MEMBER NEWS: Aberdeen City Council drives forward carbon emission reduction plan

March 2, 2022
MEMBER NEWS: Aberdeen City Council drives forward carbon emission reduction plan

Courtesy of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce.

Aberdeen City Council has approved a Net Zero Aberdeen Route Map, setting out a city-wide approach aimed at reducing carbon emissions across a variety of sectors by 2045.

The Route Map and supporting theme strategies for the City of Aberdeen were co-created by businesses, community groups, third sector representatives and the public.

A Net Zero Leadership Board, chaired by Aberdeen City Council leader Councillor Jenny Laing, agreed to focus on six key theme strategies – mobility; buildings and heat; the circular economy; energy supply; the natural environment; and community empowerment.

Alongside this, approval was given to the updated Aberdeen Adapts framework, which sits alongside Net Zero Aberdeen and outlines how the city will adapt to changing climate conditions in the coming decades.

Council leader Councillor Jenny Laing said: “Aberdeen has been leading the way in combating climate change – and in agreeing the Route Map we have set a clear direction of travel for the city in the decades ahead.

“Climate change at the city scale is not a challenge that can be solved by one organisation alone and have worked hard with partners to develop these plans. The continuing need for collaboration will be reflected in the way these documents are implemented.”

Councillor Ryan Houghton, convener of the City Growth and Resources committee, said: “The impacts of extreme weather on the city and its economy have further highlighted the need to put robust protection in place against environmental changes.

“The commitment by the council and industry leaders to Net Zero alongside the Aberdeen Adapts framework helps ensure we have a long-term strategy for coping as well as reducing risk.”

Read this story on the AGCC website here.

Get in touch

AREG is the original energy transition organisation, working on behalf of members to empower the energy supply chain and champion its expertise. Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to find out more about membership.

AREG has played an important role in the growth of Scotland’s renewable energy sector, engaging the supply chain and developing the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. However, we are only at the very beginning of the transition that AREG was established to both lead and support so there are still opportunities for companies to get into the constantly evolving renewables supply chain. We look forward to continuing our work together as renewables builds on its place as Scotland’s main source of power, and as we seek to deliver real change in the crucial areas of heat and transport.

Scottish Renewables

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with AREG since its formation. The recent progress in the developments of offshore wind projects by Equinor and Vattenfall are as a result of the work of the group over many years. The north-east is known as the oil and gas capital of Europe. At the Chamber, we believe the region must evolve its position to being recognised as the energy capital. Whilst hydrocarbons will continue to be essential in driving our economy for years to come, the generation of renewable resources will play an increasingly important role in providing cost-effective power, innovative development and economic growth.

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce

The enthusiasm and dedication of the early group that would become AREG was fundamental in us choosing to launch All-Energy in Aberdeen. The first tiny show was held in 2001, and AREG’s Chairman at the time, Jeremy Cresswell, played such an active role that I often describe him in terms such as All-Energy’s ‘midwife’. All-Energy is now the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference in terms of number of attendees, space booked, and number of exhibiting companies. As AREG became firmly established, their presence and support for the event grew spectacularly over the years. We thank them most sincerely for their invaluable input.

All-Energy

Vattenfall has forged a strong working relationship with AREG through the development of the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. AREG has worked tirelessly on behalf of the North East and it can take enormous credit for the growth of sustainable energy in the region and the path it has cleared for the region to capture further investment.

Vattenfall

Aberdeen City and Shire is emerging as a key location for renewables by successfully transferring its world-class oil and gas expertise into the sector and AREG has done much to advance this through a broad range of initiatives. It has acted as a catalyst in driving further investment in the local economy by engaging with companies, Government, public bodies and existing projects and we have been pleased to support their efforts. Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with AREG as we increase Scotland’s use of renewable energy.

Scottish Enterprise