Region’s carbon story can be a positive one says Climate Commission
Yorkshire and the Humber can reach net zero in 15 years, achieving benefits for people, nature, and the economy, according to a new report from regional advisors.
The region has an ambitious target to achieve net zero emissions by 2038, which can be achieved through ‘economically sound’ investments, more than a third of which will pay for themselves.
Our Carbon Story reveals £7.3bn will be needed annually to 2038. The Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission, which published the report, emphasise that longer-term view of economic benefits needs to be taken to evaluate paybacks.
The figure equates to just under 3% of regional GDP; by 2038 this will be compensated for by the value of the energy savings alone.
The report is underpinned by a carbon reduction assessment for Yorkshire and the Humber conducted by independent academics, with research on consumption emissions by Dr Anne Owen of the University of Leeds.
Emissions overall have halved since 1990, meaning the region must go four times faster between now and 2038 to reach net zero.
Additional benefits
If Yorkshire and the Humber seizes the opportunity, by 2050 (the national net zero target) the region will already have created at least £250 billion in additional benefits from these measures, particularly in health and wellbeing.
Reducing Yorkshire and the Humber’s carbon emissions can also provide big wins for nature, if done well. Biodiversity can be boosted by improving farming practices, changing some land use away from animal agriculture to broadleaf woodlands, and from protecting and restoring wetlands and peatlands.
The report calls for a ‘mission-driven’ approach to rapidly reduce emissions, scale up investment and enable deeper and faster changes.
It presents a perfect opportunity to unlock the potential of the region
“Accelerating delivery to achieve the 2038 target increases the urgency of upfront investment in some measures – but it will also allow the co-benefits and savings to take effect sooner,” said Rosa Foster, Director of the Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission.
“It presents a perfect opportunity to unlock the potential of the region, so benefiting the UK economy as a whole.
“Our Carbon Story clearly demonstrates that it is both technically and economically feasible to achieve this regional net zero target. That strongly suggests that it is process, prioritisation, perspective, and governance that are the main barriers to realising our goal.
“The good news is that these are things within our gift to change. With the support of the Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission, the region is ready and keen to work with the Government to deliver.
“If we do, our collective carbon story can still be a positive one.”
More information
The Secretariat of the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission is hosted by the University of Leeds.
Contact for media: Kate Lock, Policy and Communications Manager, k.m.lock@leeds.ac.uk 07792 633984