Reducing Birmingham's emissions

As well as tackling our own emissions, we are playing an important role in working with stakeholders and citizens across Birmingham, and the wider region, to tackle Birmingham's greenhouse gas emissions.

We review a range of data published by the UK Government to understand and track progress in reducing Birmingham’s greenhouse gas emissions.

To make this data more open and accessible for our citizens and organisations, we have produced a Climate Change Briefing Book which is published on the City Observatory website.

Birmingham’s emissions

We report Birmingham’s GHG territorial emissions using the UK local authority and regional greenhouse gas emissions national statistics.

These have a 2-year delay before they are published.

In 2023, the City of Birmingham’s territorial emissions were 4,061 ktCO2e, which represents a 44.6% reduction since 2005.

The pie chart shows which sectors these emissions came from in 2023, highlighting that:

• 32% were from transport like petrol cars and diesel lorries
• 29% were from domestic energy use like heating and cooking
• 14% were from industrial sources like factories
• 13% were from commercial spaces like shops and offices
• the remaining 12% came from waste management services and public sector bodies like the NHS and Birmingham City Council

Reducing the city's emissions

Our citizens, organisations, and institutions all have a role to play in our journey to net zero.

As a local council, one of our roles is to use our unique place shaping powers to help create a city that enables citizens to live more sustainably.

We are encouraging people to support each other to reduce emissions by sharing our knowledge, expertise, and experience.

Examples of our place shaping activities

• Planning – updating our Local Plan and planning policies to ensure future developments are built to high environmental standards and support our net zero ambitions.
• Transport – delivering the Birmingham Transport Plan to improve:
  • Birmingham's transport systems
  • access to sustainable travel
  • reduce emissions
• Retrofit – delivering housing retrofit schemes to insulate our fuel poor citizens’ homes to:
  • improve their comfort
  • reduce their energy bills
  • lower emissions
• Energy – pioneering neighbourhood-led energy transitions with the West Midlands Combined Authority in Castle Vale.

Examples of our partnership and engagement activities

• Schools – hosting the Birmingham Schools’ Model UN Conference of Parties (COP) event to:
  • debate international climate policies
  • learn about green careers
  • explore local climate action
• Faith communities – supporting faith groups with sustainable projects as part of the Grassroots project.
• Community groups – working with EcoBirmingham, Allens Cross Community Association, and The Springfield Project to create ward level Community Climate Action Plans.
• Community retrofit – working to support community-led approaches to retrofit, reducing fuel poverty and making homes warmer.

You can find more information on these and other activities in our Route to Net Zero Annual Report.

To receive updates on our work, sign up for our Climate Change, Nature, and Net Zero Newsletter.

If you have specific enquiries email Routetozero@birmingham.gov.uk.

Page last updated: 14 April 2026