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Climate Change Local Area Support Programme
October 2010 - Vol 3, Issue 6
In This Issue
Dear All
Climate Leader Awards
CLASP Events
Welcome to the October newsletter from CLASP.
Other Events
Mitigation News
Adaptation News
Renewable Energy News
Whilst this may be a week of mixed news nationally, I hope
you will all be able to join together on the 2 nd November to
celebrate some of the excellent work which has been going on
in recent years to mitigate and adapt to climate change in the
NW.
As well as the Climate Leaders Awards event we also have 3
more (free) CLASP events coming up in November and
December on: Low Carbon LTPs, Carbon Reduction
Commitment and Adaptation.
Find out about all this below, plus we have news on:
Mitigation
CERT Figures For Your Area
New Stats Released of CO2 Emissions at Local Authority
Level
Adaptation
UK Climate Change Committee Report
Risk Management Case Study from Hertfordshire
Renewable Energy
Ashden Awards Open For Entries
Guidance on Solar Opportunities
And remember, if you would like to also receive news, events
and information from the new "Climate Change Skills Fund"
introduced in August's newsletter (focussing on planning &
renewables issues) then email [email protected] and ask
to subscribe.
Best wishes
CLASP
Climate Leader Awards
We received 56 excellent entries for the Climate Leader Awards, and the judging took place
on Friday 15th October. All entrants will be informed if they are finalists later today (Monday
18th).
Well done to all who entered, regardless of outcome, as the applications showed a
wonderful range of activity going on at the moment, and we will be making best use of the
information you've given us, to promote your activities.
Booking is now open for the Award Ceremony, on 2nd November, in Preston.
Click here to find out more, and to book
Whether you are a finalist or not, do come along to hear about the projects from our guest
presenters, and listen to our key speaker Pam Warhurst (Chair of the Forestry Commission,
Former Leader of Calderdale Council) who will be telling us about the Incredible Edible
Todmorden project that she works on, and how local authorities can support such local
activity.
CLASP Events
Dates for your diaries... CLASP has a busy Autumn event schedule on offer. All events are
free to attend, to book look out for individual invitations or click the links below.
Climate Leader Awards Ceremony
2nd November
12.30 - 4.30 Preston Guild Hall
Click here for more information, and to book
Where's the carbon in Local Transport, and what works to reduce it?
11th November
am
Preston
Invitations and full information to follow shortly
Getting Real Value From The Carbon Reduction Commitment
Thursday 17th November
1pm - 4pm Salford University "Innovation Forum" Conference Centre
Click here for more information, and to book
Assessing Risks to Key Services and Managing Adaptation
Tuesday 7th December
Full day Warrington Wolves Stadium
Full information to follow. This workshop will be sharing the risk assessment work that
CLASP has supported 5 authorities to carry out over the last 6 months.
Other Events
Sustainable Consumption & Production Networking Event
Wednesday 3rd November 2010
1.00pm - 4.30pm
NWDA, Renaissance House, Warrington
Whilst the current public sector regional landscape is changing, the drive towards a low
carbon and low resource economy remains and the efficiency and sustainability agenda is
increasingly relevant. Much has already been achieved in this arena and the Northwest
SCP Partnership is pleased invite you to this workshop which reviews the past and looks
towards the future.
The afternoon will include the latest news from WRAP, presentations by the Northwest's
successful environmental business support programmes and a Northwest business that
benefited from this support.
To register your attendance please visit www.nwda.co.uk/scp2010
Mitigation News
CERT Figures For Your Area
The Energy Saving Trust have published new figures which reveal how much loft and cavity
wall insulation was professionally installed in each local authority, parliamentary
constituency and region between April 2008 and March 2010 as part of the Government's
requirement on energy companies to help consumers save energy, the Carbon Emissions
Reduction Target (CERT).
The series of reports are based on data in the Homes Energy Efficiency Database which
provides a geographic distribution of professionally installed measures - currently cavity wall
and loft insulation - claimed under CERT.
For copies of the reports visit:
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/business/Business/Information-centre/Homes-EnergyEfficiency-Database-HEED/CERT-reports-from-HEED
For a DECC press release on the new data visit:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn10_102/pn10_102.aspx
The North West is the region that has benefited the most under CERT in the UK to date.
Also, 2 Local Authorities - Wyre (13.4%) and South Ribble (13.3%) - are in the top 5
beneficiaries in the country based on the percentages of their housing stock lagged under
CERT.
The Energy Saving Trust would be very happy to work with Local Authorities in the North
West to understand how they can help your residents benefit from CERT energy
supplier offers (CERT has been extended to 2012 which equates to another 3.5 million
homes receiving insulation). Contact [email protected] for more information
2008 Carbon Dioxide Emissions At Local Authority And Government
Office Region Level
Despite the uncertainties over future reporting frameworks, you may find interesting the
2008 NI 186 data for carbon dioxide emissions (from local authority areas, for second tier
authority, for main regions and the percentage reduction since 2005) which are now
available, having been published on 16 September 2010.
Estimates were also published on the 16th September of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions
for 2008, and revised estimates for the years 2005-2007, for all UK Local Authorities and
Government Office Regions.
There is a very useful summary of all the data and key trends here
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Statistics/climate_change/localAuthorityCO2/464-statrelease-2008-uk-co2-emissions.pdf
The DEC NI 186 webpage where you can download the data is still here
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/indicators/ni186/ni186.aspx
EU Set To Overshoot Emission Reduction Targets
A large fall in greenhouse gas emissions due to a reduction in industrial activity linked to the
economic crisis means the EU is now ahead of schedule to meet its Kyoto and EU
commitments, with emissions dropping by 6.9% across the EU-15 between 2008-9. The
European Commission has also published a progress report which highlights that the EU-15
could reduce their emissions to 14.2% below base year levels by 2012, when the Kyoto
agreement expires. See the report on The European Environment Agency website.
Adaptation News
"If we wait it will be too late"
The Adaptation Sub-Committee has published their first national assessment of how well
prepared the UK is for climate change. The Committee found that some progress has been
made by government in raising awareness, but crucially, that very little tangible action has
taken place on the ground. The emphasis should therefore now be on moving from talking
about adaptation to taking action in 5 priority areas: land use planning, infrastructure,
buildings, natural resources and emergency planning.
Click here to find out more about the report and Defra's response
Tackling Climate Change Through Risk Management - a case study
from Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire Council are sharing their learning on the LGID site from three years
embedding climate change risk into everyday service delivery.
Key messages:
 Avoid saying climate 'adaptation': 'climate risk' or 'business continuity' have far greater
resonance to those outside the climate change agenda

Use meaningful language: responding to the impacts of climate change is a challenge
for everyone, not just the 'eco-warriors' down the corridor.

Make friends with your risk management team: your risk management team may get
you further in six months than you've managed in the past year on your own.

Tap into existing ways of working: use efficient, clever and innovative use of existing
mechanisms rather than creating new processes and procedures that will only create
work.

Tailor your information to the people your audience: for example, adult care services
will be more interested in future heatwaves and summer temperatures than increased
rainfall.

Always remember the costs of doing nothing far outweigh the costs of acting now:
stress, however, that responding to climate risk now does not immediately involve capital
investment.
Renewable Energy News
Ashden Awards - Call for Entries
The UK's leading green energy awards calls for entries from sustainable energy pioneers
across the UK - The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy are seeking entries from
ground-breaking businesses, schools, not-for-profit initiatives, and public sector
organisations that are encouraging the use of sustainable energy. Applications must be for
work that has been running for at least a year, is technically excellent and is improving the
lives of local people.
In addition to cash prizes of up £20,000, they offer our winners a package of benefits and
support including a broadcast-quality short film about their work, tailored business support,
introductions to influential policy makers and, in certain cases, funders. The awards will be
presented at a VIP ceremony in London in June 2011. Entry deadline is 26th October 2010.
Consumer Guidance on Free Solar PV Offers
With the introduction of Feed-in-Tariffs (FIT) there are a number of organisations offering
customers free solar PV panels. The Energy Saving Trust have produced a useful page of
accessible information for householders. If your council is contacted by residents interested
in these options you can direct them to:
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Solar-electricity/Consumerguidance-on-free-solar-PV-offers
We hope you found this newsletter useful. If you did please forward it on to colleagues. If
you did not please tell us how we can make it better. Further editions will be sent at
approximately monthly intervals informing you of various CLASP events and opportunities.
If you wish to unsubscribe you can use the link below.
With best wishes,
Ailsa Gibson
Top banner image © Ian Lawson Photography
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