Pursue environmental sustainability and health equity

This priority focuses on:

A transport system that promotes active travel and road safety, and minimises pollution.
The retrofitting of homes to be energy efficient, climate resilient and healthy.
An energy transition that minimises air pollution from all sources.
Building a sustainable resilient healthy food system.
Healthy and sustainable models of work.

Background

Many of the actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will also improve health and reduce existing health inequalities. However, there is a potential for interventions, and the recent increases in energy costs to widen inequalities. There must be an equity focus as well as a harm reduction and mitigation focus on interventions and strategies to reduce the effects of climate change.

Marmots ‘sustainable health equity’: Achieving a net zero UK Advisory Group Report for the UK Committee on Climate Change 2020 highlights that‘ Factoring the health equity effects into policies requires a more nuanced approach to mitigation and adaptation: for example, home energy efficiency measures must also benefit indoor air quality and temperature, and reach those most exposed to temperature extremes and indoor air pollution; reducing meat and dairy consumption needs to involve substitution with healthy, lower carbon alternatives that are affordable and accessible; and decarbonisation of transport must involve low pollution and safe forms of transport that are preferably active and, at the very least, accessible to all.’

Coventry residents and businesses are now facing some of the greatest challenges in the history of the city which are impacting upon sustainability, contributing to climate change and the quality of life of its citizens especially those who are the least well-off in society. Climate change, pollution and other impacts on the environment affect us across the city, our quality of life, health, and wellbeing. Coventry’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy recognises the need to address inequities where those families from the lowest incomes are facing the greatest challenges including environmental changes, poorer air quality, rising fuel costs and inflationary rises in food prices are impacting significantly.

What we know

There are a number of programmes of work and interventions that support the pursue of environmental sustainability & health equity recommendation to:

Provide access to a safe, sustainable, equitable and resilient transport system the social gradient and opportunities for active travel.
Create good quality green spaces that are accessible locally.
Maximise opportunities to improve the safety, security, quality, ventilation, and energy efficiency of housing to an EPC (Energy Performance Certificates) rating of C or above wherever possible across the social gradient.
Reduce Coventry City Council's carbon footprint.
Increase natural resources and biodiversity.

Legislation, Government guidance that support the pursue environmental sustainability & health equity recommendation:

Links to service developments and strategies to support this recommendation:

Indicators

Air quality breaches
Access to open space
Sustainable Food Places status (a national recognised awards scheme currently aiming for bronze standard)
Properties benefiting from rises in EPC ratings for homes

Programmes and activities

ECO4 Programme
EON energy efficiency and home improvement schemes
Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Phase 2
Social housing carbon reduction fund
Coventry Food Charter
ERDF Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme
ERDF Coventry and Warwickshire Innovation Programme
Business Sustain Energy Programmes
Waste and recycling Programmes
Natural resources and biodiversity Parks Green Flags Awards
Climate Change Board
Five Pathway Groups
Enforcement of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEEs)
Coventry Skills Strategy Action Group 4 - Supporting businesses, social value and sustainability

How we will measure progress

Household survey - Transport to work / transport to education and escorting children to school
Cordon count* Cycling only
Nos of Air Quality Breaches
Access to open space indicators
Sustainable Food Places status (a national recognised awards scheme currently aiming for bronze standard)
Number of properties benefiting from rises in EPC ratings for homes.

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