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 September 2024:
- The Gillygate Air Quality group was established with residents, York Civic Trust and others working together to improve air quality on Gillygate
- 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
- 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
- Air Quality Action Plan 4 was approved by Executive on 18 July 2024. Air Quality Annual Status Report 2024 indicates improvements in air quality across the city centre Air Quality Management Area and wider city compared to 2022 with progress against a range of activities that contribute to better air quality. City of York Council Fourth Air Quality Action Plan
Priority action: Prioritise safe active travel in our Movement plan and in routes to school.
Progress by September 2024:
- The consultation on the Local Transport Strategy invited children and parents to explore the importance of prioritising safe active travel
- Millennium Bridge flood resilience scheme
- Draft Local Transport Strategy Implementation Plan (EPAT scrutiny in Sept) proposes a significant package of measures to enable active travel and create safe routes to schools. Local Transport Strategy Implementation Plan 2024 to 2026
- Movement and Place framework, approved at Executive on 18 July, with first next step being ‘Start with school streets’
Priority action: Showcase renewable energy and retrofit expertise, with a ‘Green Skills Village’ at its heart.
Progress by September 2024:
- Construction York skills initiative is now live and aims to equip York residents with the relevant skills, qualifications and experience to progress in construction and take advantage of the carbon reduction initiatives coming online in the city
Priority action: Ensure the benefits of a low carbon society are shared widely, while also supporting those who stand to lose economically.
Progress by September 2024:
- The council shared good practice to inspire residents to consider how to reduce their home’s carbon emissions and reduce energy consumption
- HUG and LEAD projects, targeting those on low income with EPC D or lower, those in conservation areas and gypsy and traveller communities. Energy grants for homes not heated by mains gas
- Green Business Forum quarterly meetings - this year on Waste, carbon reduction and energy savings, and how to be a stand out brand via sustainability. All forums fully booked
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 September 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
- Movement and Place framework approved as part of wider Local Transport Strategy by Executive on 18 July 2024
- The Station Frontage scheme continues to progress. The ambitious project will completely transform the station frontage, providing an improved transport interchange, as well as revamping the public space around the station. The scheme will enable more people to walk, cycle and use public transport to access the station, as well as creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment around the front of the railway station
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 September 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/li>
- The council begun to survey every single council house to better understand the condition of council homes
- £10 million 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)
- Phase 2 of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund project is underway with Retrofit Assessments to be carried out imminently, with the second Home Improvements and Retrofit contract beginning work on the project. This is for 51 properties. It is forecast that this will be successfully completed during 2024 to 2025
- Grant Funding Agreements for Alex Lyon House and Honeysuckle House (funded through York and North Yorkshire MCA Net Zero Fund) have now been signed, and a design contractor has been identified with initial site visits undertaken. This work to upgrade heating and install renewable generation and energy storage systems to 61 older people’s supported housing apartments is required to fully complete during 2024/25 in compliance with grant funding conditions. Capital Programme - Monitor 1 2024 to 2025
- Executive Member Decision (Housing, 18/7/24) - Paper on leveraging more retrofit investment into York via Energy Company Obligation 4 and Great British Insulation Scheme LA Flex Arrangement- paper received approval for the formation of a partnership with a company called Agility ECO to deliver ECO4 funding scheme, an opt-in government funded scheme enabling Local Authorities to access funds to tackle fuel poverty for those on the lower end of the fuel spectrum or with disabilities, offering more to residents at no cost to the council. Leveraging more Retrofit Investment into York - Energy Company Obligation Wave 4 and Great British Insulation Scheme LA Flex Arrangement
Priority action: Increase biodiversity and plant an additional 4,000 trees across the city.
Progress by September 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 3 years maintenance costs
- 2,550 new trees at 13 sites across the city as part of the Green Streets Programme have now been planted. Capital Programme - Monitor 1 2024 to 2025
- £39,000 was awarded from DEFRA’s Coronation Living Heritage Fund for the council to deliver two ‘micro-woods’. The funding covers 100% of costs. Coronation Living Heritage Fund Micro-woods Site Approval
- Micro-woods in Rawcliffe and Clifton Without Ward and in Holgate ward approved at Executive Member Decision Session on 18 September
- Procurement underway for technical support to deliver the Local Investment in Natural Capital (LINC) pilot for York; aiming to increase the value of the city’s green spaces. Capital Programme - Monitor 1 2024 to 2025
- York Community Woodland is now open to the public. Over the past 5 years, 190,000 trees have been planted across the 78 hectare site west of Knapton
- Ongoing work with North Yorkshire on Local Nature Recovery Strategy, mapping our region to prioritise and protect key species and habitats
Priority action: Work with city partners to adapt the city to withstand extreme weather events.
Progress by September 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)
- Millennium Bridge flood resilience scheme
- Riverside path flood resilience scheme Jubilee Terrace to Scarborough Bridge
- Ousewem project - £6 million Defra funded slow the flow project upstream in the Swale, Nidd and Ure, with tree planting, debris dams etc to reduce flooding
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