Disappointment in York Council's Climate Change Plan

The City of York Council have faced criticism for their lack of action in assisting the prevention of the climate emergency.

The Council have published an update from their climate change action plan as means of informing residents on the actions proposed for tackling climate change locally.

During 2019, the council announced a climate emergency and ambitiously set York to be a net-zero carbon city by 2030.

Since this announcement, there has been £345 million invested into the plans to ideally make them a reality.

Councillor and Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change, Paula Widdowson expressed her desire for the environment to be improved in York.

Cllr Paula Widdowson, said: “Whilst the council’s first Climate Change Strategy will be published later this year, knowing that our ambition is net zero, many projects and initiatives have taken steps towards better managing our use of energy, protecting green spaces and improving air quality across the city to build a cleaner, greener city.

“The council is responsible for less than 4 per cent of the city’s total carbon emissions, yet through our projects and activities, we can have a bigger impact. Over £345 million has been invested across a range of projects that collectively will bring us all closer to net zero.”

York’s Extinction Rebellion group have reacted to the council's announcement as they feel dismay at the development plan.

Extinction Rebellion (XR) member, Chris Brace, said: “I am appalled, though not surprised, that three years after declaring that York will be a net-zero carbon city, the council have done little or nothing towards this aim.

“This they must understand, is not one of those issues they can defer in favour of other policies. They have a duty to prioritize and to act on a strategy to ameliorate the impact of this emergency.”

Despite the council stating that they are going to carry out annual reports to track city-wide emissions to see if they reduce, there is little to be said for how reductions will be implemented.

XR member, Helen Hills, said: “Nothing that significantly reduces carbon emissions; indeed, widening the ring road may well increase them.

“Where is the plan for fewer car journeys? Deeply disappointed.

“York Council lags behind many other councils in its aims and policies and those it lags behind could best be described dilatory.”

The plan addresses how York will have a Community Woodland which will have 50,000 trees by 2023, an Active Travel Programme consisting of lower-emission ways to travel around the city and a Housing Delivery Programme with sustainable standards listed.

Julie Forgan: “Heatwaves in Pakistan and India and devastating rain in Brazil highlight the intensification of the climate crisis.

“York Council does not grasp that the situation is critical despite declaring a climate emergency their plan does not put forward the radical action that is needed.”

With just eight years until the city will supposedly become a net-zero carbon city, only time will tell as to whether York will accomplish this target.

For further updates on the Council’s climate change strategy visit here.