Agenda item

(Lead Member: Cllr T. Swift, Director: Liz Hunter)

Resolved: That the Combined Authority:

a)    notes the progress made at COP26 and implications for the approach to achieving a net zero carbon West Yorkshire economy.

b)    endorses the first priorities from the West Yorkshire Climate and Environment Plan identified at section 2.10 of the submitted report and agrees to delegate, if required, any final changes to the Managing Director in consultation with the Mayor.

c)     agrees to work with partner local authorities to design the delivery mechanisms, and to identify and secure funding for a Climate and Environment Fund to support delivery of the Plan.

The Combined Authority considered a report discussing the outcomes, implications and next steps following the conclusion of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26), and highlighting proposals in the West Yorkshire Climate and Environment Plan to be prioritised first for delivery by the Combined Authority.

The Mayor reported positively on her experience at COP26. There was a wider context of mixed views on viability of the 1.5C target and whether sufficient commitment existed among all nations for the agreed targets, but it was positively noted that internationally, local governments had taken a leading role in addressing climate change, and it was hoped that the challenge would simultaneously be an opportunity for West Yorkshire in several areas.

The report identified eight priority areas set out in the Plan which were recommended for endorsement; these linked in across the different areas of work undertaken by the Combined Authority, and included some work already underway, such as ensuring that all funded schemes demonstrated their efforts to mitigate carbon impact.

Building green jobs throughout the region was emphasised as being vital going forward. Members noted the recent shortages seen in the HGV and social care sectors, raising concerns of a similar nature affecting the growth of these jobs. It would be extremely important to link in with local education providers on this, and to identify how best to target this job growth to keep the region competitive in a global marketplace. Positive developments in these connections were noted, such as the Skills Connect programme, and it was hoped that the first meeting of the Mayor’s Green Jobs Task Force in January 2022 would be a useful next step in bringing employers, young people and jobseekers, and education and training providers together to build a strong relationship that supported the delivery of these jobs going forward. As part of this, the Mayor was continuing to make the case to government for more regional control over further education and skills training to be devolved in order to better allow the region to build and prepare for these jobs.

Members raised the other following comments and concerns:

·       An update on the Carbon Impact Assessment was requested by Members. Officers advised that the complex methodology had caused this to be a slow process, but a report was expected in the new year. A further briefing was requested on this to address the current situation.

·       The close relationship between climate change and economic opportunities was discussed, with it being noted that levelling up could not be truly achieved if areas of the region were continually recovering from the devastating impact of flooding, for example.

·       Members questioned what progress had been made in delivering Electric Vehicle charging points across the region, as electric/hybrid vehicles served as an important bridge between private car usage and public transportation solutions.

·       Members raised the issue of river cleanliness, and whether an action plan on this could be included within the Plan. It was noted that this was an ongoing joint piece of work between the Combined Authority, MPs, and the Government.

Resolved: That the Combined Authority:

a)    notes the progress made at COP26 and implications for the approach to achieving a net zero carbon West Yorkshire economy.

b)    endorses the first priorities from the West Yorkshire Climate and Environment Plan identified at section 2.10 of the submitted report and agrees to delegate, if required, any final changes to the Managing Director in consultation with the Mayor.

c)     agrees to work with partner local authorities to design the delivery mechanisms, and to identify and secure funding for a Climate and Environment Fund to support delivery of the Plan.