A SWEEPING raft of measures is planned to make the district ‘greener’.

Bradford Council has launched a climate emergency action plan which sets out aims including reducing harmful emissions and potentially creating 10,000 ‘green’ jobs.

The plan has been approved by the council’s decision-making executive, via a telephone conference call involving council leader Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, portfolio holders and senior officers.

As part of the so-called Sustainable Development Action Plan, Bradford Council is outlining what it proposes to achieve by next year and beyond.

The actions are split into three categories – Leading by Example, Working with our Partners and Communities, and Making the Case for Change.

Targets include ensuring as many of the authority’s fleet vehicles as possible are electric by 2024, together with a continued increase in electric vehicle charging points, to help improve air quality.

The council has also given a commitment to use 100 per cent renewable electricity to power its buildings from April next year.

Other key goals include stepping-up work to engage with the public over climate issues, providing ongoing support to communities and businesses affected by flooding and the elimination of single-use plastics by 2022.

The plan also outlines how huge changes in the way people live, travel and work – needed to meet the Leeds City Region target of zero carbon emissions by 2038 – could have economic benefits.

These include the potential creation of 10,000 ‘green’ jobs, improved health and wellbeing and a significant reduction in household bills.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, the council’s executive member for healthy people and places, welcomes the plan.

And she says everybody has a shared responsibility to bring about change.

She added: “This plan gives a comprehensive outline of our climate action goals and ambitions and will require a significant re-prioritising of our existing resources.

“All of us will need to make big changes to the way we work and live, so as a council we have a role to play in getting this message across – setting a good example and working closely with local businesses, partner organisations and community groups.”

Bradford Council passed a motion in January last year to declare a climate emergency and commit to a green economy.

It says considerable work has already been done but more is needed.