The Without Walls Partnership is made up of key partners from across York who have committed to ensure the delivery of a long-term vision for York. This vision covers the issues that affect people's lives and can be divided into seven areas covering the creation of a sustainable, thriving, learning, cultural, safe, healthy and inclusive city. To achieve this the Partnership, in 2008, launched their first Sustainable Community Strategy for York. Full details of this strategy can be found on the Without Walls website.

The partnership responsible for progressing and creating the sustainable city elements of this strategy is the Environment Partnership. This partnership has committed to conserve York and its distinctiveness and special qualities whilst achieveing a balance between growth (economic and physical) and environmental sustainability. Full details about the Environment Partnership can be found on the Without Walls website.

Climate Change Framework

The Environment Partnership is committed to tackling climate change here in York. As part of this commitment a consultation draft climate change framework and action plan have been prepared. These are currently out for consultation.

Have your say and help shape the way York tackles climate change

York Green Neighbourhoods Challenge

The York Green Neighbourhoods Challenge is a joint project between the City of York Council, the Without Walls Partnership and the Stockholm Environment Institute  (SEI) at the University of York.

As part of the challenge a study has been carried out by researchers at the University of York to produce the first comprehensive assessment of the carbon footprint of individual neighbourhoods in York.

The carbon footprint is a personal measure of how much carbon dioxide residents of York produce from daily activities such as travel, heating and shopping. Carbon dioxide is the key gas responsible for climate change.

The study revealed that the carbon footprint of an average York resident is 12.58 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, slightly higher than the UK average of 12.12 tonnes, but lower than that of residents in Harrogate (13.69 tonnes).

The study also identified a number of key findings including:

• The lifestyles we lead are all different across York. The largest environmental impacts of our day-to-day actions are associated with housing, food, energy and personal travel
• Housing and Transport make up 60% of York’s carbon footprint
• Neighbourhoods which have the highest footprint are Dringhouses Central and Woodthorpe, which have a footprint of 14.51 tonnes
• Heslington has the lowest carbon footprint of York's neighbourhoods
• Residents in the neighbourhoods of York not only have diverse carbon footprints but also different attitudes to green issues
• Homes in the Groves, Clifton Hospital Area, Heslington, St Nicholas Fields and Fishergate West areas have the 'greenest' attitudes
• Homes in Westfield Central, Westfield North West, Westfield East, and Tang Hall and Clifton North West have the least 'green' attitudes
• The study also recommends that a targeted campaign should be conducted to encourage those neighbourhoods which have the highest potential for behavioural change to adopt greener lifestyles.

The full Carbon Footprint Study and the results can be downloaded from the Climate Talk website.

What will happen as a result of the Study?

By understanding the results of the study the Green Neighbourhoods Challenge will now take place using targeted messages to help reduce residential carbon emissions in certain areas of York where there is a high potential to reduce emissions.

Over 100 homes identified from the study will take part in the six-month challenge to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by 10% in 2010.

Expert advice and guidance will be given to those that take part in the challenge. A prize will also be given to the street that performs the best.

It is hoped that the challenge will help participating homes to save money whilst having fun doing their bit for the planet. If this works the partnership will look to repeat this work in other areas across the City.

For more information call 01904 432917 or visit the Climate Talk website.