00:00Experts have warned that in order for Newcastle to reach its decarbonisation goals, the city
00:05would require a huge injection of government funding. Activists have been left disappointed
00:11by the speed in progress and say that more dramatic steps are needed if the net zero
00:15ambition is to become a reality.
00:17Citywide carbon dioxide emissions fell by 10.3% between 2019 and 2022, according to
00:24the latest figures. But Walken and Cycling Group's Space for Gosforth, Space for Heating
00:29and New Cycling complain that only two of an original 27 priority actions to cut transport-related
00:35pollution had been completed since 2019. The launch of the Clean Air Zone and an e-scooter
00:41trial scheme and their efforts to cut car usage through schemes like Low Traffic Neighbourhoods
00:46appear to have stalled since projects in Jesmond, Heaton and Fennham were dropped.
00:52Green Party councillor Nick Hartley said that people don't need more slogans, they
00:55need lower bills, better transport and a waste system that actually works. Home Heaton is
01:01responsible for 20% of carbon emissions, yet developers are still allowed to build poorly
01:05insulated homes with no solar panels in areas that force more car dependency.
01:11But what do the people of Newcastle think?
01:23I mean, I don't see physical change because it's hard to see that take place, but I have
01:29heard a lot of improvements being made. And I think if Newcastle City Council have that
01:34prerogative and that motive, then they'll get it done, so yeah.
01:42It just isn't happening. Like, I think I understand that councils have a lot of duties and a lot
01:49of priorities, especially in the immediate term. And with the shrinking budget, it's
01:54quite difficult to tackle climate change, but I do feel maybe a bit more should be done.
