Yorkshire Housing has committed to taking action on the climate crisis by joining other local organisations signing-up to the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission’s Climate Action Pledge.
Launched in 2022, the pledge will help to make sure that every business in Yorkshire is ‘climate ready’. The Climate Action Pledge has four areas of focus: working towards net zero, adapting to future climate impacts, enhancing nature and biodiversity and working with people, places and partners to create more impact.
The regional Climate Commission have said the impacts of ‘climate and ecological emergencies are already being felt in our region’. Extreme weather like flooding and heatwaves has damaged homes and hit productivity. They have said this will continue to happen with increasing frequency and intensity in the years to come. Their advice is that every business needs to get climate ready.
As an organisation proud of our Yorkshire roots, we are committed to playing our part in tackling the climate emergency to make the region a happier, healthier and more sustainable place for both current and future generations.
How we’re going to become ‘climate ready’?
In line with the broad objectives of the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Action Plan, we commit to tackling the climate crisis and will adapt to our changing climate, becoming resilient to future impacts. We are introducing an investment program in 2025/26 to improve flood defences to our homes which were previously impacted by flooding.
We will reduce our carbon emissions, making thousands of energy efficient improvements to our homes on our journey to Net Zero 2050, including building low-carbon heating systems and solar panels into our business as usual asset investment programs, delivering our Yorkshire Housing Standard.
Our estates services team work hard to keep our green spaces clean and accessible for our communities and we will meet the commitment to enhance nature and biodiversity by planting wildflower meadows annually. We also have partnerships with local farmers and community groups who reuse our wood chippings and enhance our woodland and water habitats.
We’re keen to promote a just transition that leaves no-one and nowhere behind and this year we installed 168 Solar PV systems targeting fuel poor areas in Yorkshire with the help of funding pledged by West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Speaking about the role we have to play in safeguarding our climate and nature, Bob Spedding, head of asset strategy, said: “It’s vital we have the focus of these guiding principles within the pledge, this will enable us to track our progress and be accountable.
“We encourage all organisations and businesses across Yorkshire and the Humber
to sign up to this pledge and work together to support climate action in our region.”