Agenda item

A presentation to be provided to the Committee for consideration by the York Civic Trust.

The Committee were joined by Antony May of the York Civic Trust and Johan Kuylenstierna from the University of York and Stockholm Environment Institute, who gave a presentation on their observations to the draft Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, with a particular focus on Transport in the city.

Members first discussed the impact from major projects and scope 3 emissions. Officers confirmed that the outer ring road planning application would have a carbon impact assessment, covering both embedded and operational emissions,   and provided assurance to the Committee that  the requirement for carbon impact assessments were increasing for all major projects. Members noted the importance of linking carbon reduction plans and transport planning in the city so that the expansion of the outer ring road could be used to effectively reduce emissions rather than increase them. Officers confirmed that planning of several key strategies had been done in collaboration with one another to achieve desirable outcomes and that the Local Transport Strategy was expected to go to consultation in the new year.

The shortfall between the projected emission reduction and the net zero pathway for York was discussed. It was confirmed that sequestration of carbon would be required to potentially address a shortfall once all mitigation measures had been exhausted. It was noted that the Council was securing funding, such as £6.5 million from DEFRA for projects such as storing flood water.

How the Council had collected data was discussed, it was noted that data had played a crucial role in developing the Councils draft Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. However, it was noted that no data set is able to provide a complete picture of local emissions and tools used had given a broader scope of York’s current emissions breakdown. Officers confirmed they were working with groups such as the York Civic Trust and Stockholm Environment Institute to develop more bottom up data which they hoped would give an even clearer picture of York which could better inform specific interventions.

The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change research, which stated York would require a cut of emissions of 13% year on year to reach net zero, was raised. Members discussed whether setting a 13% a year target would be appropriate for the Climate Change Strategy and assist the Council in achieving a reduction for the City. Guests and officers recommended that while early emissions reductions are important, our pathway is not likely to be linear – with greater reductions coming later in the decade as technology, finance and capacity improve. It was agreed that monitoring progress against the pathway, rather than a 13% annual target was a more appropriate measure of success. 

Resolved:

                      i.         That the Committee ask the Executive and Council to undertake all necessary investigations leading to the adoption of the transport actions set out in the Climate Change Strategy Action Plan, that sets out clear targets for each sub group, eg: public transport, electric vehicles, active travel etc;

                     ii.         That the Committee ask the Executive and Council to adopt an analytical approach to the implementation of the adopted Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan which demonstrates the amount of carbon reduction which will be achieved year by year;

                    iii.        That the Committee ask the Executive and Council to develop a longer list of interventions to consider in relation to the implementation of the adopted Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan so that if any one strand of action becomes less feasible, other actions can be identified which can achieve the same pace of reduction, noting that successive administrations would take the necessary political decisions.

Reason:     To support the Council to reach net zero by 2030.