Form climate change impact assessment

Climate Change Impact Assessment

The purpose of this assessment is to help us understand the likely impacts of our decisions on the environment of North Yorkshire and on our aspiration to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2030, or as close to that date as possible. The intention is to mitigate negative effects and identify projects which will have positive effects.

This document should be completed in consultation with the supporting guidance. The final document will be published as part of the decision making process and should be written in Plain English.

If you have any additional queries which are not covered by the guidance please email climatechange@northyorks.gov.uk

Version 2: amended 11 August 2021

Title of proposal	North Yorkshire Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC)
Brief description of proposal	A funding bid is being submitted to the National Institute for Health & Care Research (NIHR), for £5,000,000 over 5 years, to be used to develop a research infrastructure and embed a research culture across all directorates within NYC. The project will be a collaboration with the Universities of Hull and York, with the aim of NYC becoming a research active Council, generating and using evidence to address health determinants and health inequalities, and to improve health outcomes for our residents.
Directorate	Health and Adult Services
Service area	Public Health
Lead officer	Katie Needham
Names and roles of other people involved in carrying out the impact assessment	Rachel Murphy, Service Manager Susan Symonds, Public Health Manager Josh Wood, Public Health Officer
Date impact assessment started	18/05/2023

Options appraisal

Were any other options considered in trying to achieve the aim of this project? If so, please give brief details and explain why alternative options were not progressed.

The funding is a unique and limited opportunity, and no other alternative is available.

What impact will this proposal have on council budgets? Will it be cost neutral, have increased cost or reduce costs?

Please explain briefly why this will be the result, detailing estimated savings or costs where this is possible.

This proposal will not increase costs to the council. It will bring in grant funding which is allocated specifically to the delivery of the collaboration and any associated costs to the council have been factored into the proposal.

The long-term ambition of the HDRC is to reduce council costs by making services more cost effective and efficient through the utilisation of research and evidence to aid decision making.

How will this proposal impact on the environment? N.B. There may be short term negative impact and longer term positive impact. Please include all potential impacts over the lifetime of a project and provide an explanation.		Positive impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant)	No impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant)	Negative impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant)	Explain why will it have this effect and over what timescale? Where possible/relevant please include: · Changes over and above business as usual · Evidence or measurement of effect · Figures for CO₂e · Links to relevant documents	Explain how you plan to mitigate any negative impacts.	Explain how you plan to improve any positive outcomes as far as possible.
Minimise greenhouse gas emissions e.g. reducing emissions from travel, increasing energy efficiencies etc.	Emissions from travel			x	New staff will be employed within the HDRC which may increase emissions from travel	Hybrid working	Potential long-term benefit of HDRC could include research activity to reduce the impact of climate change
	Emissions from construction		x		N/A	N/A	N/A
	Emissions from running of buildings		x		N/A	N/A	N/A
	Emissions from data storage			x	We will be using secure data storage systems to link various sources of data together which would utilise cloud technologies	Using one central secure data storage system, to avoid duplication	Potential long-term benefit of HDRC could include research activity to reduce the impact of climate change
	Other		x
Minimise waste: Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost e.g. reducing use of single use plastic			x		There is a chance of potential positive impact over the long term, subject to potential research projects	N/A	N/A
Reduce water consumption			x		There is a chance of potential positive impact over the long term, subject to potential research projects	N/A	N/A
Minimise pollution (including air, land, water, light and noise)			x		There is a chance of potential positive impact over the long term, subject to potential research projects	N/A	N/A
Ensure resilience to the effects of climate change e.g. reducing flood risk, mitigating effects of drier, hotter summers			x		There is a chance of potential positive impact over the long term, subject to potential research projects	N/A	N/A
Enhance conservation and wildlife			x		There is a chance of potential positive impact over the long term, subject to potential research projects	N/A	N/A
Safeguard the distinctive characteristics, features and special qualities of North Yorkshire’s landscape			x		There is a chance of potential positive impact over the long term, subject to potential research projects	N/A	N/A
Other (please state below)			x

Are there any recognised good practice environmental standards in relation to this proposal? If so, please detail how this proposal meets those standards.

N/A

Summary Summarise the findings of your impact assessment, including impacts, the recommendation in relation to addressing impacts, including any legal advice, and next steps. This summary should be used as part of the report to the decision maker.

The proposed project will have some impact, as new staff will be employed within the HDRC which may increase emissions from travel, and we will be using secure data storage systems to link various sources of data together through cloud technologies which are known to have a bigger carbon footprint than local storage.

However, we will minimise the impact of these by utilising hybrid working to reduce travel and using one central secure data storage system, to avoid duplication of multiple smaller scale cloud storage systems. Additionally, the potential long-term benefit of HDRC could include research activity to reduce the impact of climate change.

Sign off section

This climate change impact assessment was completed by:

Name
Job title
Service area
Directorate
Signature
Completion date

Authorised by relevant Assistant Director (signature):

Date: