A new net-zero carbon roadmap for Belfast was launched on Tuesday 15th December at a livestreamed joint event with the Belfast Resilience Strategy, marking the publication of the city's first climate action plan.

Author, writer and environmentalist Jonathon Porritt joined the launch of the roadmap, which was included in the official launch of Belfast's Resilience Strategy.

Porritt, who is founder director of Forum for the Future, joined Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive, Belfast City Council and Professor Andy Gouldson, author of the Net Zero Carbon Roadmap for Belfast and a member of the PCAN team.

He said: "There’s so much ‘hot air’ about the climate emergency out there at the moment, from global summits to ever more soaring rhetoric on the home front, which makes it crucial that cities like Belfast take the lead in purposeful action planning. This event marks a really important milestone in that process.”

Commenting on Belfast's Resilience Strategy, Belfast Lord Mayor, Alderman Frank McCoubrey said: “As the world responds and recovers from a global pandemic, it is more crucial than ever to prioritise a sustainable and resilient strategy that supports our future wellbeing." 

“Since we declared a climate emergency last October, we have been taking a lead in the battle against climate change and this important strategy will enable us to work with others to ensure a collective response to addressing the issue of climate moving forwards. The strategy is about partnership and collaboration to build a better future, so understandably, a key focus is young people and finding ways to help create an active urban environment for children. It also addresses the need to create connections and connect people, sustainable transport and infrastructure in ways that achieve our economic and environmental goals.”

Introducing the Belfast Net-Zero Carbon Roadmap, which was produced by the PCAN team with Belfast Climate Commission, Professor Andy Gouldson said: "The Climate Plan and the Net Zero Carbon Roadmap for Belfast go hand in hand. Based only on the fuel and electricity used within its boundaries, Belfast will use up its share of the carbon budget through to 2050 in just over nine years. The roadmap sets out how Belfast can ensure rapid reductions in carbon emissions, which also fulfils the aim of Belfast’s Resilience Strategy.”

Have your say on the Resilience Strategy (link opens in new window). More information on resilience in Belfast is available here. 

Watch the livestream of the Belfast launch event