Issue - meetings

This report recognises the increasing threat facing the city, and region, by climate change. It outlines progress towards strengthening York’s resilience to climate change and sets out key climate risks, as identified through a climate risk and vulnerability assessment.

Resolved:

                     i.        That the assessment of identified climate risks, as set out in Annex D of the report, be approved.

                    ii.        That the recommended next steps, as set out in Paragraph 49 of the report, be approved.

Reasons:

                   i.          To provide a basis for ongoing climate action.

                  ii.          To strengthen the approach towards a Climate Ready York.

The Executive Member considered a report that recognised the increasing threat facing the city, and region, by climate change. The report outlined progress towards strengthening York’s resilience to climate change and set out key climate risks, as identified through a climate risk and vulnerability assessment.

The Assistant Director of Policy and Strategy emphasised that the report sought to ensure the city was ready for increased threats faced by extreme weather events and potential water insecurity, as well as flooding, for which the city was already well prepared, and included recommendations for strengthening the city’s approach to climate adaptation.

The Strategic Manager provided an overview, noting that:

·        Met Office data suggested that heavy rain leading to flooding, extreme heat and extended dry periods were all likely to increase in prevalence and impact.

·        following Council’s steer, and building on the 2019 Climate Emergency Declaration, an initial assessment in 2022 identified 46 risks to the city from climate change, as detailed in Annex A of the report.        

·        consultations with national, regional, local and city partners had been drawn on to produce a revised York Climate Change Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CCRVA), as set out in Annex D of the report.

·        paragraph 49 of the report set out recommendations for the Executive Member to consider, including strengthening the Climate Change Strategy ambition to be net zero by 2030, by adding that by 2030 York would have set the conditions to be Climate Ready.

·        a task and finish group would be established to ensure all new and emerging strategies clearly referenced climate adaptation.

The Executive Member thanked officers for the work on this issue and she recognised the need to further explore the cost of delaying action, and to consider the impact the wider UK risk would have on York.

Resolved:

i)       That the assessment of identified climate risks, as set out in Annex D of the report, be approved.

ii)     That the recommended next steps, as set out in Paragraph 49 of the report, be approved.

Reasons:

i)          To provide a basis for ongoing climate action.

ii)     To strengthen the approach towards a Climate Ready York.