Economic growth and new jobs can be achieved through investment in a regional low carbon economy according to experts at a major new conference on decarbonisation in York.
The first York and North Yorkshire Carbon Negative Conference welcomed delegates from a number of sectors to discuss drawing investment into the region and bring ‘tangible benefits’ to residents, the economy and the environment.
Speaking after the event on Friday, York and North Yorkshire Mayor, David Skaith said: ““We are bold and ambitious to be the first region in England to reach carbon negative.
“Bringing people together, from across so many different fields who share our ambition, at the first event of this kind for our region has bolstered our drive to meet this target.
“York and North Yorkshire is leading the charge to deliver lower energy bills, cleaner air, and economic growth for the benefit of our region and the whole of the UK.
“Our bid to government for an AI Growth Zone demonstrates how we can bring together the economic and environmental benefits. It paves the way for Drax to house the world’s first carbon-negative data centre, turning a challenge into a powerful climate solution.
“We have everything we need right here, from our landscape’s natural assets offering potential for low-carbon food production and geothermal energy for warmer homes. With the support of businesses and the Government we can build on our success and go further.”
The 200 delegates also heard from speakers on how retrofit can bring lower energy bills and create skilled jobs. Speakers also appeared from combined authority-funded projects delivering low carbon energy to community buildings. York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, which delivered the event, is aiming to achieve regional Carbon Negative by 2040.
Keynote speaker at the event was Baroness Brown of Cambridge, who chairs the Adoption Committee of the Climate Change Committee. She said York and North Yorkshire is doing ‘exactly the right thing to deliver what we need to reduce emissions’.
She added: “The Combined Authority understands the crucial need to attract private and public investment into a variety of projects from energy generation and retrofit schemes to flourishing bio-diversity and flood-alleviation schemes.
“As Chair of the Adaption Committee, we’re always seeking ways of adapting to climate change. York and North Yorkshire has an opportunity to be leaders in this area because of its unique geography with the kind of assets that can draw in investment into reducing emissions and preparing for the changing climate.”