Proposals backed to declare climate emergency in the East Riding
East Riding councillors have backed proposals to declare a climate emergency and draw up an environmental strategy within 12 months.
East Riding councillors have backed proposals to declare a climate emergency and draw up an environmental strategy within 12 months after hearing the Humber region’s emissions were second only to London.
East Riding Council’s Overview and Management Committee heard work with residents, the public and private sector was needed to reach net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.
Climate Change review panel chair Cllr Mike Medini told the committee work required to achieve the target would be “immense”, adding the council could not do it alone.
But Cllr Ros Jump said parts of the panel’s recent report which proposed declaring a climate emergency as one of 12 other recommendations seemed “woolly”.
Cllr Andy Walker, behind two failed attempts to get a climate emergency declared since 2019, said he welcomed the report but added it did not go far enough in some areas.
Their comments came as council planning and economic regeneration lead Alan Menzies told the committee the Humber region was producing the highest amount of emission outside of London.
Recommendations from the review panel and committee are now set to be debated by councillors at a full East Riding meeting on Wednesday, February 24.
Cllr Medini said that while the council already had several policies to tackle emissions, a strategy was needed to link them together for the “immense” work required on the climate.
Council climate change portfolio holder Chris Matthews told members the authority’s existing work had enjoyed some success but had been “piece meal”.
He added finances should not be a “stumbling block” to achieving the target but said funding would be needed this year and for many afterwards to meet it.
Cllr John Owen said the East Riding would need to work with neighbouring authorities to tackle flooding, one of the effects of climate change already making itself felt.
Mr Menzies said there had already been some business interest in setting up hydrogen fuel production in the East Riding, particularly around the Salt End area.
He said:
“There’s national interest already in hydrogen fuel, but the challenge is in producing it.
“There is significant government support for it but we don’t know yet if the setting up of plants here will come to pass.”
Committee chair Cllr Richard Meredith said hydrogen should be looked at not only as an alternative for transport but also to fuel power stations and heat homes.
Cllr Nick Coultish said the East Riding could become a leader nationally on it.
Cllr Medini said his review panel heard the Humber had the potential to be among the “most exciting” regions in the country for hydrogen production.
But the committee heard there were questions around how green the fuel was due to emissions created when it is made.
Cllr Ros Jump said some of the panel’s report’s wording needed “more welly” to show the East Riding would be doing everything it could to combat climate change.
Cllr Andy Walker said:
“While I congratulate the review panel on its work these recommendations should have gone much further.
“The Environment Agency has said on this that if we win slowly then we still lose, that’s a chilling statement.”