Net Zero Exeter 2030 Plan Plan for a Net Zero Exeter 2 What Is This Document?
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PLAN FOR A NET ZERO EXETER 1 WHAT IS THIS DOCUMENT? NET ZERO EXETER 2030 PLAN PLAN FOR A NET ZERO EXETER 2 WHAT IS THIS DOCUMENT? This Plan presents Exeter's view of how the city The Net Zero Exeter Plan is NOT… The Net Zero Exeter Plan IS... can achieve its ambition to be net-zero carbon by 2030. In its creation, we engaged with a • the only carbon reduction plan within Exeter; • an attempt to set out what Exeter will need diverse range of individuals and organisations we recognise organisations will continue to to put in place in order to be net-zero from across the city to feed in different values, have their own plans and strategies and this carbon by 2030, based on benchmarking perspectives and backgrounds. plan should compliment and enable those. and public engagement. This marks the start of an exciting 10-year journey • perfect; this is our first iteration of the plan, • a document that sets out ways in which each for our city. The formal launch of the Net Zero curated through engagement across the of us can play our part in achieving the net- Exeter 2030 Plan which was planned to take city. We expect that it will be reviewed zero ambition, and to enable everyone across place at the Mobilisation Summit on 26 March and refined based on continuous feedback the city to engage in a meaningful way. 2020, had to be postponed as a result of the and further engagement, especially in light of COVID-19. However, the city’s determination to be the changes we are all experiencing as a result • built on an understanding that the city carbon-neutral by 2030 remains undiminished. of the COVID-19 pandemic. can only achieve its net-zero carbon targets if Success will only be achieved through a genuinely organisations, individuals and institutions take collective effort to ensure Exeter remains one of • a list of firm commitments or instructions; responsibility and accept they have a role and the greatest places to live in the UK. this plan sets out actions that Exeter City play their part. Futures believe can deliver the city’s carbon Together we highlight ourselves as leaders in ambition, it relies on a collaborative effort from • an attempt to focus the city on a sequence of the UK and support Innovate UK plan their future organisations and individuals to decide if, what key actions that take us to 2030 and enable investments into supporting cities in the run up and how they will change their own activities to these actions to be reflected in city and to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP help achieve the city's shared ambition. organisational plans. 26), due to be held in November 2020 but now • in constant review; this plan will be refreshed postponed due to COVID-19. • a barrier; the plan isn’t intended to impose rules that stifle innovation and other work occurring towards the end of 2020 to reflect on the position of the city as a result of the COVID-19 Together we are stronger, and to achieve an in the city. crisis, and then annually as the city begins to ambition of this scale, collective, practical action • complete; there will be no such thing as mobilise projects and action. is what truly matters. a ‘final version’ as it will be in constant review. • able to be fully delivered by any one organisation. PLAN FOR A NET ZERO EXETER 3 CONTENTS PART ONE PART TWO PART THREE DEVELOPING THE PLAN THE NET ZERO EXETER 2030 PLAN NEXT STEPS Exeter's Vision 7 Introduction to the plan 25 Leading Net Zero Exeter 65 Exeter's Commitment to Climate Action 11 Energy 26 What Exeter City Council can do 66 Net Zero Framework 12 Mobility 33 What Devon County Council can do 69 A Plan Co-Produced with the city 13 Sustainability 39 What Organisations can do 70 Creative Engagement 15 Capability 50 What Individuals can do 72 Reflections from Politicians 20 Timeline 57 Working with the Devon Climate Response Group 73 Reflections from Businesses 21 More information 74 Exeter Youth and Net Zero Exeter 22 Acknowledgements 75 Source Materials 7 PLAN FOR A NET ZERO EXETER 4 INTRODUCTION On 23 July 2019, Exeter City Council unanimously The information and responses gathered formed We now have the opportunity to take the agreed to declare a climate emergency and a collective body of evidence to inform the next learnings from our current challenging situation, made the commitment to make Exeter a carbon- steps for our city. and isolation, and turn it all into creative, positive, neutral (or net-zero carbon) city by 2030. practical action - ready for when we return to This ambitious target is aligned to the vision We had hoped that our activities would culminate some sense of normality. for the city and has potential to make a vital at the Net Zero Exeter Mobilisation Summit on contribution to our planet and all its people. 26 March 2020. Unfortunately, the government With the nation in lock-down, we will be advice regarding COVID-19 meant that this event working over the next few months to develop Exeter City Futures was asked to work with had to be postponed. ways in which people, whether as individuals, people and businesses from across the city to or as representatives of businesses, clubs, curate a shared plan for the delivery of the net- However, Exeter’s determination to be carbon communities or institutions, can continue to play zero carbon Exeter ambition. neutral by 2030 remains of paramount their part in the city’s ambition to be net-zero. importance. We have kept to our commitment This includes setting out the scale of the to deliver this Net Zero Exeter Plan to the city Exeter City Futures will listen to how people view challenge, the likely actions that will need to be council, and we believe that this document is the plan in light of the current climate and reissue taken (and by whom), as well as an estimate of now more relevant than ever. this document towards the end of the year to the amount of investment that will be required to incorporate these changing attitudes. ensure that Exeter is, and remains, carbon-neutral That said, we must be realistic. Big changes are by 2030. required to achieve a Net Zero Exeter and these This is all part of our continuing effort to connect understandably might not be top of the priority people from across Exeter as we pull together to Exeter City Futures' work began with a list at the moment. achieve shared goals. programme of public engagement, as well as focussed activities with businesses, community Whilst a formal endorsement of this Plan by The Exeter City Futures Team and city leaders. Exeter City Council is expected to be delayed whilst the council, organisations and individuals During February and March 2020, we worked deal with the continuing impact of COVID-19, with a range of partners to deliver events, inviting the crisis is forcing us to reassess our lifestyles, people from across Exeter to discuss the need change the ways we work, and potentially to shift for change and share their thoughts on any our values. challenges, barriers and areas of concern as the city undertakes this 10-year journey together. PLAN FOR A NET ZERO EXETER 5 And people stayed home and read books and listened and rested and exercised and made art and played and learned new ways of being and stopped and listened deeper someone meditated someone prayed someone danced someone met their shadow and people began to think differently and people healed and in the absence of people who lived in ignorant ways, dangerous, meaningless and heartless, even the earth began to heal and when the danger ended and people found each other grieved for the dead people and they made new choices and dreamed of new visions and created new ways of life and healed the earth completely just as they were healed themselves. ‘And People Stayed Home’ Catherine (Kitty) O’Meara, March 2020 PLAN FOR A NET ZERO EXETER 6 PART ONE DEVELOPING THE PLAN PLAN FOR A NET ZERO EXETER 7 EXETER’S VISION Exeter is a smart, intelligent city, never afraid to With the commitment to becoming carbon- do things differently if it leads to making things neutral by 2030, Exeter has the opportunity The Liveable Exeter Housing better for everybody. It’s anchored by its great to show leadership within the region. Through Delivery Programme location, superb education providers, spirit of decisive implementation of policies, innovations working together, and absolute commitment to and investment, the decisions we make now will This recently released document highlights embracing fresh ideas and innovation. shape the way we live, and our environmental where the city can attract major investment impact, for decades to come. and renew its infrastructure for the 21st Century Exeter drives the agenda for the South West of with the aim of improving people’s lives and England, enjoying a global reputation in digital, Where possible throughout this plan we have wellbeing. It demonstrates the capacity for data, medicine, and environmental science. Exeter identified existing (or emerging) policies and urban renewal and densification to also relieve has also built world-class credentials in culture strategies that will play a role. There are also pressures on the infrastructure and communities and creativity; the recently awarded UNESCO City some key strategies and programmes being of the surrounding, more rural districts, and of Literature status is evidence of this.