Where next?

The completion of the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Adaptation Study (RAS) and the Climate Change Plan (CCP) mark a major milestone in the drive to better understand the challenges and to accelerate action on tackling climate change in the region. The publication of these two complementary pieces of work signals a shift in emphasis from strategy to delivery. There are several key drivers for this agenda in the region including the:

• Climate Change Partnership;
• Regional Improvement & Efficiency Partnership;
• formulation of the Integrated Regional Strategy; and
• role of professional networks (such as the Local Authority Climate Change Network and the UK Inter-regional Climate Change Coordinators Network).

Climate change is a fast moving policy area and it is recognised that delivery will need to be able to respond quickly and efficiently to new challenges and opportunities as they emerge. In the short to medium term it will be the responsibility of the Climate Change Partnership to take forward delivery of the key adaptation work arising from the Regional Adaptation Study by integrating this within the Climate Change Plan.

Chaired by Councillor Arthur Barker (who was Chair of the Regional Adaptation Study Steering Group) and with representative membership drawn from across the key partners in the region, the Climate Change Partnership will oversee the implementation of the Climate Change Plan. It will: put in place robust monitoring arrangements to ensure progress; and constantly review the work programme and priorities to ensure the best use of available resources.

Taking forward delivery on climate change will require the cooperation of many organisations, networks and individuals. The region already enjoys an excellent reputation for collaborative working. New, existing and emerging governance structures in the region will be sensitive to the critical task of ensuring the causes and effects of climate change are tackled with urgency.

 

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