Calderdale MBC. Wards Affected ALL. Cabinet 11 th February Revision of Environmental Policy Statement

Transcription

1 Calderdale MBC Wards Affected ALL Cabinet 11 th February Revision of Environmental Policy Statement Report of the Director, Regeneration and Strategy 1. Purpose of Report 1.1 Building a Sustainable Future is a key Council priority and contributor toward our mission to be the Best Borough in the North. The Council s Environmental Policy Statement will support the delivery of this ambition. 2. Need for a decision 2.1 Changes to the Environmental Policy Statement (see appendix) are recommended. These will align the Statement with current Council priorities and ensure the Council s continued accreditation to the internationally recognised Environmental Management standard ISO Changes to Council Policy require Cabinet and Full Council approval. 3. Recommendation It is recommended: 3.1 That Cabinet endorse the revised Environmental Policy Statement 3.2 That Cabinet recommend the revised Environmental Policy Statement to Council

2 4. Background and/or details 4.1 Background In 2010 Calderdale Council s approved an Environmental Policy heralding a substantial shift in our approach to environmental management both within our own organisation as well as our influence across the Borough Calderdale Council key achievements since 2010 include: Influenced a 26% cut in borough wide Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions Cut Council CO 2 emissions by 35% Reduced annual Council business mileage by 500,000 miles with the associated reduction in air pollution and CO 2 emissions. Reduced the Council s use of paper by 33% through smarter working Introduced multi material waste recycling across our council sites Doubled the Borough Household waste recycling rate to 50% (well above the national average) Established a borough wide household food waste recovery service (the first in the UK) In 2013 the Council set the bold target to drive a 40% cut in borough wide CO 2 emissions by 2020, and 80% by 2050, from a 2005 baseline and to match this in its own operations. Through partnership actions and bringing to bear national measures the borough and the Council are on track to meet and may even exceed these emission targets Benefiting from business and community leaders, local interest groups and specialists the Calderdale Energy Future (CEF) partnership has successfully propelled energy and climate change onto the local agenda as a critical issue. Through initiating a number of innovative projects including Calderdale Community Energy, the 6C business partnership and White Rose Energy and bringing to bear national and regional scheme Calderdale is on track to meet the 40% reduction of CO2 by 2020 as illustrated below: Page 2

3 Tonnes CO2 Ktonnes Borough CO 2 Emmissions Total CO2 Target Year Corporately we have transformed the way the Council operates to become more responsive and efficient, delivering quality services on fewer resources. By consolidating the stewardship of our buildings under Corporate Assets and Facility Management (CAFM), delivering a Halifax Town Centre Office Strategy and initiating a comprehensive refurbishment of street lighting we will have cut corporate CO2 emissions by over 40% by 2020 meaning we will have exceeded the target set back in 2013 as illustrated below Progress Towards 2020 Council Carbon Reduction Target as of 2017/ Total Corporate Emissions 0 Year This may be an enviable track record; however we cannot afford to ease off as further and persistent action is essential if we are to address the environmental challenges facing our community today. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that the world has to take additional action within 12 years for global warming to be kept to a maximum of 1.5 C, beyond which Page 3

4 even half a degree would significantly worsen the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people For Calderdale, this means a higher risk of extreme weather events such as the catastrophic flooding of 2015 and hotter summers, such as those experienced in 2018, would become more severe and common, increasing heat-related deaths and raising the risk of moorland heath fires There are also wider environmental issues affecting Calderdale. Although we are seeing improvement in some areas, poor air quality persists in some specific locations and leads to major health issues such as respiratory disease. We must also ensure our local wildlife habitats are safeguarded and that healthy habitats and rivers exists to support biodiversity and provides a quality place for all to live, work and play. Whilst we have made significant improvements on our waste management, worrying volumes of plastic still ends up in the sea and countryside each year with single use plastics such as coffee cups, water bottles, cutlery and straws of particular concern. These are an example of the environmental issues that must be tackled but if approached intelligently and sustainably our community will benefit economically, socially an environmentally, building a sustainable future together. 4.2 Building a Sustainable Future Building a Sustainable Future is one of the three Council priorities. This recognises the significance of the Council s substantial impact on the environment and our ability to influence sustainability in Calderdale. Calderdale Council s diverse range of services, ownership and operation of assets as well as its role in place leadership carry responsibilities and involve difficult choices but also provide great opportunities. The Council recognises the essential need to ensure collaboration between directorates, across Calderdale and to work with the wider region the Council cannot succeed in this priority alone The Council has significant influence through commissioning of services including social care, waste management and highways. The Council also acts as an enforcement agency with regard to many environmental regulations whilst it is itself expected to be compliant with a wide range of environmental obligations Our exceptional environment makes Calderdale a great place to live. The Council shares the community passion for the environment and recognises that a collective effort will be required to successfully tackle the challenges we all face. Calderdale Council s Environmental Policy establishes the environmental and sustainability principles that the Council must lead on and deliver against values and provides residents, businesses and other stakeholders with the commitment that the Council will adhere to these principles The Environmental Policy Statement was last updated and agreed by Full Council on the 30th September 2010 and signed by the then Leader of the Council and Chief Executive. A September 2018 Environmental Management Review has provided recommendations to improve the Environmental Policy Statement. These recommendations highlight the Council s commitment to Building a Sustainable Future and will contribute towards sustaining the internationally recognised Page 4

5 standard for Environmental Management (ISO 14001). A copy of the new Statement is attached in Appendix The recommended amendments to the Environmental Policy Statement include the deletion of out of date phrases and the addition of priority areas to complement the Council s Building a Sustainable Future priority and connect with our emerging Inclusive Economy and refreshed Health and Well Being strategies The Environmental Policy Statement is not intended to be a strategy document, however Officers will work to develop a Building a Sustainable Future Strategy based on the Policy Statement priority areas, establishing the difference we want to see, with actions, benefits and resource implications. 4.3 The Council s Environmental Management System Calderdale Council has maintained an internationally accredited Environmental Management System (EMS) since An EMS is a framework designed to identify the Council s environmental impacts and co-ordinate efforts to improve upon them. A key aspect of the EMS is internal audit of compliance and senior management review. Our EMS ensures that we conforms to legal and other requirements and provides recommendations for performance improvement The Council EMS will be utilised to underpin a Building a Sustainable Future Strategy by monitoring and auditing performance, enabling management review and ensuring continuous improvement. 4.4 Calderdale: The Next Chapter The work that is taking Calderdale to the Next Chapter involves over 150 million of investment. This investment will contribute significantly to Building a Sustainable Future, and therefore the priority areas, through improvements in our transport, public spaces and business premises, building on our heritage, our fine architecture, our vibrant business sector and our strong communities. 4.5 Policy Aims & Priority Areas The following aims and priority areas for the Environmental Policy Statement have been identified through the Building a Sustainable Future workshop (September2018), Environmental Management Review (September 2018) and Calderdale Energy Future workshop (October 2018). These proposed priority action areas will guide the development of the Building a Sustainable Future Strategy. Aims To enhance and safeguard the environment To fulfil the organisation s environmental compliance and other obligations To continually improve environmental performance Page 5

6 ' tonnes Carbon Dioxide Tackling Climate Change In 2013 the Council committed to an 80% reduction in CO 2 emissions by 2050 on a 2005 baseline. However as stated in above, in 2018 the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned that the global community must take additional action within 12 years for global warming to be kept to a maximum of 1.5 ºC, beyond which the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat become acute. The IPCC report finds that limiting global warming to 1.5 C would require rapid and far-reaching transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities. Global net human-caused emissions of CO 2 would need to fall by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching net zero around Carbon dioxide emissions modelling undertaken in 2018 by the Carbon Trust as part of the Leeds City Region (LCR) Energy Strategy and Delivery Plan (ESDP) predicts continued reductions in domestic and commercial / industrial emissions but a growth in transport emissions. Overall, regional emissions will fail to meet IPPC emission targets (or indeed the existing UK target*) and the ESDP is therefore identifying measures that will be required to meet the IPPC targets. It is becoming clear that the region, Calderdale and the UK as a whole will need to consider difficult choices, larger scale investment and manage bigger risks to meet this challenge The graph below illustrates the difference between the IPPC target of 45% reduction by 2030 leading also to carbon neutral by 2050 compared to the current Council approved target of 80% reduction by Carbon Dioxide Reduction Target Trajectories Emissions to date Current Council Approved IPPC Year *As committed within the Climate Change Act 2008 of 80% by 2050 on a 2005 baseline If the Council adopted the Paris Climate Change Agreement target directly, it would need to identify the local likely impact of estimated government policy and the local extent to which the LEP ESDP measures will affect the borough. In addition it would also be required to develop new projects and radical policies to find the remaining reductions in CO 2 emissions. Page 6

7 This represents a step change in how the Council resources its work in mitigating climate change. If the science based target is adopted, developing our own new target through work on the Building a Sustainable Future Strategy the Council must inspire further borough wide carbon savings and take a leadership role as a driver of local strategy delivering borough wide carbon savings by 2024 and beyond in line with science based targets. This requires additional officer resource to identify and develop a borough wide approach, prepare an action plan, develop innovative proposals and deliver local actions. A further role is also essential in contributing to and localizing opportunities from West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and the Leeds City Region led activities (including the Energy Strategy & Delivery Plan, Energy Accelerator, Resource Efficiency Fund) Improving energy costs and security: Affordable Warmth: The impacts of affordable warmth are both social and healthrelated. Research undertaken by the Building Research Establishment for the Council has established that 12% of all households in the borough are in fuel poverty and 6% are living in a property with a Category One hazard due to excess cold, leading to an annual cost to the NHS of 1,000,000 in Calderdale alone. The Council is utilising available opportunities to tackle affordable warmth through the Affordable Warm Fund, Better Homes Yorkshire and White Rose Energy. Affordable Warmth contributes toward the Anti-Poverty Action Plan approved by Cabinet in December 2018 as a key priority to be delivered. Continued work in this area is essential to the economic and social wellbeing and health of the residents of the borough Schools and Community Buildings: A significant number of schools across the borough have a higher energy demand per pupil than the national best practice. Schools combined emit more greenhouse gases than the Council s own estate. Significant savings could be made by schools: this is money that could be spent on teaching and improved building energy performance would create an improved environment for learning. The Council will provide leadership to schools to ensure they address high energy use and make progress towards greater energy efficiency Business energy cost and security: The price of energy and the security of supply are of key concern to Calderdale businesses. The UK electricity generating capacity and the instability of imported gas supplies means that the availability and cost of energy to local businesses could become a significant issue in coming years. Calderdale Council is supporting businesses through the 6C Energy partnership and the Leeds City Region Resource Efficiency Fund Air Quality and Transport All of the available evidence suggests that local air pollution can be most effectively tackled by reducing vehicle exhaust emissions. Poor local air quality leads to major health issues such as respiratory disease. By contrast, safer active transport cuts road traffic accidents and reduces rates of obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Under the lead of Public Health, Calderdale Council has a revised Air Quality Action Plan. This plan focusses on improving air Page 7

8 quality across the Borough by working with key partners and the public on a number of actions from transport modal shift to Green Walls.. The Council recognises the need to lead by example and provides incentives for low carbon staff commuting, measures to reduce the impacts of business travel and is looking to introduce more low carbon vehicles into the corporate fleet Sustainable Waste and Resource Management Calderdale Council delivers one of the highest performing household waste services in the UK. We are rated in the top 10 local waste collection authorities for our recycling rates. In addition the Council demonstrates its commitment to quality household waste management through its pioneering food waste collections. With a current household recycling rate of 50.7% the Council is already achieving its 2020 target of 50%. Corporately the Council has opportunities to reduce and recycle more waste and opportunities to reduce associated costs Enhance Biodiversity and Natural Flood Management Calderdale has a distinct character with many unique habitats and species alongside renowned heritage sites. Large parts of the borough are internationally recognised wildlife habitats and lie within the South Pennine Moors Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The boroughs grasslands are vital to rare birds and many of the cloughs have extensive ancient oak woodlands and are rich in biodiversity. The Council is committed to enhancing local habitats and that a strong habitats exists to support biodiversity and provides a healthy place for all to live, work and play. The Council has approved a new Tree and Woodland Strategy as a key priority to be delivered, which describes how trees and woodland in the borough will be managed for the benefit of residents and visitors and is a key stakeholder in developing the Calderdale White Rose Forest activities Our recovery from recent flooding events demonstrates the kindness and resilience within our community. It also shows the empathy we have with our global communities that have also been directly impacted by climate change. Our natural environment provides opportunities to enhance biodiversity and adapt to extreme weather events through the management of upland habitats including work to restrict drainage channels, stabilise bare peat, restore vegetation and floodplain habitats and control erosion Local development planning The Local Plan sets the Council s aspirations for the future development of the borough including meeting needs for housing, employment and the environment. It puts into place policies for sustainable development against which planning applications will be assessed including both adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change. The Plan will do this by: Locating development in areas accessible by sustainable transport; Requiring sustainable design, construction and water management methods; Page 8

9 Increasing levels of renewable and low carbon energy generation; Protecting and enhancing Green Infrastructure and sensitive habitats taking care not to create barriers to the movement of wildlife; Providing opportunities for recreation as a contribution to the health and well being of communities Sustainable food From obesity and diet-related ill-health to food poverty and waste, climate change and biodiversity loss to declining prosperity and social dislocation, food is not only at the heart of some of our greatest problems but is also a vital part of the solution. Obesity and poor nutrition have been a national problem for a number of years. The Council is striving to support people to live healthier, happier, longer lives. Encouraging everyone to eat healthy and nutritious food is an important part of this. We are working with other organisations to make good food the easy choice for all residents and are committed to supporting resilience and healthy living The Calderdale Food Network was established following a Calderdale Food Workshop in June The vision of the Calderdale Food Network is: Calderdale is a good food Borough where everyone, today and in the future, has equitable access to good food. The Calderdale Food Network is developing an action plan to identify projects it will take forward including Food for Life Calderdale. This programme is a place-based whole system approach to good food, working with schools, nurseries, the hospital, care settings and on the high street. The programme is funded by the Council and Calderdale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). This initiative compliments the well-established Incredible Edible network which of course has its roots in Todmorden. 5. Options considered 5.1 The Environmental Management Review examined the Council s environmental performance over the last financial year and considered various options for improvement. 5.2 Preferred Option: An up to date Policy Statement with current Council priorities is required and that ensures the Council s continued accreditation to the internationally recognised Environmental Management standard ISO Retaining the existing policy with out of date references and superseded strategies will not provide a suitable framework for Building A Sustainable Future. 6. Financial implications 6.1 The Environmental Policy Statement does not at this stage have any direct financial implications. The action plan to be developed as a result of the adoption of this policy would need to identify the financial implications of any proposals. Page 9

10 7. Legal Implications 7.1 There are no additional legal implications arising from the amendments proposed within this report. 8. Consultation 8.1 The Environmental Policy Statement has been identified through the Building a Sustainable Future workshop (September 2018), Environmental Management Review (September 2018) and Calderdale Energy Future workshop (October 2018). 9. Environment, Health and Economic Implications 9.1 The Environmental Policy Statement will provide a framework for a variety of Environmental, Health and Economic improvements detailed within this report. Elements of the revised policy, particularly the priorities around Energy cost and security as well as Biodiversity and Flood Management, will support Calderdale s Inclusive Economy Strategy as a key priority to be delivered. 10. Equality and Diversity 10.1 Equality & Community Cohesion Impact Assessment (EIA) has been undertaken and no negative implications are identified However there are numerous equality benefits including addressing inequality associated with affordable warmth, flood risk and air quality and access to green / blue infrastructure. 11. Summary and Recommendations 11.1 Building a Sustainable Future is a key Council priority and contributes toward our mission to the Best Borough in the North. The Council s Environmental Policy Statement alongside development of a Building a Sustainable Future strategy will support the delivery of this ambition. Page 10

11 For further information on this report, contact: Jez Tweed Environmental Management Officer, Housing Environment & Renewal Telephone: The documents used in the preparation of this report are: Environmental Management Review minutes (September 2018) Calderdale Energy Future workshop minutes (October 2018). IPPC Summary for Policymakers (2018) The documents are available for inspection at: By request to or in person at Princess Buildings. Appendix 1: Over page. Page 11

12 Calderdale Council Environmental Policy Statement 2019 Building a Sustainable Future Building a Sustainable Future is a key priority for fulfilling our mission to be the Best Borough in the North. The Council s Environmental Policy will contribute to the delivery of this priority. Our exceptional environment makes Calderdale a great place to live, work and visit. The Council shares our community passion for the environment and we work together to enhance biodiversity and safeguard heritage. The talent, creativity and can-do attitude within our Borough has led the move to a green economy with high levels of investment in environmental improvements, renewable energy and record levels of Green Goods and Services business start-ups. This plays a vital role in boosting our local economy. Kindness and resilience is at the heart of our communities as demonstrated by the response to recent extreme weather event and Calderdale has a strong empathy with other global communities that have been directly impacted by climate change. We recognise Climate Change as a critical issue and its impact on our local and global communities. Calderdale Council commits to playing its part in limiting global warming to 1.5 C from pre industrial era.

13 5 Calderdale is heading into a Next Chapter as significant investment is made in our infrastructure. This investment will contribute substantially to Building a Sustainable Future for Calderdale through improvements in our transport, public spaces and business premises, building on our heritage, our fine architecture, our vibrant business sector and our strong communities Ensure that Cabinet, Corporate Management and supervisory staff are fully aware of this policy and have responsibilities for its implementation Ensure that environmental issues are given adequate consideration in the planning and delivery of dayto-day service. Our Aims * To enhance and safeguard the environment To fulfil the organisation s compliance and other obligations To continually improve environmental performance We will work with suppliers, contractors and in partnership with the wider community to improve environmental standards. We will maintain and continuously improve an Environmental Management System meeting the ISO standard for environmental management. 5

14 Priority Action Areas

15 Contact For further environmental information and a copy of the full statement contact: Environmental Management team Housing& Green Economy Princess Building Halifax HX1 1TS T: E: environment@calderdale.gov.uk W: Signed Leader of the Council Chief Executive February 2019