In this opinion piece written for the Yorkshire Post, Baroness Brown gives her view on York and North Yorkhshire’s plans for a carbon negative economy backed by green investment.
I was invited recently to address a major net zero conference in York, so was only too happy to take a trip to the region and escape the London bubble for a while.
York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, under its elected mayor, David Skaith, has set an ambitious goal to become England’s first carbon negative region, so I was intrigued to see if this newly devolved region had the drive to achieve this.
It was encouraging to see the first York and North Yorkshire Carbon Negative Conference buzzing with delegates committed to a low carbon economy, through embracing everything from sustainable agriculture and low carbon energy, to retrofitting existing housing stock.
York and North Yorkshire is well positioned to attract green investment, it has the commitment, the capability, the innovative thinking and a strong academic base. Moving away from fossil fuels means investing in energy efficiency and alternative clean energy sources which will in-turn bring economic growth and tangible benefits such as jobs, lower energy bills and cleaner air.
The presentation I gave to the conference highlighted the effects of climate change on the region. Those effects are being felt right now.
In June temperatures touched 30 degrees, and drought has already been declared in Yorkshire following England’s driest spring in over 130 years.
As I was preparing my presentation I realised the hugely important role land management will play in the region. This was made clear from the Climate Change Committee’s 7th Carbon Budget report, which emphasises how land use and agriculture will play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the 2030s and 40s.
York and North Yorkshire, as a leader in food and farming and the rural economy, has the opportunity to trailblaze and trial approaches in these sectors. But it isn’t only about reducing emissions, we also need to adapt to the changing climate which is bringing wetter winters as well as hotter, drier summers. I was very interested to see the Ousewem project demonstrating the potential for nature-based solutions to relieve flooding on Yorkshire’s rivers.
For the region’s farmers and land managers to be able to deliver emissions reductions and adaptation services like increasing flood resilience they must have government support to develop farming practices and technologies, for example to reduce emissions from managing crops and livestock.
Through proper funding and investment into land management, the region can reap the benefits, not only on mitigating climate change, but by being a trailblazer in developing a thriving green economy.
By attracting private investment, and with support from Government, I believe York and North Yorkshire is well positioned to achieve a low carbon economy.
At the Carbon Negative Conference I saw a combined authority attracting funding to a range of programmes all aimed at creating a pipeline of investable projects and long term partnerships.
This included a commitment to regenerative agriculture through the Grow Yorkshire Partnership, which will support farmers in cutting pesticides while increasing food yield and water retention in their soil.
I also saw an impressive understanding of retrofit, a potential growth sector for the area. Because of the region’s unique heritage and rural housing, it’s another opportunity to lead the way in supporting energy-efficient, low carbon technology replacing outdated heating methods in older homes and business premises.
The signs that the Government is seeing a commitment to the region is starting to become apparent, and that confidence will be essential in attracting investment and further funding.
Last year the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero chose York and North Yorkshire as one of three pilot regions to receive substantial funding to explore ways of drawing private sector finance into low carbon energy.
With substantial investment this could help accelerate the transition to a low carbon economy with massive potential to bring tangible benefits to businesses and communities.
Establishing a thriving green economy in York and North Yorkshire, while adapting to climate change, comes with challenges, but the region has set out down the right path and understands the journey. I look forward to watching it realise its ambitions.