The flood defences account for climate projections to 2080 and are designed for further adaptability. Thoughtfully integrated with the landscape, the scheme preserves the River Lagan as a vibrant, welcoming space for communities, visitors, and investors. It includes earth embankments, brick-clad reinforced concrete walls, floodgates, glass defences, and demountable barriers that blend with existing streetscapes.
Key partners welcomed the project's completion, with the Minister for Infrastructure touring the works in early 2025 to emphasise its role in long-term resilience. This £33 million investment by the Department for Infrastructure better prepares the city for future tidal events, safeguarding people and infrastructure while promoting sustainability. The scheme features demountable and temporary defences to seal access points and roadways during alerts.
Post-completion, the Department is collaborating with multi-agency partners to update the Belfast Coastal Emergency Response Plan. Beyond flood protection, the scheme supports economic growth by securing homes, businesses, and infrastructure, attracting investment, and enhancing Belfast's reputation as a resilient city. It reduces economic and social impacts, with estimated flood damage avoidance benefits exceeding £168 million over its design life (based on 2018 figures).
HEARTH Project
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has been appointed to the External Advisory Board of the HEARTH Project (The National Hub on the Net Zero, Health and Extreme Heat). This research project, led by Oxford Brookes University is examining how the transition to net zero emissions can benefit vulnerable populations by improving health outcomes, such as reducing heat-related illnesses and enhancing living conditions during extreme heat events over a five-year period from 2025-2030.
Met Office – Belfast Heat Packs
Belfast City Council collaborated with the Met Office to create Heat Packs for the city. This work addressed information gaps at city and sub-city levels, using high-resolution climate projections for urban heat hazard estimates.
Delivery highlights and progress
- Conducted 'heat walks' citywide to identify vulnerabilities to rising temperatures and urban heat island effects.
- Applied findings to the Belfast Tree Equity Study to guide future tree planting based on heat projections.
- Integrated the Belfast Heat Vulnerability Index into the Climate Change Risk Assessment for Belfast City Council.
Creating a Sustainable Circular Economy
It is our aspiration to transform our throwaway economy into one where waste is eliminated, resources are circulated, and nature is regenerated. We are committed to working with partners to deliver local solutions and bring together the right people to ensure a just transition.
Delivery highlights and progress
- Achieved 38.9 per cent Local Authority Collected Municipal Recycling Rate.
- Generated the lowest household waste per capita in NI (399kg per annum compared to 458kg per annum NI average).
- Moving materials up the waste hierarchy through new and improved reuse initiatives; bikes, furniture, laptops and paint.
- Commenced expansion of kerbside glass collection scheme to 70,000 households, which will result in city wide provision of kerbside glass collections by March 2027.
- Completed a feasibility study, market readiness assessment and business model analysis, reviewed delivery models and developed a community opportunities assessment for a low carbon heat network.
- Supported the development of a neighbourhood retrofit pilot (led by social housing providers) through the Belfast Retrofit Delivery Hub.
- Since 2020 Belfast has moved from 47th out of 48 destinations to 9th out of 100 destinations in the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS). It is the highest-ranking destination in UK and Ireland. Belfast is one of the few cities to have completed a carbon baseline of its tourism sector.
- Completed the Horizon Europe funded UP2030 project. The UP2030 project aims to embed net zero in urban planning in Linen quarter BID, Sandy Row, Market, Donegall Pass and Barrack Street areas.
- Developed a draft city-wide Sustainable Food Strategy, with associated delivery and monitoring arrangements.
- Commenced development of a sustainable food policy for the Council that addresses waste, sourcing, packaging, emissions measurement and an events protocol.
- Conducted a feasibility study with Dublin City Council on circular economy opportunities in the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor.
- Published “Segregation and the Environment, Breaking Down Barriers” report, highlighting the continued links between segregation within the city and the impact on our environment and Belfast’s unique challenge in meeting climate targets.
- Delivered 2024 Pre-Loved Toy Appeal, providing much-needed boost to families across the city during the festive season. This year’s appeal, run in partnership with East Belfast Mission, saw over 27 van loads of toys collected from the city’s recycling centres, benefiting more than 1,500 children.
Heat Network
The council have commissioned several work streams linked to developing a low-carbon heat network within central Belfast. The evidence presented within the Local Area Energy Plan demonstrates that heat networks are one of the key projects to help Belfast progress towards net zero emissions.
Delivery highlights and progress
- Completing a technical feasibility study with Aecom for a low carbon heat network in the city centre.
- Developing innovative business models with the Energy Systems Catapult to help scale the deployment of rooftop solar.
- Working with Bird and Bird on legal and commercial considerations and developing a route to market.
- Working with AtkinsReális to assess opportunities for communities to engage and benefit from decarbonisation projects.
- Participating in knowledge sharing activities across UK and Ireland with local authorities at different stages of their heat network journey.
- Participating in a study trip to Bradford and Glasgow funded by SEAI for Irish Heat Network stakeholders, along with representatives from Department for Economy (DfE), Invest NI, Strategic Investment Board (SIB) and DGB Consulting.
Belfast Retrofit Delivery Hub
Established in September 2022 following the Belfast Net Zero Carbon Roadmap, which identified buildings and transport as the city's top carbon-emitting sectors, the Hub adopts a consortium approach to accelerate retrofit activity across public and private buildings. It engages stakeholders from the construction supply chain, funders, academics, public bodies, housing providers, and consumer groups, informed by the Construction Leadership Council's National Retrofit Strategy.
Delivery highlights and progress
- Engaging 120 representatives from 66 organisations, with core group of 12 lead agencies.
- Sharing best practice through site visits and case studies, drawing on established initiatives across the UK and Ireland.
- Undertaking a survey of typical Belfast properties to understand the costs of retrofitting these types of housing.
Innovating to Net Zero
Our aim is for Belfast to become an exemplar low carbon economy creating opportunities for training, employment and green growth. We will develop and implement city-wide testbeds through place-based interventions.
Delivery highlights and progress
- Launched the Belfast Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) in 2024, provides a roadmap to achieve net-zero carbon emissions and transition to a sustainable, affordable energy system. It outlines pathways for decarbonisation that support wider socio-economic goals like job creation and prosperity for residents. The LAEP prioritises energy and heat projects within the city to achieve the city’s net zero targets including heat networks, rooftop solar and building retrofit.
- Across our estate and operations, we developed a Climate Action Plan and delivered 22 internal climate projects including energy audits, installation of metering and monitoring in our buildings and the development of a digital twin for City Hall, recycling pilots, baselining of species rich grasslands and other initiatives.
- Achieved an ‘A’ rating for the third consecutive year in the Carbon Disclosure Project.
- In 2025, Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) began constructing a new electricity substation on Sydenham Road to significantly boost local capacity. Flood protection works has been completed at major substations to enhance network resilience against climate change, while low-voltage feeder cables have been upgraded to support heating electrification in social housing retrofits.
Belfast Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP)
In September 2024, Belfast City Council launched the Local Area Energy Plan – the first to be developed in Northern Ireland. Recognised as the leading method for translating net zero targets into action, the LAEP marks a milestone moment in the city’s transition towards a resilient, low-carbon economy for everyone. Developed using cutting-edge whole-system modelling and extensive stakeholder engagement, the comprehensive road map capitalises on the city’s unique geographical characteristics and assets. Sitting on top of Sherwood Sandstone, the city has huge geothermal potential while an abundance of rooftops can generate solar energy. Led by council and developed collaboratively with key stakeholders, the Belfast LAEP presents a pipeline of priority projects including a district heat network, large scale retrofit of buildings, transition of oil households to low carbon heating and the deployment of rooftop solar panels.
As a primer to collaboration and a catalyst for future investment across the sector and beyond, the transformational LAEP sits alongside other net zero investments such as Translink’s net zero bus fleet, Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s retrofit programme and the Energising Belfast project. With electricity and gas network operators gearing up to decarbonise at scale, the plan charts a path to net zero that is affordable, and if properly resourced, will create new opportunities for jobs and businesses.
Belfast Harbour – green port
Belfast Harbour's integrated Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy places human capital and sustainability at the heart of all activities and aligns with the Trust Port mandate to operate, maintain, and enhance the Belfast Harbour Estate. In 2024, the Harbour invested £325,000 in local communities and a further £3.6 million was invested in City Quays Garden, a One Planet Living Public Space. The Harbour has achieved a 35 per cent reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in 2024.
