Survey - Let's Talk Climate

This means reducing our impact on the climate by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. This is done by: 

• Decreasing production of the greenhouse gases by reducing energy demand and waste. 
• Generating and using low carbon energy such as solar power as an alternative to fossil fuels. 
• Capturing greenhouse gas emissions and storing them in organic sinks such as trees, hedgerows, grasslands, peat and seaweed (kelp), and capturing carbon from industrial processes. 

This means preparing for the changes we will see in our climate. To adapt to climate change at the Council, we need to: 

• Ensure the retrofit of council buildings makes our assets less vulnerable to climate change by including adaptation in building improvement plans. 
• Deliver climate adaptation work within and at the same time as decarbonisation measures. 
• Embed climate risk into the Council’s service delivery and risk management procedures. 
• Assess climate risk in each of the Council’s services. 
• Keep up-to-date data on climate impacts and responses faced by each service. 
• Develop a North Yorkshire Council Climate Adaptation Plan by 2025. 

This means helping the natural world, on which we depend, to thrive. To support nature we need to: 

• Work in partnership: To ensure a joint approach between the many organisations working to support nature. 
• Prioritise nature based solutions in climate change activity – understanding how the interventions that we will take in response to climate change can also support nature through increased protection, restoration or management. 
• Statutory requirements – we can ensure that legislative requirements are used to support nature. 
• Supporting nature through economic growth – There are opportunities presented to grow the economy in a sustainable way. Much of North Yorkshire’s economy is based on our landscape and the natural ecosystems. 
• Sustainable land use and green spaces: We must ensure that we manage our land holdings to support nature. This includes public open spaces such as parks and play areas, highway verges, coastal areas and the county farm estate. 
• Extensive Tree Planting. 
• Explore new opportunities in the marine environment. 

Energy efficient built structures – where people live, work and relax in places like houses, offices shops and industrial sites, town centres, sports centres and community buildings. 19% of North Yorkshire Carbon Emissions. 

Travel and Transport – how we travel around in our daily lives; to work, to visit, to shop and to enjoy ourselves. 28% of North Yorkshire Carbon Emissions. 

Reduce waste by reusing and recycling– Reduce waste and reduce the need to create new resources.  By sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible, the life cycle of a product is extended. Watch this short video to learn more about the 'circular economy'.

Renewable energy growth – increasing the amount of energy we generate and store from renewable sources such as sun and light power, water and wind power, and heat and emerging technology and markets for green hydrogen. 

Farming emissions – supporting North Yorkshire’s farming system to decarbonise. North Yorkshire has a strong farming system. With both food security, many businesses are dependent upon land based industries both directly and indirectly, such as food manufacturing. However, emissions from agriculture are 33% of the North Yorkshire total. 

Capturing and storing carbon – where we cannot decrease emissions, we need to capture and store them to become carbon neutral.  Carbon dioxide that is released from fossil fuels can be removed from the atmosphere by natural processes such as growing new trees and protecting carbon stores like peat bogs. It can also be done through industrial technology processes termed ‘carbon capture and storage’ (CCS). The carbon must be locked away permanently to ensure this process is effective.  

Encouraging everyone to reduce carbon emissions – we need everyone to think about their daily choices and to take climate responsible actions. People may make travel or housing choices for a range of reasons and for co benefits such as saving money or improving their health.

Renewable energy growth – increasing the amount of energy we generate and store from renewable sources such as sun and light power, water and wind power, and heat and emerging technology and markets for green hydrogen. 

Farming emissions – supporting North Yorkshire’s farming system to decarbonise. North Yorkshire has a strong farming system. With both food security, many businesses are dependent upon land based industries both directly and indirectly, such as food manufacturing. However, emissions from agriculture are 33% of the North Yorkshire total. 

Capturing and storing carbon – where we cannot decrease emissions, we need to capture and store them to become carbon neutral.  Carbon dioxide that is released from fossil fuels can be removed from the atmosphere by natural processes such as growing new trees and protecting carbon stores like peat bogs. It can also be done through industrial technology processes termed ‘carbon capture and storage’ (CCS). The carbon must be locked away permanently to ensure this process is effective.

Encouraging everyone to reduce carbon emissions – we need everyone to think about their daily choices and to take climate responsible actions. People may make travel or housing choices for a range of reasons and for co benefits such as saving money or improving their health.

It means any number of people that hold a set of opinions that link to an interest in the protection of our environment and identify with a named group or take action as a community. 

This could be a national organisation like the WWF, National Trust or Green Peace, but could also be a local tidy or circular economy group.