Embedding Net Zero in Wakefield

Wakefield Council declared a Climate Emergency in May 2019 with twin objectives of achieving net zero for the Council's activities by 2030 and for the whole district by 2038\. Wakefield has published a Climate Change Action Plan and a Pathway to Net Zero. A Climate Change Team has the remit to deliver these strategies.

For Wakefield Council's own net zero ambitions, we have identified a series of challenges that fit with the definition of 'non-technical barriers' that this fund addresses

We also recognise that there is more to do across the Council to raise awareness of climate change, understand our net zero plan, and achieve the behaviour change essential to realise our net zero ambition.

Our project focuses on removing these barriers through the Net Zero Innovation and Delivery Officer. The postholder will have a remit to work with elected members, Directors, Senior Officers and the Climate Change Team to devise a Change Management programme that will systematically remove the non-technical barriers to achieving the Council's plan to become carbon neutral by 2030\. As well as reducing our carbon emissions more quickly, the project will help the Council to save money through energy efficiency and reduced reliance on volatile fossil fuels.