Back to Energy and Environment

Pathway to Net Zero

What is ‘Net Zero’?

‘Net Zero Carbon’ means dramatically reducing the amount of carbon we emit and then physically removing any remaining emissions, effectively cancelling them out. So as a result, we don’t add to the amount of carbon in our atmosphere.

Why is it needed?

A ‘Year One’ Climate Action Plan was originally implemented to undertake initial steps towards becoming net zero. However, a longer-term strategy is needed and following a summer of engagement in 2021 with residents of the LCR, we’ve developed a Pathway to Net Zero, which sets out the scale of the challenges, and our strategic vision to meeting this goal.

What does it mean for our city region?

For net zero carbon to happen, we need to make significant changes to four areas of our shared lives; our homes, our neighbourhoods, the journeys we make and our workplaces. Net Zero North West estimate that Liverpool City Region needs around £45bn investment over the next 20 years to deliver the carbon reductions we need, securing jobs and growing new green skills.

What happens next?

All six Local Authorities in the Liverpool City Region have declared a Climate Emergency and all are taking targeted, local action on hundreds of different aspects of the climate challenge. From LED streetlights, energy efficient homes to zero carbon vehicles, sharing creative ideas and lessons learned is already helping the whole city region to make faster progress to achieve net zero carbon.

Our next stage is to work collaboratively with all partners and stakeholders across the city region to co-create a comprehensive action plan against which short term and long term progress can be measured. Our Pathway document outlines the work that must be done in order to achieve our net zero target. There are major changes and investments we must make to help save the planet, and working collaboratively is crucial.

Read our Pathway document