Green plan for North Yorkshire could create 4,000 new jobs
Councillors are hoping to make York and North Yorkshire the UK's first carbon negative region
Plans to make York and North Yorkshire the UK's first carbon negative region could lead to 4,000 new highly skilled jobs being created, it has been claimed.
North Yorkshire County Council is expected to approve draft proposals next week, ahead of a public consultation.
The plan includes producing more renewable energy, reducing the use of fossil fuels, improving insulation in homes, encouraging the use of low-emission vehicles and promoting more active travel such as cycling and walking.
It is seen as key to achieving the Government's target of making the whole of the UK carbon-neutral by 2050.
The draft also includes plans to create more than 4,000 highly skilled jobs, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.8 million tonnes every year in the UK, cut waste to landfill by 1.2 million tonnes annually and generate £1.4bn to the nationally economy.
Executive member for climate change, Cllr Greg White, said: “Climate change is without question the greatest threat that the world faces, and is already impacting on communities across the globe.
“We have seen an increasing frequency of extreme weather conditions here in North Yorkshire and across the UK as a whole, which scientists tell us is clear evidence of significant changes in our climate.
“Without clear and decisive action, the situation will only get worse. However, we are committed to ensuring that we have a comprehensive strategy in North Yorkshire, especially as we look towards the launch of the new authority this spring.”
Members of our executive will meet on Tuesday next week (17 January) when they are expected to approve recommendations.
If approved, the public consultation on the draft climate change strategy is set to be launched within the next month and is due to last for eight weeks.