In public sector terms, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is a small organisation and this is reflected in the size of our carbon footprint. Nonetheless, it is incumbent on the Authority to try to set a local and national example by putting our own house in order.
The Authority started a programme of actively reducing its carbon emissions in 2006, and by March 2022 had reduced emissions by 74%.
The Authority adopted the Carbon Reduction Plan in March 2020 and also adopted the following challenging objective:
“By 2030, total greenhouse gas emissions from our operations will have been reduced by at least 95% compared to 2005; and, the annual carbon savings from woodland planting that we have directly funded will be at least 30 times our annual emissions.”
What the authority has been doing:
- Solar panels have been installed at Colvend office and cottage: Aysgarth National Park Centre; Yoredale office; Dales Countryside Museum and Malham National Park Centre.
- Air source heat pumps have been installed at Aysgarth and Malham National Park Centres.
- LED lighting has been upgraded at Aysgarth National Park Centre; Dales Countryside Museum; Malham National Park Centre, Yoredale and Grassington