Harrogate Greens' claims of climate coalition 'talking shop' denied by council as it reaffirms net zero target

Frustrated members of Harrogate Green Party claim Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition set is in danger of becoming "just a talking-shop."
Arnold Warneken of Harrogate Green Party, and a member of Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition.Arnold Warneken of Harrogate Green Party, and a member of Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition.
Arnold Warneken of Harrogate Green Party, and a member of Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition.

Set up by Harrogate Borough Council less than a year ago to bring together residents groups, businesses, environmental groups and politicians to promote carbon neutrality, the aim was to be not only non-party political but also to agree and deliver an annual action plan to deliver achievable outcomes for the benefit of the Harrogate district.

Harrogate Borough Council points to a list of environmental improvements already under way and says most members of the coalition "understand that the most effective projects for achieving our ambitious targets are not going to happen overnight."

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But an increasingly impatient Harrogate Green Party, which sits on the climate coalition itself, argue that fine words have yet to be matched by any serious action.

Arnold Warneken of Harrogate Green Party, and a member of Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition, said: “The Climate Coalition needs to be able to make policy recommendations to the council.

"Now is the time for Harrogate to be brave and forward thinking - for example where are the sites for park and ride, where is the commitment for all council houses to be Passivhaus standard - it’s not enough just to say that these policies will be ‘considered’ or ‘encouraged’.

“The Climate Coalition has an important role to play in firstly guiding the council to declare a climate emergency, and then to strengthen the council’s commitment to achieve district-wide carbon-neutral status.

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"I want the coalition to become a change-maker, not just a talking-shop.”

Coun Phil Ireland, cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, said the council was plainly committed to major reductions in carbon emissions; its record spoke for itself, but everyone knew this could not happen immediately.

Coun Ireland said: "A package of measures have been agreed by full council and form our climate reduction strategy.

"This strategy outlines an action plan for a number of priorities with an overall vision of having net zero carbon emissions by 2038.

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"The most effective projects for achieving our ambitious targets are not going to happen overnight and the vast majority of members of the climate coalition understand this and are committed to working hard to we implement the right measures in the best way possible.

"This requires collective action and we will happily work with anyone and any group that is working to reduce carbon emissions to achieve net zero.”

But Harrogate Green Party also said it was unhappy about the way sub-groups in Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition are operating and what it claims is an absence of public engagement over environmental policy in Harrogate.

Arnold Warneken said he had written to Coun Ireland to call for the group to take more decisive action in response to the climate emergency.

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Mr Warneken said: “Since the coalition's last meeting I have been aware of some frustrations, and I can understand why members feel that the issues are not being responded to as if we are ‘in an emergency’. This has even led to a member resigning from a sub group."

Harrogate Green Party argues that it may be time to form a Citizen's Assembly or Citizen's Jury to help formulate how the district is going to take action to address the 'Climate Emergency.'

Mr Warneken said: “I want the coalition to open up, transform the way it operates, and act with a real sense of urgency.

"I’d like to see it engage with the community more by setting up a Citizen's Assembly, and allowing non-councillors to take the lead."

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Spearheaded by Harrogate Borough Council, the coalition's original aims were to meet four times a year to plan significant changes in the daily lives of residents as part of the Harrogate district’s path to net-zero emissions by 2050.

At the time of the launch, Coun Ireland said doing nothing about the climate crisis was no longer an option and this was a "huge opportunity to increase our energy efficiency, improve our resilience and deliver a greener, healthier society."

This week Coun Ireland said clear progress was already been made when it came to environmental matters.

He said: "Last week we launched the Harrogate Car Club that encourages people to reduce the number of cars in their household as well as the dependency of owning your own car.

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"Our ULEV (Ultra Low Emission Vehicles) strategy recognises the importance of ultra-low emission fuels rather than petrol or diesel.

"Figures from last year, released this month, show that air quality is improving across the district. In some areas by more than 20 per cent.

“We are also working with colleagues at North Yorkshire County Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority to improve access to Harrogate rail and bus stations through the Transforming Cities Fund scheme.

“The council is also constantly looking for ways to save energy and cut carbon in our own operations.

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"The civic centre is a very efficiency building, with solar panels, green roofs, passive heating and cooling, efficient lighting and electric vehicle charging points.

"Overall, the carbon saving improvements we’ve made are saving hundreds of tonnes of CO2 every year.

“The Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition, a partnership of businesses, public sector organisations and voluntary groups, not only supports these measures but has a joint aim of reducing carbon reduction activities throughout the Harrogate district."

Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition's members include local schools, major local businesses and local green activists, as well as councillors.

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