Belfast retains top marks for climate action work.

Date: 22 Nov 2023

Category: Climate and biodiversity

Belfast has received an A rating for its climate action work for the second year in a row.

It is the only city on the island of Ireland to receive the top grade from international climate research provider CDP.

Welcoming the good news, Chair of the Climate and City Resilience Committee, Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly said: “As a city and as a Council, this is incredibly good news for Belfast. The annual assessment from CDP is designed to encourage cities to advocate and accelerate climate ambitions and is widely recognised as the gold standard of environmental reporting.

“Over the last year, we have made improvements in building resilience, reducing emissions and in turn, helping to create a robust climate resilient city. Governance has been established at both city and Council level in the form of the Climate Commission, Resilience and Sustainability Board and Council’s Climate Programme Board.

“Work is ongoing across the city and within Council, with an emphasis on active travel, the continued success of our One Million Trees initiative which focuses on collaborating with young people, schools and communities and our recent Belfast Tree Strategy. The Belfast Sustainable Food Partnership has also been re-established this year with a focus on tackling food poverty, reducing waste and the promotion of sustainable food.”

Cities who received an A grade must have a city-wide emissions strategy and have a focus on the belief that everyone in the city should be involved in the move to a net-zero economy.

Councillor Donnelly added: “It is vital that we continue to build on the momentum we have created and continue towards our goal of a climate resilient city within a generation. The climate emergency needs to be at the heart of all decisions made for both the city of Belfast and our residents.”

For more information, visit https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/climate-change

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