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Environment and Rural

Government Office for Yorkshire and The Humber works in the region to promote, develop, support and communicate policies on climate change, sustainable development, environmental protection and rural affairs. GOYH do this by working closely with regional, sub regional and local organisations including the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and other Government Departments.

Government Offices promote sustainable development, protect the environment and help rural areas. We make sure the policies of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are implemented and properly integrated with the work of other Government departments. More information on the national picture

The list below summarises our key roles.

Lead the global effort to avoid dangerous climate change

• Play our role in developing climate change and energy governance in the region, ensuring mitigation issues are fully represented in these governance arrangements for climate change
• Support the regional climate change co-ordinator to ensure the region effectively benefits from their work
• Work with DECC, Yorkshire Forward and other national and regional organisations to ensure alignment of CO2 emission reduction work in the development of a sustainable energy policy for the region
• Work with regional and local partners to ensure climate change policy is embedded within the strategies and delivery plans of organisations in the region
• Work at the local level to support local authorities (LAs) to deliver their targets, and share best practice across the region

Climate change adaptation

• At a regional level ensure that the GOYH actions in the regional climate change plan are taken forward
• Work at the local level to support local authorities in adaptation work
• Develop climate change governance in the region

Ensure sustainable, low carbon and resource efficient patterns of consumption and production

• Work with regional partners to ensure regional strategies are fit for purpose and contain appropriate apportionments of waste and patterns of distribution for waste management facilities, and that waste Planning Authorities deliver Local Development Frameworks in line with agreed milestones

Champion sustainable development

• To work with the Independent Sustainable Development Board (part of the new regional structures) to assist it to operate effectively in providing sustainable development leadership and challenge

Improve local environment quality 

• Work with the Defra Local Environmental Quality Team and ENCAMS to identify opportunities for joint working at the regional level and across other policy areas such as anti social behaviour, education, health and deprived communities to improve levels of local environmental quality

Secure a healthy natural environment

• Demonstrate Environmental Leadership in the region by co-ordinating the Defra agencies 
• Ensure relevant partners engage with emerging governance structures and the developing integrated regional strategy
• Develop a strong evidence base in the region on environmental threats and opportunities and get agreement between the Defra agencies on environmental priorities and key actions

Support a thriving farming and food sector with an improving net environmental impact

• Support the regional food and farming forum (FFF) and the regional Chair to continue the development of a thriving food and farming sector in the region with an improving net environmental impact, through the development of their business plan and delivery through regional partners.

Support Rural Affairs

• Support the England Rural Development Programme 
• Provide secretariat support to the Yorkshire and The Humber Rural Affairs Forum 
• Rural Proofing – ensure that strategies and policies sort of put into place in the region to improve rural areas and businesses. 
• Ensure rural concerns are reflected appropriately into regional policy development and feed regional perspectives into national policy development

See also on our website

Related content

• National Organisations for Environment and Rural
  

Internet links

• BIS
  
• Defra
  

Contact information