Climate and environment progress snapshot
Our Equalities and Human Rights 'snapshot of progress' will be updated every 6 months to provide details of our activity, as we work to deliver the Council Plan; One City, for all.
For our core commitment to Climate and environment and the climate emergency, we know the race to net zero is more urgent than ever and we will understand the impact our actions have on the environment. We will prepare for the future, adapting our city to extreme climate events and enhancing our environment for future generations to enjoy.
Priority actions
Find out more about progress on each priority action related to climate and environment:
- Improve air quality beyond the UK’s national guidelines
- Prioritise safe active travel in our Movement plan and in routes to school
- Showcase renewable energy and retrofit expertise, with a ‘Green Skills Village’ at its hearthere
- Ensure the benefits of a low carbon society are shared widely, while also supporting those who stand to lose economically
- Develop a Movement Plan as a statement of intent to make it easier to move through the city, reducing traffic around primary schools and making significant progress towards reducing carbon by 71% and traffic by 20% for discussion with the new Mayor
- Take decisive action to reduce emissions improving the quality of existing council housing and launch a one-stop shop to support households retrofitting their properties
- Increase biodiversity and plant an additional 4,000 trees across the city
- Work with city partners to adapt the city to withstand extreme weather events
Priority action: Improve air quality beyond the UK’s national guidelines.
Progress by March 2024:
- The Air Quality Status Report was approved at Executive Decision session. See: Agenda for Decision Session - Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency on Wednesday, 5 July 2023 (Item 4).
- The Gillygate Air Quality group was established with residents, York Civic Trust and others working together to improve air quality on Gillygate.
- The consultation on the Draft Fourth Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP4) took place through December and January.
- DEFRA awarded funding for two projects to improve awareness of air pollution including the Launch of Fuel for Thought Campaign and support for Clean Air Night, raising awareness of the dangers of wood burning in homes. See: News story - City of York Council backs Clean Air Night.
- An air pollution forecasting and alert platform has been developed to send alerts to residents with cardiac or respiratory conditions.
- Over 60% of the city’s bus fleet is now electric, with a submission made for ZEBRA 2 funding to expand that even further.
Priority action: Prioritise safe active travel in our Movement plan and in routes to school.
Progress by March 2024:
- The consultation on the Local Transport Strategy invited children and parents to explore the importance of prioritising safe active travel.
Priority action: Showcase renewable energy and retrofit expertise, with a ‘Green Skills Village’ at its heart.
Progress by March 2024:
- Executive approved the Construction Skills Initiative, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to boost green construction skills and develop a Green Construction Village. See: News story - SI York project to boost green construction skills.
Priority action: Ensure the benefits of a low carbon society are shared widely, while also supporting those who stand to lose economically.
Progress by March 2024:
- The council shared good practice to inspire residents to consider how to reduce their home’s carbon emissions and reduce energy consumption.
Priority action: Develop a Movement Plan as a statement of intent to make it easier to move through the city, reducing traffic around primary schools and making significant progress towards reducing carbon by 71% and traffic by 20% for discussion with the new Mayor.
Progress by March 2024:
- The Local Transport Strategy 10 week Consultation ran throughout December and February. It included an online engagement platform and several offline events, including mobile library activities and drop-in sessions at Friarsgate and community discussions. Initial feedback was shared with Executive in March.
Priority action: Take decisive action to reduce emissions improving the quality of existing council housing and launch a one-stop shop to support households retrofitting their properties.
Progress by March 2024:
- Innovate UK awarded the Council and partners £3.3m to develop a retrofit one-stop-shop; the proposal includes 2 demonstrator homes, based in council houses and working with suppliers to make it easier for householders to know how to commission. See: News story - £3.5 million Net Zero Living Pathfinder funding award.
- The council begun to survey every single council house to better understand the condition of council homes. See: News story - Survey of council homes begins ahead of investment plans.
- £10m investment per year in council home modernisation programme.
- Corporate emissions fell by almost 10% for the financial year 2022/23, helping the city become net zero carbon by 2030. The majority of the reduction is associated with the fleet electrification programme. See: Agenda for Decision Session - Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency - Tuesday, 21 November 2023 (Item 4)
Priority action: Increase biodiversity and plant an additional 4,000 trees across the city.
Progress by March 2024:
- Green Streets, funded by White Rose Forest, is underway and focused tree planting at Malton Road and school sites. Northern Forest provided 100% of the costs for planning together with three years maintenance costs.
- £39k was awarded from DEFRA’s Coronation Living Heritage Fund for the council to deliver two ‘micro-woods’. The funding covers 100% of costs. Site suggestions are currently being encouraged with final selection in the spring 2024.
- The LINC programme is developing a York Pilot to explore how natural capital projects can support investment in natural assets.
Priority action: Work with city partners to adapt the city to withstand extreme weather events.
Progress by March 2024:
- The Executive member for Climate Change approved the Climate Ready York strategy and risks and vulnerabilities report, following partner and officer workshops to understand the impact of the changing climate on city partners and council services. See: Agenda for Decision Session - Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency on Tuesday, 21 November 2023 (Item 4).
