Net Zero Global Mobilisation Summit - How low can we go?

EXETER’s pledge to make the city carbon neutral by 2030 after declaring a climate emergency will be explored at a special conference next month where organisers are calling on business and the community for support.

A wide range of speakers will explore the fields of Energy, Mobility, Sustainability and Capability at the event at Exeter City Football Club, which is free and open to all to attend. 

Achieving the goal of a carbon-neutral city can only be achieved with city-wide collaboration and support and the City Council, who declared the climate emergency, have been working with Exeter City Futures CIC to create a shared ‘roadmap’ for change that everyone can work from. 

“This roadmap will set out the scale of the challenge, the likely actions that will need to be taken and an estimate of the investment that will be required to ensure that Exeter is, and is in a position to remain, carbon neutral,” said Liz O’Driscoll, Managing Director of Exeter City Futures.

A 12 point plan has been developed by the organisation as a blueprint for change and people are being asked for their feedback at a number of city workshops as well as at the conference itself. 

As well as the series of more conventional workshops, there will also be a series of community conversations, led by local arts organisation Encounters.

These will be informal drop-in events around the city, and will give everyone who wants to take part the opportunity to share thoughts, feelings and ideas relating to the challenge.

Organisers insist that the plan is ambitious but not impossible as long as everyone works together. 

“There will be hurdles and many of the features in the blueprint present significant challenges. But it’s not impossible. With the will of people from the city we can and must achieve this,” says Liz O’Driscoll. “Together we are stronger, and to achieve an ambition of this scale, collective, practical action is what truly matters.” 

City MP Ben Bradshaw is also calling for businesses to work together to help fulfil the city’s pledge: “I’m pleased to see Exeter leading the way on the climate emergency. To be carbon neutral by 2030 is an ambitious but necessary target and I hope that people and businesses across our city will work together to put their ideas into action and make this goal a reality.”

Exeter City Council Leader Phil Bialyk said: “We can’t get away from the fact that we find ourselves in a climate emergency and we need to act before it is too late. At the City Council we are committed to showing leadership and demonstrating how Exeter can rise to the challenge and be a globally leading city for tackling climate change.”