RYEDALE District Council is seeking to do its bit in the fight against climate change with a raft of new changes to how it operates.

At a meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday night, members were presented with a new report by officers on how the council can lead the district in cutting carbon emissions.

The report includes a large array of measures that the council is recommended to implement.

These include the creation of a revised climate change action plan, and the suggestion that every report presented to council should include its ‘impact on climate change’, in the same manner that financial implications are currently included.

In relation to the council’s assets and buildings, the report said the authority will implement renewable energy purchasing, energy efficiency in building management, water use efficiency, and use of solar panels at its main premises in Malton and its operations depot.

It also suggests replacing all the streetlamps currently owned by the district authority with energy efficient LEDs, and recommends promoting divestment from fossil fuels through treasury management and the North Yorkshire Pension Fund - but only “where it can be demonstrated this does not have a detrimental impact on return on investment”.

Implementing an electric car pool for staff and reducing travel, supporting electric vehicle charging points, and reviewing renewable energy infrastructure policies are also among the report’s recommendations, and in terms of planning, the report suggests “implementing sustainability policies in all new development opportunities - including wind turbines, solar panels, EV infrastructure, heat pumps, water harvesting and minimisation, sustainable drainage systems and battery storage”.

The report was welcomed by councillors.

Cllr William Oxley said: “The one thing we want to come out of this is that it is proactive,” and Cllr John Clark praised the report and said: “The enthusiasm that’s gone into this is immense.”

Ryedale District Council is not the only local authority currently assessing how it can help meet the vast challenges of man-made climate change.

At a meeting on Thursday night, City of York Council, members declared a climate emergency and voted to make the city carbon neutral by 2030.

Amy Elliot, 16, spoke at the meeting and said that climate change is “one of the biggest threats mankind may ever face”.

She said: “I want a future for myself, for you, and for my children.”