Hull City Council has joined forces with some of the biggest organisations in the area, including Reckitt, the University of Hull and Marketing Humber to support the launch the Oh Yes! Net Zero campaign – marking the start of our city leading the region and the UK to a net zero future.
The Oh Yes! Net Zero campaign will unite businesses, organisations and communities to raise awareness and help drive down carbon emissions, encouraging everyone to make changes towards a net zero future. The initiative aims to develop an innovative economic model in Hull to reduce carbon emissions and support a net zero future in an economically viable and sustainable way.
Daren Hale, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “Hull City Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and we set ourselves the ambitious target of achieving net zero emissions by 2045.
“This campaign is one way in which our city and region can showcase what it is doing and will do to achieve net zero, whilst encouraging other organisations and local people to join us on this journey.”
Laxman Narasimhan, CEO of Reckitt, which was founded in Hull in 1840, said: “I’m excited that Reckitt, along with our coalition of partners, is bringing together the people of Hull and the Humber to shape the region’s net zero future. As a leading consumer hygiene, health and nutrition company, we’re extremely proud of our 182 years’ heritage in the city and are committed to the role Reckitt plays in creating a cleaner, healthier world for all.
“We are also laser-focused on delivering on our sustainability commitments, targeting a 65% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, and are committed to helping everyone take the best possible care of the world we all share.”
Here are some of the ways that organisations across Hull and the Humber are leading the charge on achieving net zero.
Hull City Council
- The council’s action plan includes investing £56m in carbon neutral, green and net-zero capital projects over the next four years (wind, solar, and district heating).
- As part of its housing growth plan, Hull City Council is committed to taking a ‘fabric first’ approach when delivering new, modern council homes. This means that new homes are delivered with enhanced levels of insulation to help keep homes warm and reduce energy demand. Existing homes are benefitting from from a £50m programme of energy saving improvements.
- To support the transition from petrol and diesel to electric, the council has expanded the number of electric vehicle charge points at five sites across the city and is aiming to replace most of its fleet petrol and diesel vehicles under three tonnes as they come up for renewal with electric by 2025.
Living with Water Partnership
- Living With Water is a partnership between Yorkshire Water, Hull City Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the Environment Agency and the University of Hull which was created to help protect our area by building understanding about the threats and opportunities water brings to our region. Work includes the Sustainable Landscapes Humber Project, a series of “pop-up rainforests” across East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire designed to increase organic soil matter.
Hull University Hospitals Teaching NHS Trust
Hull University Hospitals Teaching NHS Trust has pledged to reach net zero by 2030. Work is underway to construct a £4.5m solar panel “Field of Dreams”, which is expected to generate enough energy to power the whole of Castle Hill Hospital. The trust has also committed to reducing anaesthetic gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2025 and will source patient meals locally to minimise transport-related carbon emissions.
Ideal Heating
Ideal Heating and Hull City Council are conducting a study investigating the customer journey associated with using air source heat pumps to drive energy efficiencies and cost savings for residents.
All partners in the Oh Yes! Net Zero campaign are encouraging local businesses and residents to drive down their emissions and take positive action on climate change.
To find out more about the campaign, access advice and tips about reducing your carbon footprint and sign up to be part of it visit www.ohyesnetzero.co.uk.
