The Climate Change Action Plan sets out our plan to address climate change in Antrim and Newtownabbey over the next five years. The plan outlines the current and anticipated impacts of climate change across the Borough. It includes proposals to address these challenges, comply with the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 and fulfil the Council’s commitments to safeguarding our planet.
Antrim and Newtownabbey are already taking action to tackle the climate crisis, reduce our emissions and develop environmental sustainability. Examples of actions include:
- Continued focus on building on successes in recycling. Antrim and Newtownabbey is the number 1 Council for recycling in Northern Ireland with a recycling rate of 62%
- Commitment to planting 1 million trees – 233,595 trees planted as of December 2024
- The first Council in Northern Ireland to install EcoFill contactless water filling stations across the Borough to encourage the use of refillable water bottle and reduce single use plastics
- Provision of a School Uniform Recycling Scheme, Muddy Boots sustainable food project and an Eat Clever programme – focused on healthy eating and food waste reduction
- Installation of solar bins and bin sensors in key sites to increase capacity and reduce litter
- Adoption of a sustainable development approach to capital investment in infrastructure
- Investment in Blue/Green Infrastructure and promotion of active travel to provide opportunities for residents to use safe off road routes for travel and improve connectivity between residential areas, employment hubs and town centres
- Implementation of a Property Energy Strategy Action Plan
- Creation of a Capital Fund to facilitate energy efficiency improvements to Council building stock
- Introduction of a Green for Business free decarbonisation support programme for SMEs and Micro Businesses across the Borough
- Launch of the Antrim and Newtownabbey Community Fridge Network in December 2023 to redistribute food that would otherwise be wasted