Newport is becoming a cleaner and greener city, according to a new report outlining Newport City Council’s progress towards becoming a carbon-neutral organisation by 2030.
The council’s 2024-25 annual report into its organisational climate change plan shows that emissions have fallen by 8.95 per cent compared to 2023-24, marking a total reduction of 48.9 per cent since the 2019-20 baseline.
“The climate emergency is real, and we are determined to do something about it,” said Councillor Yvonne Forsey, cabinet member for climate change, waste and recycling.
“By taking action to reduce our emissions, not only are we creating a healthier, greener Newport today, but we are also making sure we are ready to take advantage of a low-carbon future.
“Schools and community centres powered by solar energy will be cheaper to run. Electric fleet vehicles have a longer operating life and are cheaper to maintain over that period than their diesel counterparts.
“All of this means we can reinvest money into other services, delivering value for our taxpayers while improving the environment they live in.”
The report highlights a range of achievements across the six themes of the council’s climate change plan.
More than half of council sites now have solar PV panels generating clean energy, reducing the need to buy electricity from the grid. One example is Ringland Community Centre, where new solar panels and a battery storage system have cut grid electricity consumption by around 90 per cent between May 2024 and May 2025. The change has reduced the centre’s monthly electricity bill from £994 to just £72.
Around one in five council sites is now heated by air source heat pumps, replacing non-renewable systems and lowering emissions.
Investments in solar power, heat pumps and LED lighting have helped the council cut energy costs by £2.5 million per year and save £2.3 million in capital maintenance over the past three years.
Newport also leads the way in electric vehicle infrastructure. The city has the highest coverage of on-street EV charging points in Wales, with over 41 per cent of households without off-street parking now within a five-minute walk of a public charger. Ongoing work to install chargers on existing streetlights will further boost accessibility.
Tree planting has been another major success. In 2024-25 alone, 12,240 trees were planted across the city. Since April 2021, Newport has seen a net gain of 62,243 trees, with 68,107 planted and 5,864 felled.
Vehicle fleet emissions have fallen by 28.1 per cent since 2023-24, and over half of the council’s non-plant fleet is now electric – the highest proportion of any local authority in Wales.
Additionally, procurement-related emissions are down 7.3 per cent from 2023-24, as the council continues to work with suppliers to embed decarbonisation into its tender processes.
The report demonstrates clear progress towards Newport’s 2030 carbon-neutral goal, showcasing the city’s commitment to tackling the climate emergency while building a more sustainable and cost-effective future.
