In York and North Yorkshire, we have the ambition to be carbon-neutral by 2034 and carbon-negative by 2040. We’re now working with regional stakeholders and experts to collaboratively develop a Routemap to set out clear policy, programmes, demonstrator projects and enabling activities to reach our ambitious carbon-reduction goals.

We’re holding a series of Roundtables for senior level representatives of local organisations and experts to shape and agree the key actions that will be included in York and North Yorkshire’s Routemap to Carbon-Negative. In this Roundtable, we will be discussing and reaching consensus around “what” we need to do to support businesses to decarbonise, “how” we will work together to achieve these ambitious changes and “who” will be responsible for delivering specific areas of work.

Outline Session Agenda

1. Welcome & Session Overview – Katie Thomas, Senior Strategy Manager – Low Carbon & Environment and Katie Privett, Energy Programme Lead

2. “What” - Discussion around the proposed measures and milestones to decarbonise businesses. Deep-dive into measures where there is disagreement or perceived uncertainty/un-deliverability.

3. “How” - Discussion around the required policy change and key programmes to enable systemic change.

4. “Who” – Discussion around roles of specific organisations/groups/networks/boards to lead areas of work

5. Wrap-up & Next Steps

Background

What we’ve done so far?

• At the end of 2019, we commissioned a study to understand potential pathways to get to carbon-neutral across key sectors – transport, buildings, industry, power, and land use and agriculture.

• Experts and key stakeholders were initially engaged in developing the modelling of the pathways for each sector.

• In summer 2020, we undertook a comprehensive phase of stakeholder engagement through a consultation and follow-up workshops to seek initial views on the study findings and co-develop policy.

• In November 2020, we shared the full study findings with stakeholders through workshops and started to collaboratively develop projects in areas where urgent action is required.

• Stakeholder feedback to date has been incorporated in the Carbon Abatement Pathways Study final report, which you can view here.

What’s next?

• The Roundtable Series has been designed to consolidate the evidence base and prior stakeholder engagement to agree key actions within Y&NY’s Routemap to Carbon-Negative (“what”, “how” and “who”)

• York and North Yorkshire LEP’s Low Carbon and Environment team will then continue to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders to draft the Routemap.

Co-Creating Y&NY's Routemap to Carbon-Negative: Business Roundtable