Public and private sector organizations in Peterborough have signed on to a new approach to help the city achieve its net-zero carbon goal. The “Peterborough Climate Commitment” gives businesses advice on how to deal with climate change. The Peterborough Climate Change Partnership was established by one of the group’s founders, Carly Leonard.

“But time is running short to slow down warming to keep within 1.2C,” said Ms. Leonard, CEO of environmental organization Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT). The commitment involves environmental impact monitoring, carbon emission reduction, and natural environment enhancement for the organizations involved. A variety of organizations, including education, technology, and health groups, as well as Peterborough City Council, are part of the climate change cooperation.

The council has pledged to become carbon-neutral by 2030, while Peterborough has pledged to become a carbon-neutral city by the same year. “By organisations working together to make simple and consistent changes we are more likely to achieve the city’s net-zero target,” Ms. Leonard said. The term “net-zero” refers to the discharge of no more greenhouse gases into the environment. To accomplish this, emissions must be decreased to the greatest extent possible, and those that remain must be balanced by removing an equal quantity.