Ambitious Proposals to Tackle the Climate Emergency go before Green Economy Panel 

19 February 2021

The Green Economy Panel, which advises the Combined Authority and the LEP, will consider the following measures next week:  

• The Carbon Emissions Reduction Pathways: The team at Element Energy, who have been supporting the Combined Authority and the LEP, will present their latest findings from their work. This will inform a programme that sets out the changes the region will need to make to hit its ambitious net-zero target by reducing emissions across five sectors of our economy: buildings, industry, land use and agriculture, power, and transport.
• Carbon Impact Assessment: a methodology to assess the carbon emissions and clean growth impacts of new schemes to ensure they support our ambition to become a net zero carbon economy by 2038.
• Flood Risk Management Programme: 30 flood risk management schemes and a comprehensive £15million natural flood management programme which will safeguard approximately 3,400 homes, 2,500 businesses and 4,600 existing jobs in the Leeds City Region. 

These initiatives form part of ongoing innovative measures to tackle climate emergency across West Yorkshire for which the Combined Authority and the LEP won the ‘Leadership in Responding to the Climate Emergency’ award at the MJ Local Government Achievement Awards last year. 

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said:  

“By reducing carbon emissions and improving flood risk management, we can help make West Yorkshire a place where everyone benefits from the economic, health and environmental benefits of a net zero carbon economy.  

“The Combined Authority and the LEP are leading the way by committing to a net zero carbon economy by 2038 and ensuring carbon reduction informs our plans for economic prosperity. 

“We must ensure that we deliver a clean, inclusive economic recovery as we emerge from the pandemic, and pull together to address the climate emergency and build a successful and prosperous region for all.” 

Simon Pringle, Chair of the Green Economy Panel, and board member of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership:   

“The Carbon Emission Reduction Pathways work is one of the most thorough studies nationally about what needs to be done to enable places to decarbonise. We look forward to enabling people in the region to have their say on how we can make the changes we need to address the climate emergency and deliver the better future we want for all our communities.” 

Work already underway to tackle the climate emergency includes:   

• The Energy Accelerator:  An innovative programme which is supporting 14 low carbon and energy efficient schemes around West Yorkshire, including an LED street lighting in Bradford and the Leeds District Heat Network, to save 250,000 tonnes of C02. 
• Electric Vehicle Charging Points: Work is underway to install 88 charging points for ultra-low emission taxis and private cars to encourage more people to make the switch from traditional petrol and diesel engines, and ensure 5% of our region’s taxis are electric powered by 2021. 
• Natural Flood Management: The Combined Authority and its partners have invested £1.7 million in natural flood management projects across Calderdale and Kirklees which will help to protect around 3,000 homes and more than 1,000 businesses and tackle the climate emergency. 
• Better Homes Yorkshire: Energy efficiency measures and new heating systems have been installed in over 4,000 properties helping to reduce bills, lower carbon emissions and alleviate fuel poverty.
• CityConnect: More than £60 million has been invested in new cycling and walking schemes across West Yorkshire and York since 2015 helping more people to leave their cars at home, improving air quality and health.