Park authority praised for slashing carbon emissions

New figures show the authority’s carbon emissions for the last year stand at 385 tonnes – a 45 per cent reduction on its emissions of 701 tonnes in 2005-2006 and far better than the original target it had set to cut CO2 by 25 per cent by March 2013.

The massive reduction has helped the YDNPA cut its costs by nearly £60,000 a year in the same period.

Now following the success of its carbon-cutting initiatives, it is hoped that other public sector bodies across Yorkshire will follow suit.

The YDNPA’s member champion for climate change, William Weston, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the authority and one that all staff and members can be proud of.

“I am delighted that we are able to demonstrate a real reduction in carbon emissions and save resources at the same time.

“It’s often the practical energy saving measures that contribute most to carbon reduction and it is clear that all staff have made a big contribution as well as the new greener energy installations we have invested in over the last few years.”

In 2007, the YDNPA signed up to the Nottingham Declaration, committing it to ensuring that tackling climate change was a cornerstone of its strategy.

The carbon reduction and environmental initiatives it has invested in include a ground source heat pump in the Yoredale offices in Bainbridge – which was officially opened by the Richmond MP and Foreign Secretary William Hague in 2006 – and a biomass (wood-fuelled) heating boiler in the Colvend offices in Grassington which have been built into a grass bank and covered with a grass roof for better insulation.

There has also been a number of smaller projects, ranging from energy saving improvements to buildings, to fewer and lower-emission vehicles in the YDNPA’s fleet. Staff mileage has also been cut by a fifth.

Finance officer Miranda Rickard said: “The measures we have put in place so far are now saving over 300 tonnes of carbon each year.”