Southampton City Council
Climate Change and Air
Quality Strategy
Rob Crighton
Outline of Presentation
• Background to the Strategy
• The role of the Climate Change Officer
• How we intend to deliver the
Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy
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Background to the Strategy
Signing the Nottingham
Declaration in 2001
“SCC recognises that climate change is
likely to be one of the key drivers of
change within our community this century.”
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City Performance Plan – Climate Change
• Produce a Climate Change
and Air Quality Strategy
• Agree, through newly
established Southampton
Partnership, a sustainability
Plan for the city.
• Prepare a new coastal
defence strategy.
Medium Term Plan – Resource Allocation
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Southampton faces the
usual range of environmental
problems for a city;
high levels of waste
production, poor quality of
local environment and
atmospheric pollution.
In addition the city will be
affected by global problems
such as climate change - of
particular significance to a
coastal city.
Medium Term Plan –Service Improvements
• Produce and establish a Climate
Change and Air Quality Strategy
and Action Plan to address
national 20% CO2 emission
target, and air quality objectives
• Design an energy and renewables
plan to deliver commitments in the
Nottingham Declaration.
• Develop a programme to take
forward Coastal Defence Strategy
Councils for Climate Change
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Pilot Project
Started to identify actions to reduce GHG
Provided methodology and software
BUT highlighted problems with data gathering
Top Tips
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Keep a continuous eye out for opportunities. Consider what plans
and strategies could support a climate change strategy.
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Find champions in the council especially at a high level who can
sponsor climate change.
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Identify areas of difficulty and resistance and deal with them
through positive information and relationship building.
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Have a clear understanding of how other policy areas of the
council could influence climate change.
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Use existing policies to sell the idea - climate change is part of the
wider sustainability agenda and should be considered on the back
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of the need for longer term planning adaptation strategies.
Climate Change Officer
• Develop
the Climate Change and Air Quality strategy
• Investigate energy/renewable energy plans
- regional, national, European and international
programmes
• Coastal Defence Strategy
• Flood mapping advice to Development Control
• Climate change advice to planning policy, SEA process
developers
• Data collection and monitoring of climate change indicators
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Air Quality Management Team
• Develop joint AQ and Climate Change
Strategy
• Review and assessment of air quality
• Identification of AQ management areas
• Development and adoption of AQ Action Plan
Why a Joint Strategy
• Opportunity for ‘joined up’ thinking
reducing pollutants and GHG
health impacts (respiratory disease, climate
effects)
improving quality of life (congestion, noise)
addressing fuel poverty
meeting statutory and other national
objectives
• Common actions in both programmes
• Building overarching strategic thinking
• Efficient use of resources
Strategy Contents
Climate Change
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Key strategic objectives
Supporting text
Technical appendices
Action plan 2004-2009
Key Policy areas:
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Medium Term Plan
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Community Strategy
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Local Plan
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Health and well-being
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Housing Strategy
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Fuel Poverty Strategy
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Coastal protection &
management
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Procurement
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Transport
Areas for
LAND USE
Action
•Development
control
•Economic
growth
OPERATIONAL
•Transportation
INFLUENCE
•Procurement
•Corporate
•Lifestyle changes
•Information
REGULATIONS
•Energy efficiency
•Spatial planning
•Education
AIR
POLLUTION
CONTROL
The Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy
Mitigation
Adaptation
Monitoring
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Action Planning
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education and awareness
increase % domestic waste recycled
reduce waste generated
heat/power from waste
reduce pollution
reduce greenhouse gas emissions
use energy more efficiently
develop energy opportunities from renewable
sources
• use water more efficiently
• conserve fragile ecosystems and local natural
diversity
• exploit opportunities for improvement through
investment in new technologies as well as
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behavioral change
Alternative technologies
Geothermal CHP scheme
Southampton
Southampton City Council has
developed one of the largest energy
partnerships providing low cost
efficient electrical power, hot water
for central heating and chilled water
for air conditioning for local
businesses and residents.
Alternative technologies
ECO-HOMES in the City:
- Portswood SUN Centre
- Mason Moor - Millbrook
Alternative technologies
Solar Streets Government’s Clear Skies
Initiative
Solar Discount Scheme - £500 off solar hot water
heating technology (Usually £2500-£3000)
The Solar Campus Project - Southampton
University
Summary
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Coastal location makes climate change a real issue for
Southampton
Climate change & air quality are already key aspects of council
strategy
Having a champion to take forward sustainable energy projects
has been a key success: Geothermal/CHP & energy plans
Innovative and long term partnerships are necessary
– Internally
– South East Climate Change Partnership
– Local Authorities
– Energy Agencies
– Universities
– UK Climate Impacts Programme
– IDeA and LGA
– European Partners
For more information
Air Quality Strategy
www.southampton.gov.uk/environment/climate-change
Contact
[email protected]
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