This e-bulletin produced by the South West Regional Assembly's Climate Change Task & Finish Advisory Group provides a short summary of the latest on the South West Climate Change Action Plan’s development, plus other topical information and links on climate change issues.
News this month…
In March, the Climate Change Team was involved in:
· Revising the draft Action Plan in light of comments received at the Assembly Member workshop on 7 March 2008 and discussions with regional partner organisations.
· Continuing to draw together a “fact file” of relevant evidence on climate change issues and modelling the various scenarios and impacts.
· Working with independent advisors on the initial stages of a project to map vulnerability to extreme weather events (with financial and officer support from SWCCIP).
Timetable for SWCCAP Development:
· The draft evidence base report will be presented as a “fact file”, including scenario based information, for the next Task and Finish Group meeting on 24 April 2008, along with the next draft of the Action Plan. This is likely to continue to be work in progress and will need to provide a solid platform for the Action Plan.
· Comments on the current early draft of the Action Plan are welcomed at any time. Click here to find out more about contributing your opinions on the early draft.
· During April and May the CCAP team will be continuing to develop the draft, brokering the actions and generating commitments to the actions from the key delivery partners.
· In May 2008, subject to the agreement of the Assembly Member Task and Finish Group, there will be a formal stakeholder consultation for a period of approximately six weeks. This consultation will invite comments on a more fully developed Plan.
· A final draft SWCCAP will be presented to the SWRA Full Assembly on 18 July 2008
Upcoming Conferences on Climate Change Related Issues
Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change: Practical steps for implementing and mainstreaming your carbon reduction strategy
Tuesday 13 May 2008, Central London
Local Government Chronicle and New Local Government Network have brought together a range of expert speakers to focus on those issues and challenges that affect relevant staff from local authorities, Police, Fire and Rescue Services and the voluntary sector. The keynote speaker will be Hillary Benn.
Topics include:
· Establishing full commitment to combat climate change through strong leadership
· Integrating and managing your partners in an active climate change strategy
· How will the new performance indicators affect you and your carbon emissions programme?
· Planning: Promoting sustainable development
· Waste Management: Creating a new climate change agenda
· Energy: Reducing your energy consumption
Click here for more information.
Planning for Climate Adaptation: Futureproofing our public services for the changing environment
Monday 19 May 2008, RIBA, London
In the first major national conference of its kind, the Guardian has brought together key thinkers, policy makers and politicians, to debate what guidance is needed to prepare the UK for the challenges ahead. Leading case studies from the City of London, Seeda and Leeds City Council will further provide a unique insight into the significance of climate adaptation. For more details click here.
Topical News
Regen SW Expanding its Remit to Support Energy Efficiency
From the beginning of April 2008, Regen SW will be extending its remit to support the region’s energy-efficiency sector. Through financial support from the South West RDA, Regen SW will continue to focus on accelerating the uptake of renewable energy – by helping private companies, and assisting and influencing those in the public sector – but will also be championing energy efficiency initiatives. They will now, therefore, be referred to as a 'Sustainable Energy Agency'. Further details are available on their website.
Report of CLG Select Committee on Existing Homes and Climate Change
The Select Committee report, published 2 April 2008, concludes government housing policy risks neglecting the environmental impact of the UK’s 25 million-plus existing houses. It calls on Ministers to “engage fully” with cutting carbon emissions from the existing stock as well as seeking to make future housing more environmentally friendly through zero-carbon housing regulations and the construction of Eco-Towns. The group of MPs warned that without addressing the issue, the government would not meet its 2050 target of cutting carbon emissions by 60% from 1990 levels. The report can be downloaded by clicking here.
Environment Secretary Announces Range of Initiatives to Enable People to Make Their Homes Greener
On 2 April Hillary Benn announced a range of new measures to assist individuals in greening their homes. Initiatives include:
· The Act on CO2 Advice Line, so that anyone, from anywhere in England can call 0800 512 012 to access a one stop shop for free, tailored, impartial advice from the Energy Saving Trust on how to reduce their carbon footprint, how to save water, reduce waste, green their travel, and connect to grants and offers from energy companies.
· The Green Neighbourhoods initiative will give a green makeover to up to 100 neighbourhoods in England with an aim to reduce their carbon footprints by more than 60%. The Energy Saving Trust aims to launch a competition for funding proposals by the end of the year, with the first successful projects being funded from April 2009. For more information on the work of the Energy Saving Trust click here.
· The CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Target) scheme, which came into effect 1 April, doubles previous obligations on energy companies to help people make their homes more energy efficient and reduce household emissions. The total investment is estimated at around £1 billion a year for three years. Forty per cent of the work to reduce emissions will be targeted at the over 70s and people on low incomes. For the full story click here.
New Policy to Make New Non-Domestic Buildings Zero Carbon (From RegenSW newsletter)
The government has announced in the budget that it would like to make non-domestic buildings zero carbon by 2019, three years after the target date for zero-carbon standards in homes. All new shops and offices will be covered by the policy.
The policy is perceived as being more challenging than the target for homes because of the high electrical lighting and appliance loads in commercial buildings. The Chancellor also used the budget to announce that all public service buildings would be zero carbon from 2018. The Government will be consulting on the new policy later in the year. For more details click here.
Government Gives Green Light to Microgeneration (From RegenSW newsletter)
New planning rules to allow homeowners to install solar panels, ground source heat pumps and other microgeneration technologies to help cut carbon emissions have been given the green light by the government.
From April 6, all homeowners will be able to install microgeneration equipment, like solar panels, without needing to get planning permission, as long as there is clearly no impact on others.
Click here to read the Town and Country Planning document to see exactly what is and what isn’t permitted.
£4 million to Help Local Authorities Fight Climate Change
A new £4 million programme to help local authorities tackle climate change was announced by Environment Minister Phil Woolas and Local Government Minister John Healey on 11 March 2008.
The programme will spread existing best practice on climate change among local authorities, and provide training and mentoring to help them reduce emissions and adapt to the already unavoidable effects of climate change. The programme, jointly funded by Defra and Communities and Local Government, will be tailored to local needs and priorities, with delivery being co-ordinated at a regional level. For more details click here.
South West England Secures £3 million for Bioheat
The South West of England Regional Development Agency has been awarded £3 million to invest in a range of bioheat projects, putting the region at the forefront of this emerging renewable energy sector. The investment, from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is a direct result of the South West Bioheat Programme, which was launched last year with £650,000 funding from the RDA and £10,000 from the Forestry Commission.
Run by the South West's own renewable energy agency, Regen SW, the programme has been identifying and providing support to potential bioheat projects in the region, as well as setting up a supply chain to provide wood fuel and offering training courses relevant to the industry. For the full story click here.
Crackdown on Cowboys to Benefit Home Owners, Local Authorities and the Building Industry
The building industry, local authorities and home owners will all benefit from a shake-up to the building control system proposed by Housing Minister Caroline Flint on 18 March 2008 to crack down on illegal construction.
The "Future of Building Control" consultation recommends a more efficient risk-based inspection process for local authorities that focuses on the most dangerous failings. Good builders who comply with them will be relieved of the burden of unnecessary inspections, while cowboy builders will face tougher scrutiny. A more systematic approach to the review of building regulations will also give the industry more certainty and allow better forward planning. For more details click here.
Government’s Role in Adapting to Climate Change: Speech by Joan Ruddock MP
Joan Ruddock gave a speech to the Environment Agency Spring Conference on 31 March 2008, highlighting the government’s course of action for adapting to climate change. Key government commitments highlighted included:
· Using UKCIP08 data to inform a National Risk Assessment of the impacts of climate change.
· Developing a detailed cost-benefit analysis of adaptation.
· The Climate Change Bill contains a statutory duty for Government to set up a programme to address adaptation, taking account of the risk assessment; when the legislative framework is confirmed, government will publish an Adaptation Policy Framework Document.
· There will be also be new powers in the Bill that will allow the Government to request other public authorities to assess the risks of climate change and, where necessary, to take action. Statutory Guidance will be provided to help public authorities understand how to undertake their risk assessment and planning exercises and there will be consultation on this guidance later in the year.
More details can be found by clicking here.
EU Package "Energy for a Changing World" (From SWUKBO)
In January 2008 the European Commission adopted a major legislative package on Climate Action to deliver on the European Union's ambitious commitments to fight climate change and promote renewable energy up to 2020 and beyond. "Energy for a Changing World” sets the legislative action for development of the Integrated Climate Change and Energy Strategy launched by the European Commission in January 2007.
The Package comprises a set of legislative proposals that are closely interlinked:
1. A proposal for amending the EU Emissions Trading Scheme Directive
2. A proposal relating to the sharing of efforts to meet the Community's independent greenhouse gas reduction commitment in sectors not covered by the EU ETS such as transport, buildings, services, smaller industrial installations, agriculture and waste
3. A proposal for a Directive promoting renewable energy
4. A proposal for a Directive on Carbon Capture and Storage, accompanied by a Communication on the Demonstration of Carbon Capture and Storage
For more details click here.
Government Estate Failing on Own Carbon Reduction Targets
The latest report from the Sustainable Development Commission, the 2007 assessment of Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG), found that despite encouraging initiatives, government is still not on course to meet targets and urgently needs to raise its game.
Although overall carbon emissions from offices have fallen by 4% since 1999, nearly two thirds of departments are still not on track to meet the target of reducing carbon emissions from offices by 12.5% by 2010.
To read the report click here.
Research, Reports and Tools
Existing Housing and Climate Change
Communities and Local Government Committee published its report on how existing housing stock can be used to tackle climate change on 2 April 2008. The full report can be downloaded here.
Your Home in a Changing Climate: Retrofitting Existing Homes for Climate Change Impacts: Report for Policy Makers (From SWCCIP)
Your Home in a Changing Climate: Retrofitting Existing Homes for Climate Change Impacts: Report for Policy Makers makes the case for adapting existing homes in the Three Regions of London, the South East and East of England to ensure that they are liveable and comfortable in a changing climate. By 2050, 70% of housing will be housing that exists today. So while standards for new build are important, we also need to adapt existing homes for the changing climate.
The report uses three case studies to show that there are practical and affordable measures to achieve substantial adaptation. Copies of the report are available on the new web site by clicking here.
For more information on any item in the e-bulletin please contact one of the Climate Change Team:
Project Lead:
David Fletcher tel: (01823) 425248 or email