Climate Change - adaptation, mitigation and energy

Category Background

To ensure that new developments are appropriately adapted to the potential future impacts of climate change and to minimise their own impact on greenhouse gases, flooding, heat gain and water resources.

The North West is committed to acting on climate change and has an online regional Climate Change Action Plan which keeps people in the region up to date on action on this agenda. The following excerpts give a round up of documents available to support decision making on designing with climate change adaptation and mitigation in mind:

Northwest Climate Change Action Plan 2007/2009

The commitment to act is genuine and the time is past for debates about whether climate change is, or is not, a reality. Described by the Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir David King, as “the most serious problem we are facing today”, climate change is now widely recognised as being due in good part to humankind’s releases of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. With that scientific consensus established, it now falls to us to make a difference. The predictions for our region are for hotter summers, wetter winters, more flooding and stormier weather; we must urgently start to adapt to these changes. The government has set its targets for reductions in carbon emissions, in particular an aspirational target of 60% by 2050; we must work together to either meet or exceed those targets here in England’s Northwest.

The stakes are undoubtedly high. There is no city or town, no industrial sector, no wildlife habitat or indeed any household that will not feel the impact of climate change in the years ahead. We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to develop and deploy the strategies and technologies that will secure our future and realise the economic opportunities presented by the changing climate. Recent research suggests that climate change will be a £30bn opportunity for British business over the next ten years and that low carbon technologies will be worth at least $500bn to the global economy by 2050. Moreover, the recent Stern Review has concluded that failure to tackle climate change could result in economic costs of $2.5 trillion every year, dwarfing the costs required to take effective action now. Visit Climate Change North West for up to date information on activities under the Climate Change Action Plan.

The North West Sustainable Energy Strategy July 2006

The need for sustainable energy generation, supply and use has never been more acute. The serious and undisputable threats that we face in relation to climate change, energy security and affordability tell us clearly that the economic prosperity, social equity and environmental quality of the North West depend on this vital issue. Crucially, everybody has a role to play – public agencies, businesses of all sizes and types, and citizens across the region. This Sustainable Energy Strategy sets out clearly the energy challenge that faces the North West. More importantly, it demonstrates how different sectors across the region can act to address this challenge head on, whilst also achieving wider economic, social and environmental objectives. Specific guidance is offered to local authorities, the private sector, and the construction industry.

This document can be downloaded from the NWRA website.