Net Zero grants soon to be available for neighbourhood projects cutting carbon emissions

Net Zero grants soon to be available for neighbourhood projects cutting carbon emissions

Grants to fund up to 50 community-led projects targeting net zero emissions will be made available following the unanimous approval at the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Board meeting yesterday ( 27th June 2022). The £1 million programme will be run as a competitive grant pot which will award between £15,000 to £30,000 to each small-scale project.
By March 2023, all funding shall be distributed to projects designed to reduce emissions or reduce exposure to climate related risks. Focusing on community founded projects, these grants will provide local people with a financial boost that is not currently available through existing Government national grant schemes.

There are already local examples of communities exploring alternative sustainable energy sources for heating homes, local electric vehicle charging and energy efficiency projects. The programme intends to generate examples of achievable net zero projects and increase awareness of the need for local action on climate change emissions.
Supporting small-scale community-led projects, the Combined Authority is demonstrating its commitment to encouraging wider behaviour change. This is one facet of the Climate Action Plan, produced by the Combined Authority following recommendations from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Commission on Climate (the Commission). In its full report, the Commission highlighted the need for action across all areas and all parts of society if it is to reach Net Zero carbon emissions target by 2050. The community projects will therefore support the local and national strategy for carbon reduction.

Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough said:
“I’m very happy to see grants being made available to communities who are proactively helping to cut carbon emissions locally.
Taking action on climate change can feel overwhelming as an individual but by cooperating within a community, the positive impacts that individuals make can be magnified and be an inspiration to others. In the process of developing low carbon communities, I hope that these grants also have a huge economic and social benefit for all local people.”