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Ealing BoroughClimate Change Strategy: 2008-2011
Executive SummaryIn 2005, Ealing’s end user carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions were 1717 kilotonnes, which is equivalent to 5.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per capita (King et al 2007). This first Climate Change Strategy sets the strategic direction of what Ealing’s Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), Partnership for Ealing, intends to do to reduce Ealing’s contribution to climate change. The United Kingdom is the world’s eight largest emitter of carbon dioxide emissions, with London being responsible for eight per cent of these emissions (Greater London Authority 2007). The Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) released figures for carbon dioxide emissions by sector in Ealing for 2005:
Source: King et al 2007 This strategy aims to reduce Ealing borough’s contribution to climate change with a target to achieve a 10 per cent reduction in per capita carbon dioxide emissions by 2010/11 from a 2005 baseline. The strategy’s target and timeline is consistent with the new Local Area Agreement (LAA) to help provide the strategic direction to the LSP for helping to achieve this target. The LSP acknowledges that this strategy does not address everything in relation to climate change but it does seek to address issues around five key themes: energy, transport, waste, resource use and adaptation. Objectives and actions have been set around each of these themes. Progress and actions will be monitored regularly by the second tier partnership, Environment and Climate Change to ensure the LSP is on track to meeting its target. Delivering on the actions (see Appendix 1) will be the joint responsibility of all partners represented on the LSP. Therefore it is essential that the partnership work in collaboration, with each other and the community, to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of the borough. With mitigation an immediate priority for the LSP, as reflected by the LAA, the key activity areas for the LSP are:
Realistically, the LSP can only have limited influence on emissions; action by all those who live and work in Ealing is essential for tackling climate change. However, there are many important areas that the LSP can influence and the action plan reflects this. IntroductionThere is overwhelming scientific evidence that climate change is happening and that human activity is causing it. Climate change is a global challenge but will have local impacts and thus needs to be tackled from all levels. The Stern Review, published in 2006, estimates that the cost of inaction to be up 20 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) per year, whereas in contrast the costs of action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can be limited to around one per cent of global GDP each year (Stern 2006). Therefore, the benefits of strong and early action far outweigh the economic costs of not acting. People have become more aware about the links between their everyday behaviour and the climate. With the United Kingdom economy at risk of recession and the cost of essentials such as petrol, energy and food increasing, changing your everyday behaviour will not only help the environment but also could save you money. Tackling climate change can also help combat issues such as deprivation and fuel poverty. Ealing’s LSP Executive has recognised the importance of the issue of climate change and in March 2007 agreed to pursue the development of a Climate Change Strategy for Ealing. Cabinet agreed to the development of this strategy on 1 May 2007. Ealing Council became a signatory of Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change on 16 May 2007, committing the Council to work with the community to address the causes and the impacts of climate change. The Government also recognises the need to act now and the Climate Change Bill currently before Parliament sets up the framework for the UK to achieve its long-term goals of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and to ensure steps are taken towards adapting to the impact of climate change. The Bill contains provisions that will set a legally binding target for reducing UK carbon dioxide emissions by at least 26 per cent by 2020 and at least 60 per cent by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. There will be a review of the target with an expectation that this will be increased to 80 per cent by 2050. The Bill will introduce a new system of legally binding five-year carbon budgets for the UK starting in 2008. Enabling powers to introduce carbon-trading schemes through secondary legislation is also included. The Bill will also support emission reductions through several specific policy measures including implementation of the Carbon Reduction Commitment – a mandatory cap-and-trade scheme covering energy use emissions from large, non-energy intensive organisations. Therefore it is important for the LSP partner organisations to consider their carbon footprint and how to go about reducing it. A new streamlined performance framework for local government was introduced that has required local government to report its performance against 198 indicators since April 2008. Out of the 198 indicators there are three indicators specifically on climate change. However there are numerous other indicators that relate indirectly to climate change issues such as fuel poverty and air quality. The new LAA contains 23 indicators, including one of the climate change indicators - per capita carbon dioxide emissions in the local authority area. The LAA target set for 2010/11 is a reduction of per capita emissions by 10 per cent from this 2005 baseline. The second tier partnership board, Environment and Climate Change, was tasked with developing the strategy, with Ealing Council leading the development on behalf of this group, and brought together a partnership of public, private and voluntary organisations to contribute to the development. Aims and ObjectivesIn 2008, Partnership for Ealing approved the refreshed Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) for Ealing. This document set out a series of ten-year goals that the Local Strategic Partnership will deliver. For the Environment and Culture theme, the ten-year goal is to make Ealing a better place to live. One of the objectives under this theme is: The objectives of the strategy are to:
Each of these objectives links to particular themes throughout the strategy. Underlying these objectives are key work areas that cut across all the objectives, including sharing best practices, planning policy, and education and communication internally within partner organisations and externally within the borough. Governance and Performance Management FrameworkGovernance For Ealing to reduce its contribution to climate change it is essential that the LSP work in collaboration towards common objectives. The Climate Change strategy is a multi-agency document that can only be delivered if the public, private and third sectors work together. Overall ownership of this strategy rests with Ealing’s LSP, Partnership for Ealing. The LSP Executive Board will be asked to approve the Climate Change strategy and its action plan initially and whenever it is revised. The Executive Board is responsible for ensuring the delivery of the SCS. As climate change forms a part of this strategy’s key objectives and cross-cutting themes it is vital that the Executive Board review progress against the Climate Change strategy. Therefore, progress updates against the strategy will be integrated into the existing performance management framework of the Executive Board. The Environment and Climate Change Board, the second tier partnership within the LSP, will be the lead partnership for this strategy. Performance reports, which will set out progress being made across the partnership with regard to the delivery of the strategy action plan, will be brought to this board for scrutiny. As climate change is a crosscutting issue, one strategic board cannot implement the range of actions. Therefore, the actions within the strategy action plan will be assigned to one of the second tier partnership boards and they will be required to monitor progress against these actions and report back to the Environment and Climate Change Board on a quarterly basis. For example, actions around housing such as improving energy efficiency will be the responsibility of the Economy, Enterprise and Housing Board. The third tier partnerships within the LSP will provide support to the second tier partnership through delivering on actions and providing monitoring reports as delegated. A new third tier partnership for the Environment and Climate Change board will be established to effectively deliver on the actions of the strategy. They will develop annual project and communication plans to show how they will do this. Each quarter, all the groups will be required to report on performance and two groups per quarter will present project updates reports. Finally, the Council Cabinet will also be asked to approve both the strategy and action plan initially and whenever it is revised. As Ealing Council will be a key lead delivering agency for this strategy it is vital that the commitments made by that organisation have the support of Councillors. The Cabinet will receive annual performance reports on Ealing Council’s performance with regards to the delivery of the strategy action plan as well as it own action plan on carbon management. Performance Management and Targets Performance indicators will be tied to each of the strategy’s objectives. Improvement against these performance indicators will be used to measure the extent to which the LSP is fulfilling these objectives (see Appendix 2). For each performance indicator targets have been set for three years. Some are existing stretch targets that have been taken from the previous LAA. Many of the performance indicators taken from the national indicator set have not been collected before and the LSP only has baseline information to set targets. Some of the national indicators require a 2008 baseline to be established therefore targets for some indicators have not been set yet. The third tiers will be tasked with further developing the performance management of the strategy and help establish targets where they are missing, as appropriate. The strategy is a flexible document that is reviewable on an annual basis and therefore it will be updated with these targets at its annual review. Further, it is important to remember that the delivery of the strategy will also be monitored through the extent to which projects and activities within the action plan are delivered. Statement of Community InvolvementIn order to inform this strategy and initial action plan the LSP undertook a series of research and consultation activities to inform it’s thinking. The process consisted of:
Objective: Reduce energy consumption across the borough. Context
To generate electricity we burn fossil fuels that produce greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide emissions. London’s electricity and gas consumption causes 75 per cent of London’s carbon dioxide emissions (Greater London Authority 2007) and more than two thirds of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions come from the way we produce and use energy, so energy policy has to play a major part in meeting the challenge of tackling climate change (Department of Trade and Industry 2007). Energy Efficiency Ealing Community Network (ECN) The average household creates around 6 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year (Energy Saving Trust 2008b). Domestic sector emissions come from the energy used to heat, light and power our homes, including cooking and appliances.The planning system offers one of the greatest opportunities to influence energy use and carbon emissions from new developments. The government has committed for all new homes to be zero carbon by 2016 with a progressive tightening of energy efficiency building regulations. Since May 2008 all new homes are required to have a Code rating against the Code for Sustainable Homes to show the overall sustainability performance of the new home. The new Mayor for London proposed that all new homes will meet code level 3 by 2010, and code level 6 by 2016. Therefore these homes are more energy and water efficient, produce fewer carbon emissions and are better for the environment as it encourages their owners to live in a more sustainable way. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) will be required for all buildings whenever a building is constructed, rented or sold. EPCs set out the energy efficiency and carbon emissions of a building.The Home Energy Conservation Act 1996 seeks a 30 per cent improvement in energy efficiency in existing residential accommodation over the following 10-15 years. Carbon Savings of around 20 per cent can be made by installing readily available technologies like loft and cavity insulation and gas condensing boilers (Energy Saving Trust 2008a).There are numerous national and local initiatives that aim to improve the energy efficiency of private sector housing such as Warm Front and London Warm Zones that offer free or discounted cavity wall and loft insulation. Ealing Council actively promotes these initiatives and where to go for energy efficiency advice. The Council will publish a Private Sector Housing Strategy in late 2008 that addresses improving the quality of private housing in the borough, which will also address energy efficiency. Ealing Council will develop an Affordable Warmth Strategy that covers all housing stock in the borough, to address the issues of fuel poverty in Ealing and will aim to make links with climate change. Ealing Homes has developed and Energy Efficiency Strategy and is responsible for ensuring that the council’s housing stock complies with the Decent Homes standard, which means properties must have reasonably modern facilities, be warm and weatherproof. The Decent Homes programme will improve the thermal efficiency of the council’s housing stock. Work will be done with the borough’s RSLs to deliver affordable homes and design quality protocols. Emissions from the commercial and public sector primarily come from electricity usage, including lighting and computing. Energy used for cooling buildings could also become a significant cause of emissions with the climate becoming warmer. From 1 October 2008 Display Energy Certificates (DECs) are required for all public buildings greater than 1,000 m2 that are occupied by public authorities or institutions providing a public service to a large number of persons. With the introduction of the requirement of DECs, the LSP needs to consider how to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings. Ealing Primary Care Trust (PCT) Local residents in Ealing have access to an Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, which provides free independent energy advice on behalf of the Council on grants, general energy efficiency, tariff switching, renewable energy and referrals to certain schemes. There are numerous national and local schemes that are available for energy efficiency and renewable and low carbon technologies. The Business Environmental Support and Training initiative aims to support local businesses to become more environmentally responsible whilst improving their processes, profitability and competitiveness. Groundwork London, one of the partners in Ealing’s LSP, offer businesses a variety of support including practical advice, and energy audits, to realise cost saving through improved environmental performance. As in the case of residential development where the Code for Sustainable Homes will be applied, the planning authority will expect new commercial developments to also comply with Environmental Assessment Methodologies such as BREEAM. Some partners have already begun doing work around improving energy efficiency, including working with the Carbon Trust such as Ealing Council, which is a participant in phase 6 of the Carbon Trust’s Local Authority Carbon Management Programme. Through this programme, the Council will be working with the Carbon Trust to identify carbon emissions savings from the Council’s operations. The LSP will continue to work with organisations such as the Carbon Trust and the Energy Saving Trust to improve energy efficiency within their buildings and will encourage local businesses and residents to seek advice and support from these organisations. Renewable Energy The Government has an expectation that all planning authorities include policies around a percentage of energy in new developments to come from on-site renewable where it is viable (referred to as the ‘Merton Rule’). Ealing Council now has a policy for developers to achieve carbon emission savings of 20 per cent through on-site renewables in line with the London Plan. Renewable energy will be considered by the LSP in future procurement choices and developments within the borough. Theme 2: WasteObjective: Prevent waste going to landfill through reducing the amount of waste produced, and increasing the re-use and recycling of waste. Context Ealing Council has a Waste Collection Strategy for Ealing 2003 – 2013 and an associated Waste Minimisation Strategy that has targets to ensure that there is a reduction in the amount of the waste that the borough produces and there are increases in recycling and composting in the borough. Through the planning process, new developments generally provide facilities for recycling as well as storage of waste. As a waste planning authority, Ealing Council needs to make sure there are adequate sites available for waste management and disposal facilities of all waste in the borough to divert waste away from landfill. Ealing are currently working with five other west London boroughs to develop a Joint Waste Development Plan Document for this purpose. Ealing Council Municipal waste recycling has increased by 9.33 percent since 2006/07. With the introduction of a borough wide commercial recycling service planned, it is expected this will increase. Ealing residents produce 120,000 tonnes of household waste annually, but only approximately 30 per cent of this is reused or recycled. However, recycling in the borough is recycling 42 percent more than two years ago. Reusing and recycling waste reduces waste buried in landfill, lowers waste disposal costs and helps reduce our carbon footprint. The LSP will continue to raise awareness and educate, and support the borough to encourage householders, voluntary and community groups, local businesses and schools to minimise their waste and to re-use or recycle. Energy from waste Transportation of waste Climate change mitigation from the transport of waste can be achieved by:
Ealing currently maximises the proximity principle, managing all its waste, except batteries, within the UK. Ealing Council will be considering the viability of developing a recycling processing facility in the borough to manage waste locally. Groundwork London GlossaryAdaptation – addresses the impacts and opportunities resulting from a changing climate. BERR – Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. A UK Government department that leads work to create the conditions for business success through competitive and flexible markets that create value for businesses, consumers and employees. It drives regulatory reform, and works across Government and with the regions to raise levels of UK productivity. Biofuel – a fuel produced from organic matter or combustible oils produced by plants. Carbon dioxide – a naturally occurring gas, it is also a by-product of burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as land-use changes and other industrial processes. It is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s temperature. It is the reference gas against which other greenhouse gases are indexed (referred to as Global Warming Potential). Carbon footprint – the amount of carbon dioxide emitted directly and indirectly by an individual, organisation, event or product. Carbon Reduction Commitment – is a mandatory emissions trading scheme being introduce by the Government to cover large businesses and public sector organisations such as government departments, universities, retailers, banks, water companies, hotel chains and local authorities. The scheme covers large business and public sector organisations whose annual half-hourly metered electricity use is above 6,000 MWh. The scheme will begin in January 2010, with a three-year introductory phase. The first capped phase will begin in January 2013. Carbon Trust – an independent company set up by the Government in 2001 to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy by working with organisations to reduce carbon emissions and develop commercial low carbon technologies. Climate – refers to the average weather experienced over a long period. This includes temperature, wind and rainfall patterns. Decent Homes – A Government standard that Council’s and Housing Associations have to meet for all their homes by 2010. Ealing Homes – an arms length organisation that manages council housing residents on behalf of Ealing Council. Ealing Community Network – the umbrella forum for local voluntary and community groups. Energy Saving Trust – not for profit organisation set up by the Government in 1993 with funding from government and private sector. Set to address the damaging effects of climate change through reducing carbon dioxide emissions by promoting the sustainable and efficient use of energy. Fossil Fuels – carbon-based fuels formed in the ground over very long periods, including coal, oil and natural gas. Fuel poverty – A low-income household that has to spend more than 10 per cent of its income to maintain an adequate heating regime. Global Warming Potential (GWP) – an index representing the combined effect of the differing times greenhouse gases remain in the atmosphere and their relative effectiveness in absorbing infrared radiation. The GWP of a greenhouse gas is compared to the GWP of carbon dioxide, which is 1. Greenhouse gas emissions – gases in the atmosphere that absorb and re-emit infra-red radiation, producing the greenhouse effect. These gases occur through both natural and human-influenced processes. The major greenhouse gases are water vapour, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Other greenhouse gases are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). This strategy focuses on carbon dioxide emissions, as this is the gas that is reported on for the new national indicator 186. Green procurement – purchasing goods and services that minimise environmental impact. Kyoto Protocol – first ever international treaty to set legally binding GHG emissions reduction targets on developed countries that have ratified it. Local Area Agreement (LAA) – negotiated set of short-term priorities between the LSP and the Government. Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) – framework of statutory, private and third sector organisations that deliver services or are stakeholders in the borough. See also Partnership for Ealing. Methane – one of the greenhouse gases to be controlled under the Kyoto Protocol, which is 21 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Merton Rule – planning policy pioneered by the London Borough of Merton, which requires the use of renewable energy onsite to reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions in the built environment. Mitigation - refers to the efforts to limit the man-made causes of climate change primarily through reducing greenhouse gases. Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change – a voluntary pledge to address the issues of climate change. It represents a high-level, broad statement of commitment that any council can make to its own community. The declaration was originally launched in October 2000 and was re-launched on 5 December 2005. Ealing Council signed the declaration on 16th May 2007. Partnership for Ealing (PfE) – the name of Ealing Borough’s Local Strategic Partnership. The Partnership brings together the full range of key strategic partners from all sectors in Ealing, including private, voluntary, statutory and business sectors. Partnership members have an interest in promoting and improving the quality of life of all who live and work in the borough. Proximity Principle – waste should be disposed of as close to the point at which it is generated. Renewable energy – term used to describe energy flows that occur naturally and continuously in the environment, such as energy from the wind, sun, waves or tides. Sustainable Community Strategy – the document that sets the vision and priorities for Ealing that guides the LSP to identify and take action on local issues in the borough. United Kingdom Climate Impact Programme – established in 1997 by the Government to help coordinate scientific research into the impacts of climate change, and to help organisations adapt to those unavoidable impacts. WestTrans – a partnership of the six West London boroughs of Ealing, Brent, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow. Led by Ealing Council, and joined by the Park Royal Partnership, it works with Transport for London to identify, develop and implement transport projects to the benefit of the subregion. It contributes advice to West London leaders relating to the development of an appropriate transport strategy for West London through liaison with the West London Strategic Transport Group. Appendix 3: Climate Change Explained
What is it? Climate change is the result of a rise in the average global temperature due to increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere.
Greenhouse Effect Gases form a blanket around the earth, which trap heat near earth’s surface that would otherwise escape into space. Energy from the sun is trapped inside our atmosphere as it is reflected back from the earth towards space. This is a natural process called the ‘greenhouse effect’. This blanket of gases keep the earth warm, allowing it sustain life.
Source: http://unfccc.int/essential_background/feeling_the_heat/items/3157.php
Greenhouse gases The atmospheric gases that form the blanket around the earth that traps in heat are called ‘greenhouse gases’ (GHG). The main GHG are water vapour and carbon dioxide. However, there are a number of GHG that are emitted by human activities that increase their concentration in the atmosphere that enhance the greenhouse effect causing the earth’ climate to change unnaturally.
The six GHG considered the most potent and are therefore covered by the Kyoto Protocol are:
The global warming potential of each gas is measured against that of carbon dioxide. For example, methane’s global warming potential is 21 times that of the same unit of carbon.
What causes climate change?
The UK is the world’s eight largest emitter of carbon dioxide, with London being responsible for eight per cent of these emissions. In London in 2005, industry and the transport sectors each accounted for around 28 per cent of emissions and domestic users accounted for a further 27 per cent (The environment in your pocket 2007). While for the same year, the industry and commercial and the domestic sectors each accounted for approximately 38 per cent of the total emissions in Ealing.
Likely effects/impacts of climate change
The UKCIP projects that by 2080 London will have warmer and wetter winters, hotter and drier summers, rise in sea level in the Thames Estuary and more frequent extreme weather events such as storms and flash flooding. Table 1 summarises predicted possible impacts for Ealing.
Table 3: Summary of the possible impacts for Ealing
Source: Adapted from London’s Warming – The Impacts of Climate Change on London This strategy is published by Policy and Performance, For strategy enquiries, please contact Graeme McDonald Tel 020 8825 7485 Courtney Smith Tel 020 8825 6227 |
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