Net Zero Town

Sustainability is at the heart of our long-term vision for Luton. Together, we recognise the importance of the climate emergency and the threat this poses to our local environment and our planet as a whole. Protecting the longterm future of the planet and the resources it provides is essential to maintaining growth and protecting the long-term security of our residents and preventing poverty. Enhancing our natural environment is also central to improving the physical and mental wellbeing of our residents as well as fostering a strong sense of local pride and cohesion throughout our community.

Luton was among the first local authorities to respond to the climate emergency by committing to becoming a net zero town by 2040. This ambition meets the global challenge set by the Paris agreement to aim to limit global average temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and goes further than the current UK government’s commitment to reach net zero by 2050. Luton’s current emissions profile is estimated to be around 790 ktCO₂e (the equivalent of 790 kilotons of carbon emissions) per year. Approximately 39% of Luton’s emissions comes from households, followed by 29% from industry and 23% emitted on the road.

The primary aim of this priority is to reduce the overall emissions of our town as a whole to meet our net zero aim by 2040. This will include reducing the emissions of carbon and other greenhouse gases from businesses, organisations and households across our town by shifting to renewable energy sources over time and by reducing waste and consumption of non-renewables. Reaching netzero can ultimately be achieved in three ways, through carbon reduction, carbon capture and offsetting of emissions.