Climate change

Action on climate change

We are committed to making Belfast a resilient net zero economy for everyone.

We are working with partners to reduce Belfast's net carbon emissions by 80 per cent compared to 2005 levels as quickly as possible. In 2022, we adopted these city targets:

• 66 per cent reduction on the 2000 level of emissions by 2025
• 80 per cent by 2030
• 100 per cent by 2050

Our plan to mitigate climate change

Our Resilience Strategy is Belfast's first climate plan. It is the basis of our climate adaptation and mitigation plan.

Through this plan, we are developing others so can can:

• reduce our own carbon footprint
• reduce the city’s pollution and noise
• reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions from buildings 
• promote cycling, walking and public transport
• promote a green economy
• build resilience to flooding and other climate risks 
• plant one million trees by 2035
• promote and support clean transport technology and infrastructure
• help our residents to reduce their carbon footprints
• use green procurement

You can read our climate aspirations and a vision of what we want Belfast to be as a city in Belfast Resilience Ambitions.

As part of our goal to transition to a low-carbon economy in a generation, we have created two focused plans:

• Belfast Local Area Plan will shape how we use energy in the city in the future
• Belfast Electric Vehicle (EV) Strategy will set out an ambitious EV plan for the city

Partnership actions to date

We need to work in collaboration with others on our journey to tackle climate change. To make this possible we have:

• launched our Belfast Resilience Strategy - the city’s first climate plan 
• become co-chairs of the Belfast Climate Commission with Queen’s University
• launched a Belfast Mini Stern Report: A Net Zero Carbon Roadmap for Belfast (link opens in new window)
• worked with the Belfast Community Planning Partnership to establish a Belfast Resilience and Sustainability Board
• joined climate-related networks including Resilient Cities Network, Core Cities and APSE Energy (all links open in a new window)
• launched the Belfast One Million Trees campaign
• established Belfast Retrofit Delivery Hub in 2022
• established Belfast Sustainable Food Partnership in 2023
• secured funding for projects such as UPSURGE and UP2030 through the Horizon funding programme
• secured funding through UKRI Pioneer Places to explore the potential for a net zero park in Belfast Pioneer Places Funding
• reporting to the global Carbon Disclosure Project framework, achieving a B in 2021 and an A in 2022 CDP City Scores
• joined the International Local Government Sustainable Development Network (link opens in a new window)
• signed up to the Eurocities (link opens in a new window) Climate and Environment Forums
• ongoing work in partnership with local bodies Sustainable NI and Climate NI 

Becoming carbon neutral

We are also setting an example to other organisations and businesses in the city by becoming carbon neutral. We are doing this by:

• producing an Environmental Sustainability Review
• establishing an internal officer board to develop a Climate Plan
• planting trees on our own land as part of our Belfast One Million Trees campaign
• supporting Fairtrade
• buying electricity from renewable sources
• reviewing our fleet strategy to include the sustainable future-proofing
• preparing for climate change impacts, such as flooding, as part of our Climate Plan

How we make decisions

Resilience and Sustainability Board

To develop ideas for tackling climate change and progress climate action, we set up a Resilience and Sustainability Board through our Community planning process. This board has people from key public and community organisations in Belfast to share experience and knowledge on environmental sustainability.

Climate and City Resilience Committee

The purpose of the Committee is to meet monthly with the Climate Commissioner to consider the potential implications of climate change for the city of Belfast and make recommendations to the Council on Belfast City Council’s approach to addressing the climate crisis and Council’s role and responsibilities at city level.

Members

• Cllr Rois-Maire Donnelly (Chair) 
• Cllr Michael Collins (Deputy Chair) 
• Ald Sonia Copeland
• Cllr Brónach Anglin
• Cllr David Bell
• Cllr Christine Bower
• Cllr Ruth Brooks
• Cllr Tara Brooks
• Cllr Arder Carson
• Cllr Paul Doherty
• Cllr Micheal Donnelly
• Cllr Davy Douglas
• Cllr Sammy Douglas
• Cllr Tracy Kelly
• Cllr Jenna Maghie
• Cllr Geraldine McAteer
• Cllr Áine McCabe
• Cllr Gary McKeown
• Cllr Brian Smyth
• Cllr Séanna Walsh