Introduction

Sustainability is an important priority for us as a council. As an organisation, we have a responsibility to look after the environment, our communities and our resources, both now and for future generations.

We all have a part to play. Whether you work in an office, out in the community or from home, the choices you make at work can help us reach our sustainability goals.

What sustainability means

Sustainability means using resources in a way that meets current needs without reducing the ability of future generations to meet theirs. It includes these three areas.

• Protect the environment

  Reduce waste, provide more sustainable transport options, protect nature and cut pollution to help tackle climate change.

• Support our communities

  Make sure everyone in our communities has a good quality of life, is treated fairly with equal access to services.

• Manage resources

  Use resources and money wisely to improve our local economy and make sure we can continue to provide our services.

Sustainability can also help reduce our carbon footprint, which is the total volume of greenhouse gases produced by our activities. Achieving net carbon zero involves minimising these emissions as far as possible and offsetting any that remain to support wider climate change goals.

Why it is important

Sustainability has a direct impact on the area and communities we serve.

• Legal duties

  As a council we have statutory duties under the Environment Act 2021, including the biodiversity duty and the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

• Financial impact

  Energy, waste and resource costs make up a significant part of the council's budget. Reducing consumption has a direct effect on spending across services.

• Local environment

  Climate change and the decline in nature are affecting the area we service through changes to weather patterns, flooding risk and growing pressures on habitats, wildlife and green spaces. Nature loss is also undermining our economy, food systems and health and wellbeing. The council's actions contribute to how these risks develop over time.

• Public sector responsibility

  As a public body, the council is accountable to residents, partners and the government for how it manages its environmental impact. We demonstrate accountability through reporting, for example through our environmental management system.

Our commitments and duties

We are also committed to sustainability through various strategies and policies including:

• our council business plan and the council priority of valuing the environment
• our sustainable environment policies and strategies that includes an environmental policy and statement
• legal duties from the Environment Act 2021, such as the:
  • Biodiversity Duty
  • Hull and East Yorkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

The strategies and policies have informed the development of our sustainability analysis tool to help us consider the environmental impact when making decisions. The tool should be completed for the development of relevant policies, strategies, projects and service changes at an early stage to identify and manage impacts.