Liverpool commits to having a zero-emission city centre by 2030

Liverpool has joined Amsterdam, Austin, Berlin and Jakarta as the latest cities to commit to buying only zero-emission buses from 2025, and ensuring a major area of the city is zero emission by 2030.

34 cities around the world have now signed up to C40’s Green and Healthy Streets Declaration, which signals an intention to make urban centres free from fossil fuel vehicles whilst investing in clean buses, public transport and bicycle infrastructure.

There are also now 121,490 zero-emission buses across the 34 cities, an increase of over 40,000 since last year.

The strategies are designed to combat air pollution, improve the quality of life of all residents of the cities and take new actions to protect the climate.

Other cities already signed up to the initiative include Paris, Los Angeles, Copenhagen, Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona, Quito, Vancouver, Mexico City, Milan, Moscow, Seattle, Auckland & Cape Town.

Cities will report back every two years on the progress they are making towards the goals of the C40 Declaration.

From next year, Liverpool City Region will be the first place in the North of England to trial hydrogen buses following a successful £6.4m bid to the government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said: ‘This is a key step towards our ambition to becoming a zero-carbon city by 2040.

‘Working with other mayors and leaders through UK100 and C40 we are determined to play our part in tackling climate change and air pollution.’

Last month, Liverpool City Council was awarded an extra £652,000 in government funding to help it complete its clean air plan, which must be submitted by the end of October.

In July, Liverpool’s Mayor Joe Anderson sent the government a bid for a new £230m ‘Green City Deal’ focused on helping the city meet its carbon targets, while also delivering jobs, clean air and more energy-efficient homes.

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