Decision Session – Executive Member for

Environment and Climate Change

12/09/2023

Report of the Assistant Director Policy & Strategy

Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission Climate Pledge

Summary

1. The Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission (YHCC) was established in 2021, bringing together public, private and third sector actors to support, guide and track the delivery of ambitious climate actions across the region. City of York Council (the Council) is a member of YHCC and is represented on the Commission by the Chief Operating Officer.

2. In November 2022, YHCC launched a Climate Action Pledge. The Pledge signals a commitment to acting on climate and nature towards four goals:

i. help protect your organisation from climate impacts

ii. put your organisation on the road towards net zero

iii. boost nature, enhancing our region’s fantastic natural assets

iv. promote taking climate action in a fair way that involves everyone

3. The impacts of the climate and ecological emergencies are already being felt in our region and will do so with increasing frequency and intensity in the years to come. By signing the Climate Action Pledge, the Council reaffirms the climate emergency declaration and our commitment for York to be a carbon neutral city by 2030.

4. Signatories of the Climate Action Pledge will benefit from a series of online training modules, signposting and networking with organisations across the region.

Recommendations

5. The Executive Member is asked to:

1) Approve City of York Council becoming a signatory to the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission’s Climate Action Pledge.

Reason: Demonstrate leadership in tackling the climate and nature emergency and reaffirm the council’s commitment for York to be carbon neutral.

Background

6. The Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission (YHCC) was established in 2021, bringing together public, private and third sector actors to support, guide and track the delivery of ambitious climate actions across the region. City of York Council (the Council) is a member of YHCC and is represented on the Commission by the Chief Operating Officer.

7. In November 2022, YHCC launched a Climate Action Pledge. The Pledge signals a commitment to acting on climate and nature towards four goals:

i. help protect your organisation from climate impacts

ii. put your organisation on the road towards net zero

iii. boost nature, enhancing our region’s fantastic natural assets

iv. promote taking climate action in a fair way that involves everyone

8. The impacts of the climate and ecological emergencies are already being felt in our region and will do so with increasing frequency and intensity in the years to come. By signing the Climate Action Pledge, the Council reaffirms the climate emergency declaration and our commitment for York to be a carbon neutral city by 2030.

9. Signatories of the Climate Action Pledge will benefit from a series of online training modules, signposting and networking with organisations across the region.

10. By becoming a signatory of the YHCC Climate Action Plan, CYC will reaffirm its declaration of a climate emergency and its position as a leader on taking climate action within the region.

11. In demonstrating leadership and becoming a signatory, the Council will be leading by example and may encourage other organisations across the city to become signatories to the Climate Action Pledge.

Consultation

12. The Climate Change Programme Board has been consulted on the Council becoming a signatory of the Pledge. The recommendation of the Board is for CYC to become a signatory.

13. The Chief Operating Officer has been consulted on their views to CYC becoming a signatory. No issues were raised.

Options

Option 1: Do Nothing – Not signing the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission’s Climate Action Pledge.

Option 2: City of York Council becomes a signatory to the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission’s Climate Action Pledge.

Analysis

14. There is no cost commitment or savings associated with becoming a signatory to the pledge. Therefore, the financial implications are the same for both options.

15. Additional support services are offered by the Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission to signatories of the Climate Action Pledge. By signing the pledge, City of York Council will have access to this support, assisting our efforts to become net zero by 2030.

16. As a signatory, City of York Council demonstrates its commitment to tackling the climate emergency and shows leadership in this endeavour.

17. As a member organisation of Y&HCC, there is a reputational risk associated with not becoming a signatory.

18. Action being taken by City of York Council aligns with that required as a signatory of the pledge. No additional capacity or resource would be required to meet the requirements of the pledge.

Council Plan

19. The commitments within the pledge align with the Council’s priorities or protecting the environment, affordability, improving health and wellbeing and equalities and human rights.

Implications

· Financial – There are no financial implications

· Human Resources (HR) - There are no HR implications

· Equalities - There are no equalities implications

· Legal - There are no Legal implications

· Crime and Disorder - There are no crime and disorder implications

· Information Technology (IT) - There are no IT implications

· Property - There are no property implications

· Other - None

Risk Management

20. Reputational risk associated with not becoming a signatory, while the Leader of CYC is a Vice-Chair of YHCC.

Contact Details

Author:	Chief Officer Responsible for the report:
Shaun Gibbons Head of Carbon Reduction Shaun.Gibbons@york.gov.uk	Claire Foale Assistant Director Policy & Strategy
	Report Approved	ü	Date	01/09/2023


Wards Affected:					All	ü

For further information please contact the author of the report

Background Papers:

None

Annexes

Annex A - Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission: Climate Action Pledge

List of Abbreviations Used in this Report:

CYC – City of York Council