|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Decision Session – Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change
|
16 December 2020 |
|
Report of the Chief Operating Officer |
|
York Climate Commission
1. The report proposes the creation of a York Climate Commission (the Commission) and requests the Executive Member to approve establishment of the Commission
Recommendations
2. The Executive are asked to:
· Approve the establishment or a York Climate Commission
· Agree to the Commission’s Terms of Reference
Background
3. City of York Council (CYC) announced a climate emergency in March 2019; subsequently setting an ambition for York to be carbon neutral by 2030.
4. The Council will demonstrate leadership in this area and produce a Climate Change Policy which will include a decarbonisation Action Plan for its own operation and the City.
5. CYC recognises that no single organisation has the power, authority, resources or ability to achieve the city-level change needed to deliver our ambition.
6. It will be necessary to bring together key partners across the city to create shared ownership and accountability, and also to benefit from the collective experience and expertise that exists within York.
7. In August 2020, CYC commissioned Leeds University to produce a Zero Carbon Roadmap for York (annex 1). One of the recommendations from this work was to establish an independent York Climate Commission to help draw actors together and build capacity to take and track action.
Role of the York Climate Commission
8. Promote leadership in the city on climate change, encouraging stakeholders to take effective action now, while maintaining a long term perspective.
9. Provide authoritative independent advice on the most effective steps required to meet the city’s carbon reduction target so as to inform policies and actions of local stakeholders and decision makers.
10.Monitor and report on progress towards meeting the city’s carbon targets and recommend actions to keep on track.
11.Make the economic case for project development, implementation and investment in low carbon and climate resilient projects in the city; and promote best practice in public engagement on climate change and its impacts in order to support robust decision-making.
12.Bring together major organisations and key groups in York to collaborate on projects that result in measurable contributions towards meeting the city’s climate reduction target
13.Act as a forum where organisations can exchange ideas, research findings, information and best practice on carbon reduction and climate resilience
Membership
14.Membership of the Commission is open to individuals representing key organisations from the public, private and civic sectors across the city who can contribute to the development and delivery of a low carbon and/or climate resilient economy/society in York. The balance of membership of the Commission reflects the need for cross-city representation and for it to address both climate mitigation and resilience.
15.The York Climate Commission will comprise of the following founding members reflecting the desired representation of key organisations across the city:
i. City of York Council – Executive Member for the Environment and Climate Change
ii. City of York Council – Head of Carbon Reduction
iii. University of York – Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research
iv. Biovale – Chief Executive
v. Nestle – Head of Value ChainSustainability
vi. Rollits – Partner
vii. First Group – Managing Director
viii. Joseph Rowntree Foundation – Group Chief Executive
16. Members of the Commission are recruited periodically via an open process. Individuals wishing to become members of the Commission are invited to express their interest in email to the current Chair.
Ways of Working
17.The Commission will be Chaired by the Executive member for Environment and Climate Change for an initial 12 months from formation. At which point, the Chair will be appointed from amongst the other Commission members, with the Executive member for Environment and Climate Change taking up the role of Co-chair.
18.Decisions within the Commission are made with a preference for a consensus-based approach to decision-making; however, when necessary a vote can be taken to secure the decision.
19.To ensure accountability and scrutiny of the work of the Commission and to report the progress that is being made by all sectors and partners towards the city’s carbon reduction target, the Commission will discuss progress on a 6 monthly basis to CYC Climate Change Policy Scrutiny Committee.
20.Additional details are provided in the Terms of Reference (Annex 2).
Structure
21.The York Climate Commission will consist of the Climate Commission Group and Working Groups established around key topic areas.
22.The Climate Commission Group will comprise the Chair, a Co-Chair and representatives from key organisations or sectors across the city. The Climate Commission Group will meet four times per year.
23.Working Groups will comprise of Climate Commission Group members (who join Working Groups) and technical or subject specialists. Working Groups will concentrate on key areas of climate action; the Working Groups are under development and will be formalised within the first 3 months of the Commission.
Deliverables
24.The Commission will collate existing carbon reduction targets and measures for organisations across the city using an agreed methodology and will agree the strategic and shared priorities and opportunities for carbon reduction and climate resilience.
25.Collaborate with other organisations to identify effective carbon reduction and climate resilience measures, research and develop projects, and attract funding for project development and/or delivery.
26.An annual report monitoring project delivery and evaluating progress across the city.
Recommendations
27. The Executive are asked to:
· Approve the establishment or a York Climate Commission
· Agree to the Commission’s Terms of Reference
Consultation
28.This report and associated documents has been developed in consultation with the Place-Based Climate Action Network (PCAN), Leeds University, Leeds Climate Commission and York University.
Council Plan
29.The project accords with the Council Plan 2019-2023 in regard to the following core outcomes of the Plan:
· A greener and cleaner city – Working towards becoming a carbon neutral city by 2030
· Getting around sustainably – Cutting congestion, pollution and carbon emissions
· Good health and wellbeing – Promoting active travel, healthy eating and improving air quality
· Safe communities and culture for all – Supporting groups who are at greatest risk of climate change
· Well paid jobs and an inclusive economy – Creating employment opportunities in the green economy
Implications
Financial – No financial implications associated with this report
Human Resources – None associated directly with this report
Equalities – None associated directly with this report
Legal – None directly associated with this report
Crime and Disorder – None directly associated with this report
Information Technology – None associated directly with this report
Property – None associated directly with this report
Other – None associated directly with this report
Risk Management – None identified in relation to this report
Contact Details
|
Author/s: Shaun Gibbons Head of Carbon Reduction
|
Chief Officer Responsible for the report: Ian Floyd Chief Operating officer
Report approved: Yes Date: 11/11/2020
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Wards Affected: |
All |
X |
|||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
For further information please contact the author of the report |
|
||||||
Background Papers:
· Council Plan 2019-2023
Annexes
· Annex 1 – Zero Carbon Roadmap for York
· Annex 2 – York Climate Commission: Terms of Reference