A greener Calderdale is on the horizon

The council says it is determined to tackle climate change and will make sure everyone in the organisation plays its part through an innovative programme called ‘Vitamin Green’.

A report to the cabinet outlined “worrying trends” as a result of carbon dioxide emissions from burning gas and oil. These include the increased risk of floods, increased risk of droughts and heatwaves, air pollition and cold homes.

Almost a third of Calderdale’s carbon emissions are from homes as a result of poor insulation. As energy prices rise, people are often forced to make the choice between heating or eating and cold homes are linked to increased health risks.

Calderdale Council is working with other organisations to reduce the borough’s carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2020. Now, all sustainability work across the council will be brought under the banner of Vitamin Green.

The project will aim to make sure sure all council plans and projects address environmental impacts, make greater use of natural measures to try and reduce flooding impacts, cut energy use within the council by informing and educating people about efficiency measures, introduce requirements into development plans, such as community allotments, when developing groups of more than 25 homes, help people to improve their health through increased physical activity and help to improve housing insulation.

Speaking at Cabinet, Councillor Simon Young (Lab, Luddenden Foot), said: “I think this a really, really positive step forward.”

Councillor Barry Collins (Lab, Illingworth and Mixenden) described the report as one of the most important things that has come to the Cabinet in the past 11 months.