| eg magazine
the latest information on climate change and sustainability |
| eg newsletter |
16 September 2009 |
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Anne Finnane
Editor
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| Assessing the costs of adaptation to climate change |
The International Institute for Environment and Development has published a report which reconsiders the costs of adapting to climate change. It argues that estimates for 2030 used by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change are likely to be substantial under-estimates. The authors conclude that: the current cost assessments do not include some key sectors, such as ecosystems, energy, manufacturing, retailing, and tourism; some of the sectors included have been only partially covered in cost estimates; and the additional costs of adaptation have sometimes been calculated as 'climate mark-ups' against low levels of assumed investment.
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| Low carbon economy |
Pulling ahead: innovating for low-carbon leadership
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has published a report which presents a number of recommendations towards the promotion of a low-carbon economy. The CBI argues that this means that the UK needs to focus on developing leadership in a number of key low-carbon technologies building on existing expertise. It adds that to turn this into an advantage, Government needs to develop the right conditions to help the private sector commercialise these technologies and export that expertise and technology globally. Support for low-carbon innovation, intelligent public procurement, building the appropriate infrastructure and skills base will all be essential. This report aims to demonstrate that the low-carbon journey in the UK has already begun. Using case studies from pioneering businesses, it confirms that the UK has the ability to innovate and maximise its strengths to play a leading role in the global low-carbon economy. However, the CBI argues that the danger is that without a more sustained effort this advantage could be wasted.
View PDF document
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| London Low Carbon Zones |
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Ten London boroughs have been successful in winning funding to become 'low carbon zones'.They are: Barking Town Centre (Barking and Dagenham), Muswell Hill (Haringey), Archway (Islington), Brixton (Lambeth), Lewisham Town Centre (Lewisham), Wandle Valley (Merton), Ham and Petersham (Richmond upon Thames), Peckham (Southwark), Hackbridge ( Sutton) Queen's Park (Westminster).Each of the winning boroughs will be awarded at least £200,000 to pioneer energy saving measures in their low carbon zones. These zones will showcase how London can become a low carbon city by using a wide range of measures to help people cut carbon and by reducing the emissions of some of London's older buildings, which have generally been more difficult to make energy efficient.The zones have a target to deliver 20 per cent of carbon emissions savings by 2012 and are bringing together local authorities, community organisations, residents, businesses and utilities to work in partnership in a targeted geographic area. The zones will cover over 13,000 residential properties, around 1,000 shops and businesses, 20 schools as well as a hospital, places of worship and community centres.
Visit website
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| Sustainable energy study |
Plymouth City Centre and Derriford Sustainable Energy Study
A study into the potential for sustainable energy in the Derriford and City Centre areas of Plymouth, two key areas for significant development within the city, has recently been completed by the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE).The study aimed to identify ways to minimise carbon emissions from the planned developments. The study also relates to the Government's 2008 announcement and 2008/2009 consultation on new homes in England and Wales, which must be zero carbon by 2016.National requirements dictate that where there are opportunities for greater use of decentralised and renewable or low-carbon energy than required by statutory minimum targets, local authorities should bring forward development areas or site-specific targets to secure this. This study established an evidence base to justify these measures for Plymouth City Centre and Derriford.These areas are both considered under Plymouth's Local Development Framework Area Action Plans, in which there is a need to develop integrated sustainable energy strategies for the period up to 2026.
View PDf document
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| Local economic assessments |
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The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill makes provision for the new local authority economic assessment duty. This requires all county councils and unitary district councils to prepare an assessment of the economic conditions of their area. The Government intends to formally consult on draft statutory guidance once the Bill has been enacted. In preparation for this, the Department for Communities and Local Government has published pre-consultation draft guidance now to give local authorities and partners early sight of the Government's thinking on how the proposed new duty should be carried out and to enable local authorities to start thinking about how they should prepare for the new duty. The draft guidance explains what the new duty is intended to achieve, how assessments should be taken forward and what they should address.
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| Relu - call for proposals |
| Adapting rural living and land use to environmental change
The Rural Economy and Land Use Programe (Relu), with additional funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), invites applications under a fourth call on the theme of "Adapting rural living and land use to environmental change". The call has two objectives. The first objective is to build networks and capacity for creative knowledge exchange and learning between researchers and policy makers, businesses, practitioners, local communities and the wider public, with a view to strengthening adaptive capacities, primarily within the UK. The second objective is to explore and promote novel approaches and partnerships for interdisciplinary research and analysis on living with environmental change in rural contexts. The deadline for applications is 4pm 28th October 2009.
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| Getting the best from strategic housing |
The Audit Commission has published a report which claims that councils feel pressured into focusing on building brand new housing. 94 per cent of councils have prioritised new and/or affordable housing targets through their local area agreements, but fewer than a third prioritised targets relating to their existing housing stock. This is despite the financial savings, environmental improvements and social benefits of doing so. This is one of the findings of a study carried out to determine what councils need to do to deliver a strong strategic housing function, and how an effective strategic housing function can help councils and their partners to achieve their wider objectives. This report is intended for executive members, chief executives and leading partner organisations, as well as government and its agencies, but will also be of interest to strategic housing professionals. The report: explains why councils' strategic housing role matters; describes the strategic housing role and how councils can perform that role effectively; assesses how far they are currently doing so; considers the impact of the credit crunch and recession; and sets out our conclusions and recommendations.
To accompany this report, the Audit Commission has produced: tailored presentations for chief executives, portfolio holders, members and staff working in the strategic housing function, and for registered social landlords and developers; improvement tools for councils, including guides to collecting and analysing relevant information, to running delivery chain workshops, and to effective partnership working in housing; and case study examples of notable practice.
Visit website
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| CIVITAS quarterly newsletter |
The CIVITAS Initiative has unveiled the first edition of Move, a quarterly newsletter that contains the latest news on sustainable urban mobility. CIVITAS is a European Commission initiative involving cities across Europe, which supports and evaluates the implementation of integrated sustainable urban transport strategies that should make a real difference to the welfare of European citizens. Move explains developments in the field, including the innovative actions being taken by pioneering CIVITAS cities, and policy updates from the European Commission. The first edition focuses on cleaner and better transport in CIVITAS Plus cities, with news from Gent (Belgium), Utrecht (Netherlands), Burgos (Spain), Coimbra (Portugal), Zagreb (Croatia) and Donostia - San Sebastián (Spain). The city in profile is Gorna Oryahovitsa (Bulgaria), while this edition's big event is the CIVITAS Forum Conference 2009 hosted by Krakow (Poland).
View PDF document
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| European funding workshops |
"European Funding and the Climate Change Agenda"
Global to Local workshops in London, Manchester, Cambridge, Bristol, Leeds & Edinburgh.
These one-day workshops will provide the opportunity to do some focussed preparation for the next set of opportunities for European funding which will be coming up throughout 2010. Find out how your authority or organisation could benefit.
The workshops are for Public sector organisations and representatives from local strategic partnerships. It will be of particular interest to officers dealing with: Climate Change, Environmental issues, Energy management and Civil Protection
We welcome delegates from all EU countries.
The UK government has increased the target for cutting UK greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050. The public sector has a huge role to play in reducing its own carbon emissions and influencing wider social behaviour.
Actions to counter and mitigate climate change are at the heart of the European Union's priorities. The European Commission makes money available to support local and regional initiatives that have a significant European dimension.
View PDF document with more information about the workshops
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