The climate emergency

The global average temperature is increasing - and human activity is the main cause.

Climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather events. Here in Newcastle we are already feeling the effects through:

• heatwaves
• flooding
• winter storms

In 2015 national governments from across the world agreed to try and limit temperature rises to 1.5°C. 

Yet we are on course to overshoot that before 2050.

That means we face a climate emergency and need to take urgent action to reduce or halt climate change. Otherwise we risk irreversible environmental damage by not taking action.

Our climate emergency declaration

In 2019 we declared a climate emergency and set ourselves on a path to net zero.

We were soon followed by both Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals.

Newcastle was therefore the first city in the world to have key anchor institutions aligned. This commitment to fast-track carbon reduction enabled collaborative efforts between the organisations.