Calderdale is leading the way in delivering climate action.
The Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said this when praising Calderdale’s approach to tackling the climate emergency at a major new event on Friday 1 November 2024.
Calderdale Council hosted a climate conference, ‘From Insight to Action: Local Solutions for Net Zero’ at Dean Clough in Halifax, sponsored by Northern Powergrid with additional support from West Yorkshire Combined Authority and UK100.
The impact of climate change is an ever-present feature of life in Calderdale. The event showcased the groundbreaking work taking place across the borough to address this, led by Calderdale Council and Calderdale’s Climate Action Partnership.
It brought together organisations and decision-makers from West Yorkshire and beyond to discuss the challenges of achieving net zero emissions by 2038, and updating historic buildings to make them more energy efficient (‘retrofitting’). Over 80 people attended in person, with more than 120 watching the event online.
Cllr Scott Patient, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Housing, said:
“Achieving net zero requires new ways of working together, across all levels of government, businesses and communities. It was great to see lots of people and organisations at the climate conference who are willing to collaborate. That’s what Calderdale does best, and we can use the event as a platform for further climate action inside and outside of the borough.
“Calderdale is in a strong position to play a leading role in West Yorkshire on climate change. Regionally and nationally, we need to shout about what we’re doing well here, to make the case for appropriate funding and support. It was reassuring to get recognition of Calderdale’s pioneering approach from the Mayor of West Yorkshire at the event.”
Calderdale recently became the first council to publish a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) in West Yorkshire, which was officially launched at the conference and described by Mayor Brabin as “trailblazing” and “the best route for providing green and affordable energy for Calderdale.”
The LAEP shows how to reduce carbon emissions from energy use in the area, including a new digital model of Calderdale with maps of local buildings and opportunities to reach net zero and make the case for investment. Over 100 local organisations have been involved in developing the plan, recognising that climate action needs a partnership approach with support from local communities.
The plan supports the actions from the borough’s Climate Action Plan(external link), and is funded by the Council and through the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub via the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Retrofitting (making homes more energy efficient with improvements like insulation, draughtproofing and modern heating systems) was another topic for discussion at the climate conference. It is a key way to cut carbon in Calderdale because over a third of homes are pre-1920s and stone-built, often lacking sufficient insulation levels for energy efficiency.
The Council and its partners want to help improve the experience for homeowners looking to make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes. This will make them healthier, warmer and cheaper to heat, making households more resilient against the effect of any future energy price rises, and reducing carbon emissions to support Calderdale’s climate action priority.
The Council offers support to residents to carry out this work in their homes through the Healthy Homes Service(external link). Support and advice is also available from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority: Helping homes and businesses to save energy and money(external link).
You can see what the Climate Action Partnership is doing to help tackle climate change in Calderdale, and how to get involved, on the Council’s Climate emergency web page(external link).
Delivering net zero requires collaborative and innovative ways of working at all levels of government along with businesses and communities. To get involved and tackle the climate emergency in Calderdale, please contact Sian Day, the Council’s Climate Projects and Partnerships Manager at sian.day@calderdale.gov.uk
Climate action continues to be a priority for the Council and its partners, to create the more sustainable and resilient place that’s central to the Vision 2024 for Calderdale(external link).