Over the past few months, North Yorkshire Council has been conducting a public consultation on its proposed Climate Change Strategy (at the time of publication, they're still accepting responses, so head to the link to take part!). Spanning 58 pages, the strategy outlines the council's ambition to reach Net Zero by 2030 and become the first Carbon Negative region in the UK by 2040.
There are many positives to take from the strategy but, despite acknowledging the urgency of climate change and the potential consequences of inaction, it lacks ambition and accountability in critical areas. Significant flaws must be addressed before it can be considered a viable approach to tackling the climate emergency.
“How we humans and the natural ecosystems around us (that support society to thrive) cope with the changing climate is the biggest and most grave challenge that we face.”
North Yorkshire Council Climate Change Strategy, p7
Low Carbon vs Zero Carbon:
Our primary concern with the strategy is its emphasis on "low carbon" instead of "zero carbon". The document acknowledges that we must "play our part in reducing greenhouse gases [and] ... supporting the natural world on which we all depend".
However, North Yorkshire Council’s reliance on Drax Power Station to achieve its carbon targets is flawed. This week, Ofgem announced an audit into Drax’s ‘renewable’ energy claims and, last year, a BBC Panorama investigation unveiled disturbing evidence of valuable primary forests being felled for energy generation — contrary to Drax’s marketing. Burning trees shipped from across the world and including this in carbon reduction plans is, quite simply, greenwashing and does not align with the strategy's aims to "make the most of our land to store carbon".
Our elected representatives, and North Yorkshire Council more widely, must recognise that Drax's activities are far from "renewable" or "low carbon" and find alternative solutions. Alongside residents across North Yorkshire, members of Government are also waking up to the issues surrounding Drax and it’s vital that North Yorkshire’s approach is not doomed to fail before it even starts.
Ambitious strategies require ambitious targets. The strategy lacks specific targets for solar and wind energy generation and storage beyond advocating for a general "increase [in their use] ... on individual buildings, carparks and harbours". By comparison, France has recently mandated that all large car parks have solar panels overhead within 3-5 years.
Environmentally Considerate Development:
Granting approval for developments that place further burden on national and local energy and transport infrastructure hinders the achievability of climate targets. With “19% of carbon emissions in North Yorkshire [coming] from the domestic housing sector”, residential and industrial developments must incorporate environmental initiatives to obtain approval. Ideally, these initiatives should meet Passivhaus standards, as seen in York developments. At a minimum, high-quality insulation and eco-friendly energy generation and storage (e.g., heat pumps and solar panels) should be mandated. Strengthening this target will not only help achieve net zero targets but will also protect residents of Yorkshire from further economic shock as a result of extreme and unpredictable energy price fluctuations.
Air Quality & Sustainable Transportation:
North Yorkshire’s actions to improve air quality appear to rely heavily on increased uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) by individuals, at a time when so many are struggling to make ends meet. Considering that “the transport sector is responsible for 28% of carbon emissions in North Yorkshire”, the strategy’s targets of 8% of journeys being by bus and 16% by train are woefully inadequate. It's also unclear how this increase relates to current usage. By reducing public transport costs and increasing availability (both in terms of frequency and location), North Yorkshire Council could incentivise greater adoption and make public transport a genuinely viable option — reducing pollution and congestion from cars.
Similarly, active travel requires more investment and a more ambitious target than the current 17% (of journeys) outlined in the strategy. The existing active travel routes are not well maintained, and a sufficient budget must be allocated to establish a network of routes that are both safe and fit for purpose.
Agriculture:
Astonishingly, North Yorkshire Council's Climate Change Strategy overlooks the role of agriculture in addressing climate change, despite the sector contributing to 33% of the region's greenhouse gas emissions. To create a truly comprehensive strategy, the council must develop an actionable plan that incorporates sustainable agricultural practices.
A significant shift towards plant-based agriculture and regenerative farming (a holistic approach to agriculture that focuses on rebuilding soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and improving the water cycle) is vital for reducing the environmental impacts of farming.
The council should also promote and support local energy generation schemes on council-owned farms, such as anaerobic digestion, which involves breaking down organic matter to produce biogas for energy, and wind farms. Elevated solar panel installations are another innovative option, as they allow for continued grazing and/or crop growth underneath the panels. Finding ways to encourage and facilitate farmers to achieve zero-carbon status should be a priority.
Additionally, the council should promote tree-planting initiatives. Fruit tree planting offers the dual benefits of providing sustainable, locally-sourced produce and capturing carbon from the environment. By incorporating these measures and prioritizing sustainable agriculture, North Yorkshire Council can better address the climate emergency and create a more robust Climate Change Strategy that benefits both the environment and the local economy.
NEXT STEPS:
To ensure that North Yorkshire Council's Climate Change Strategy is a viable and comprehensive approach to addressing the climate emergency, the following should be considered:
- Shift the focus from "low carbon" to "zero carbon", working with partners that are genuinely aligned with the strategy’s aims and exploring alternative solutions to Drax Power Station.
- Establish specific targets for solar and wind energy generation and storage, drawing on successful international examples.
- Implement environmentally conscious development standards, including requirements for insulation, energy generation, and storage.
- Promote sustainable transportation by reducing public transport costs, improving accessibility, and investing in active travel infrastructure.
- Establish an approach to tackling the impacts of agriculture practices on our environment, setting ambitious targets and providing specific recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from this sector.
By addressing these shortcomings, North Yorkshire Council can create a more robust and ambitious Climate Change Strategy, better positioning the region to achieve its Net Zero and Carbon Negative aspirations while demonstrating leadership in tackling the climate emergency.
