A total of 21 local councils have been recognised for progressive work to help the transition to a Net Zero economy.

Derry City and Strabane District Council was named among the innovative councils who were celebrated at International Clean Tech conference, Innovation Zero. They all received the Fast Followers Award and will share a prize fund of £6m funding to help accelerate innovation on the journey towards achieving Net Zero.

Welcoming the announcement, Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Sandra Duffy, said: "I am delighted to see Derry City and Strabane District Council’s commitment to Zero Waste acknowledged with this award today. We were the first local authority in the country to pledge to become a Net Zero region through the development of our own dedicated Zero Waste Circular Economy Strategy. Since then, we have continued to develop a range of programmes in partnership with both the local community and also international partners to deliver on that promise.

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"It has never been more important to take direct action to combat the climate crisis and I look forward to seeing the impact of this support in progressing our net zero objectives."

Climate Programme Manager with Council, Cathy Burns, commented: "This award offers an exciting opportunity to build on our commitment to embedding circular economy policy into corporate city strategies. It will help us identify solutions to bridge the gap between innovative urban circular economy policy and citizen engagement.

"With the support available through the Fast Followers Programme, Council will focus on progressing Ambition to Action - developing new and innovative systems for Derry and Strabane applying best practice learning and iterative place based programme delivery. This will help create new forms of governance, policy, citizen engagement, cooperation and financing to deliver real term climate action."