On Monday 14 March, the University helped launch the city’s new ‘Oh Yes! Net Zero’ campaign.
The campaign looks to unite Hull and the surrounding region as it works together to lead the UK to a cleaner, greener and more prosperous future.
It will demonstrate how we as a society can make Net Zero happen in Hull, sharing learnings with the Humber and beyond.
A team of experts from the University attended the official launch of the campaign, hosted at Reckitt in Hull.
Among the speakers at the event was former Business Secretary Alok Sharma, now President of COP26.
Speaking at the ‘Oh Yes! Net Zero’ launch, Mr Sharma said: “Cities have an absolutely vital role to play. Cities like Hull are leading the way with 2030 carbon neutral targets.
“Businesses and communities play a vital role too. People power pushes local and national governments to act and take action.
“This is an industrial cluster that does generate the single largest level of emissions, but collaboration is creating a clean industrial cluster, as a city, a hub, of offshore wind; helping with the energy transition.
Our team at the launch event included the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Susan Lea, who spoke on stage at Reckitt alongside Matt Dass, owner of Hull-based Eon Visual Media.
Also in attendance was Louise Smith, Director at Aura, and Professor Dan Parsons, Director at our Energy & Environment Institute.
To support the launch of ‘Oh Yes! Net Zero,’ we also hosted a range of activities and exhibition stalls on campus. Thank you to everyone who visited any of the pop-up stands in the library on Monday, and who has supported the campaign so far.
Outside our Brynmor Jones Library, close to the plaza, you will also find our Oh Yes! Net Zero shed – which gives members of our community the opportunity to make a sustainability pledge and write it on the wall of the shed.
Pledges so far have ranged from travelling more sustainably and reducing consumption of meat, to taking shorter showers and ensuring lights and TVs are switched off when not in use.
While out and about around campus, you may also spot some of the wonderful Oh Yes! Net Zero chalk stencils which have been drawn on the ground of some the major walkways.
More about Oh Yes! Net Zero
Out of the six largest industrial clusters in the UK, the Humber is responsible for around 37% of CO2 emissions - more than 12 million tonnes of CO2 per year. Knowing this, we need to focus on reducing the carbon footprint of the region.
In 2019, the largest overall regional reduction in emissions since 2018 was reported in Yorkshire and the Humber (down 4.9%), but there is still much work to be done. Our objective is for Hull to lead the way in demonstrating how a city can become Net Zero and be part of something special that will have an impact on the generations to come.
The Oh Yes! Campaign will unite the city and region to work together, leading the UK to a cleaner, greener and more prosperous future. The campaign will demonstrate how we can make net zero happen in Hull.
The critical importance of our role in the UK achieving its net zero ambition, has been recognised through front-runner status in the Government’s £1 Billion carbon capture deployment fund.’
Let’s all say ‘Oh Yes! Net Zero’ and show how much we care about the future of our region, our workplaces, our homes, and our communities and reduce our carbon footprint. We can all make a difference and help lead the way to a net zero future.
By signing up, you will be kept up to date on the progress of the campaign, receive lots of tips and ideas about small changes you can make to help make a difference. It may even help save you some money and live a healthier lifestyle too!
Sign up now to be part of it.