Your Climate: Yorkshire & Humber's Climate Change Action Plan is the first regional action plan to take a twin-track approach to the issue: developing actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and planning to adapt to a changing climate.
The plan, co-ordinated by the Government Office, will help the region to contribute to global efforts to reduce emissions. It will also ensure that it is prepared to adapt to the impact of climate change to reduce the negative impact on our lives and livelihoods.
By setting out a series of guidelines on how to tackle climate change, Your Climate will ensure that regional organisations are able to consider climate change issues in all areas of their work. It sets out the steps which public sector organisations and businesses can build into their operations to reduce waste and emissions. At the same time it provides guidance on how they can reduce the potential impact of climate change on their work. It also outlines the contributions that individuals can make in their daily lives.
Environment Minister Elliot Morley said:
"I commend the region for developing a framework which will enable government, the private sector and individuals to make a contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Over the last year I have seen some of the invaluable work carried out across the region to bring this about. Local authorities like York, Bradford and Hull are all developing sustainable policies that will help cut waste; while companies like Interface Europe show that 'climate proofing' their business activities pays dividends to the company and the environment.
"What this plan makes clear is that climate change is an issue everyone in the region needs to act on. Climate change is a challenge which has been created by people and can only be tackled by everyone accepting that they have to make changes to their lifestyle at home and at work".
Councillor Arthur Barker, chair of the Climate Change Steering Group, said:
"Your Climate is a firm statement of our determination in Yorkshire and The Humber to be a leader in managing climate risk. It sets out a co-ordinated approach to reduce regional emissions and develop solutions to the impacts of climate change. One thing that cannot be ignored is that climate change is happening now and it will affect all our lives. For many of us - for example if you live in Hull, York or North Yorkshire - the flood risk means that it's a problem which is literally on your doorstep".
Development of the plan has been led by George Munson, Climate Change Co-ordinator at the Government Office for Yorkshire and The Humber (GOYH), assisted by a steering group chaired by Councillor Arthur Barker of the Yorkshire & Humber Assembly. Membership of the steering group also included Yorkshire Forward, Business in the Community, statutory agencies, businesses and NGOs.
George was appointed to GOYH in 2004 in a post jointly funded by Yorkshire Forward. Supported by a network of over 60 experts working across academia, local authorities, business, trade organisations, the health sector and education, George will coordinate the delivery of the action plan.
What climate change Means for Yorkshire & the Humber
Yorkshire and The Humber is a significant contributor to UK greenhouse gas emissions. Because of the large number of power stations in the region, Yorkshire & the Humber is responsible for 12.5% of all the UK's greenhouse gas emissions. In 2001 this was the largest contribution of any region. However remove power generation from the equation, and household consumption is much less than the England average (21.5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per household, compared to a national average of 24.8 tonnes).
Yorkshire and the Humber is also susceptible to the impact of climate change. Likely regional impacts include:
- Sea levels on the Yorkshire coast and Humber Estuary have risen by up to 3.6mm per year since 1920 and are predicted to rise by up to 75cm by 2080. On the Humber this threatens the homes and businesses of more than 300,000 people, worth more than £7bn.
- By the 2050s the growing season in the Vale of York will be approximately one month longer.
- By 2050 Winters could be almost two degrees warmer (1.8o) and 15% wetter compared to current averages. Summers could be up to three degrees warmer with up to 30% less rain. These changes could result in more flooding over a wider area, and an increased potential for drought.
- Higher temperatures will drive some local species like the Black Grouse further north. They would also improve conditions for invasive bracken on heather moorland and increase the potential for summer fires.
- Many of the regions towns and cities, particularly Leeds, York and Hull will be more vulnerable to flooding, whether caused by higher sea levels or heavy rainfall swelling river flows.
Case studies showing how government, businesses and community groups are working to tackle climate change are available from GNN Yorkshire & the Humber.
