Pioneering net zero delivery for the City of Southampton

Cities are responsible for approximately 75% of CO2 emissions, and hence can play a critical role in achieving net-zero carbon. Decisions made by national and local governments, citizens, businesses, investors as well as other actors greatly impact resources and their consumption in cities requiring optimised provisions of services to support better infrastructure and growing populations in a period of increasing climate change impacts.

The city of Southampton is no different, it has a variety of specific challenges and opportunities which make it an ideal city to be propelled to net-zero, by 2050 (UK target) or earlier. Southampton has the power to use its political, economic, financial, and social influence to protect the environment and sustainably accelerate the city to net-zero. We will build on these characteristics, opportunities and challenges in a combined techno-economic methodology coupled with stakeholder engagements to support coherent studies to address non-technical barriers to achieve net zero.

The methodology and the derived strategies will allow an effective _Plan_ with a coherently structured programme aligned with the vision to deliver net-zero at city scale. The _Plan_ will be delivered through a capable team with high level buy-in from the partners (including the local authority) and stakeholders, coupled with the required levels of resources. An effective reporting mechanism and a risk register will also be established to support the vision and the derived strategies.