Climate Change Strategy for Slough
2011-2014
Slough Forward working together to tackle climate change
SLOUGH CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY 2011 - 2014
FOREWORD
Executive summary
1.
Introduction
1.1
What is climate change?
1.2
So what’s the problem?
1.3
Why should Slough act to tackle Climate Change?
2.
A Climate Change Strategy for Slough
2.1
A vision for Slough
2.2
Purpose
2.3
Aims
2.4
Scope
2.5
Status of this Strategy (and its forthcoming Action Plan)
2.6
Roles and responsibilities for tackling climate change in Slough
3.
Slough’s CO2 emissions in 2008/09
3.1
Slough’s CO2 emissions
3.2
Slough Borough Council’s CO2 emissions 2008/09
3.3
Reducing CO2 emissions in Slough
4.
Potential impact of Climate Change on Slough
4.1
Prioritisation of identified risks
4.2
Adapting to climate change in Slough
5.
Development of the Strategy
6.
Implementation of the Strategy
7.
Collaborative working
8.
Monitoring, reporting and review
Appendix A: Summary of mechanisms being used to reduce CO2 emissions in Slough
1.
Domestic
2.
Industrial and commercial
3.
Transport
4.
Waste
Appendix B: Summary of mechanisms being used to tackle climate change impacts
1.
Flooding
2.
Droughts
3.
Heat
4.
Higher wind speeds and subsidence
5.
Extreme cold
6.
Biodiversity
Appendix C: Glossary
Appendix D: How NI 185 CO2 reduction from Local Authority operations is calculated
Appendix E: How NI 186 Percentage reduction of the per capita CO2 emissions in the Local
Authority area is calculated
Appendix F: Berkshire Summary
Accuracy disclaimer
Slough Forward has made every effort to present the content in this Strategy accurately, but additions, deletions and changes may
occur. Content in this document is provided “as is”; and neither Slough Forward, Slough Borough Council or their representatives make
any representation or warranty with respect to the content.
References to Slough’s Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS), Local Area Agreement (LAA) and the National Indicators set
Slough’s Sustainable Community Strategy 2008 – 2028 (SCS) creates a long-term, sustainable vision for the town and until March 2011
assisted in delivering Slough’s Local Area Agreement (LAA). The statutory requirement for the Council to create and maintain an LAA
has now been removed and as a consequence, the Council is planning to undertake refresh of the Strategy during the summer of 2011,
so that it reflects the current climate and continues to focus on those critical issues which can only be tackled effectively by working in
partnership. The Government has recently changed its requirements for the collection of green house gas (GHG) emissions data from
Local
Authorities
own
estates
and
operations
(the
successor
to
National
indicator
185).
See
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statiticss/idicators/ni185/ni185.aspx). The Council's GHG collection methods for the 2010/11
reporting period will shortly be revised to take account of these new requirements.
2
SLOUGH’S CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY 2011 - 2014
FOREWORD FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND LEADER OF THE COUNCIL AND CHAIR
OF SLOUGH FORWARD
Our weather is changing and its not just the polar ice caps and coral reefs which are threatened.
The case for urgent action has surely been made and it is becoming increasingly apparent that if
we do not alter our activities we will cause climatic changes which will be too rapid for us to
effectively adapt to, with devastating consequences for our communities.
Here in Slough we can expect to see changes like flooding and heat waves. These could bring
transport difficulties and health problems for many of our staff and residents.
That is why we are delighted to be bringing forward Slough Forward’s first Climate Change
Strategy which sets out the ways in which all of us can get involved to reduce our carbon footprint
and prepare for the impacts and opportunities of climate change.
Climate change is an urgent and serious challenge for all of us but by showing leadership and by
acting together we believe we can make a real difference. Our local business community, the
public and voluntary sectors, our schools and places of learning, all have a vital role to play in the
transition to a low carbon world. As residents we can also play our part by reducing our personal
carbon footprint, using alternative methods of transport, reducing household fuel use and
recycling.
For Slough, the benefits of taking early action are clear.
A low carbon borough with thriving sustainable businesses and communities, which are resilient to
the effects of climate change, will ensure that Slough continues to attract investment and
continues to be an attractive place to live, work and visit.
Climate change is a global problem with local solutions and we are proud that Slough has taken
the initiative on this crucial issue and continues to lead by example.
Ruth Bagley
Chief Executive
Councillor Rob Anderson
Leader of the Council
Chair of Slough Forward
3
Executive summary
It is now widely accepted that climate change is happening: All five of the hottest ever years have
taken place in the last decade, mountain glaciers are retreating, the permafrost in some areas is
melting - the list of impacts is long and well publicised. Some of the global impacts include effects
on crop yields and water supply, rising sea levels and prolonged drought. This is already leading to
global human migration and may well ultimately lead to conflict over resources.
In the UK and in Slough, the noticeable effects of climate change may be milder, wetter winters,
hotter, drier summers, and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events’ such as
storms, winds and heat waves. It is clear that we have to take action now - there is no choice. The
borough has highlighted tackling climate change as one of its most important priorities in its
Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS). The SCS sets the future direction of the town up to
2028.
This is Slough’s first borough-wide Climate Change Strategy. It has been developed by the
Climate Change Partnership Delivery Group (PDG) of Slough Forward, our Local Strategic
Partnership (LSP) and demonstrates both the Council’s and the Partnership’s commitment to
reducing the borough’s contribution to climate change, over the period 2011 - 2014.
In addition to environmental consequences, there are also strong economic, social and health
consequences to climate change; and meeting these challenges will require the development of a
robust, co-ordinated approach involving many individuals, groups and institutions.
Slough is already demonstrating clear leadership on tackling climate change which began with the
signing of the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change in August 2009. This committed the
Council, in its role as community leader, property manager and service provider; to act decisively
in tackling the causes and effects of climate change. A role recognised by the Local Government
Association and the UK Climate Impacts Programme as being pivotal to successfully addressing
the causes and effects of climate change.
This Strategy, produced by Slough Forward and the Council working in partnership, identifies a
range of priorities for Slough and sets out how we plan to work together to reduce the borough’s
carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over time.
The success of this Strategy and in making Slough a low carbon town is reliant on all of us working
together to tackle the causes and effects of climate change. Residents, businesses and public
sector organisations all need to take responsibility for the future of the borough and help take the
action needed to successfully tackle climate change.
4
1.
Introduction
This is Slough’s first Climate Change Strategy. Its purpose is to promote public understanding of
climate change across Slough Forward, Slough’s Local Strategic Partnership, and the town to
ensure that co-ordinated action is taken to tackle the causes and consequences of climate
change. This document will be used to co-ordinate partnership-led activities, building upon
valuable and existing local activity.
Slough’s Sustainable Community Strategy sets out the borough’s 20 year long term vision. This is
delivered through the Local Area Agreement (LAA) via Slough Forward, and brings together a
diverse set of partners from local businesses, the public, private, and voluntary and community
sectors to improve the quality of life in the area.
Safeguarding our local environment and creating an attractive, sustainable cleaner, greener place
to live work and play is at the heart of Slough Forwards activities.
1.1
What is climate change?
Climate change is widely regarded as the most serious environmental challenge facing us in the
21st century. There is clear evidence that the actions of humans are driving climate change and
that it is caused by the release of man-made greenhouse gases1 into the atmosphere. As we burn
fossil fuels such as gas, oil and coal to create power for our homes, businesses and cars we
release greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air. Greenhouse gases act like a
blanket around our planet which trap energy in the form of heat from the sun into the earth’s
atmosphere, making the temperature rise. This is called the greenhouse effect2. It is a natural
process which helps to keep the planet warm and sustain life. Without this process, the planet
would be too cold to sustain life on earth as we know it.
Figure 1: An idealised model of the natural greenhouse gas effect.
1
Greenhouse gases include : Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4) , Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC),
Perfluorocarbons (PFC) and Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)
2
Greenhouse gas effect diagram from IPPC Climate Change Report 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group
I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M.
Marquis, K.B. Avery, M.Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds)] Cambridge University Press
5
1.2
So what’s the problem?
The increasing amounts of greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere are helping to
trap more heat in, making the planet warmer than it should be.
Temperatures in the UK are 1°C higher on average than they were in the 1970’s. This warming
has been accompanied by more frequent heat waves, more intense rainfall events and rising sea
levels. Insured losses from weather related events currently cost the UK £1.5 billion each year on
average. The 2007 central England summer floods cost the economy over £3 billion. Two
thousand people died in the UK as a result of the 2003 heat wave, an event that could become the
norm by the end of the century.
Figure 2: Mean temperature change (°C) from the 1961-1990 average to the 1991-2004
average for summer and winter






A marked increase in mean monthly temperature,
averaged over the whole of the UK, since 1914.
Two main periods of warming (1914–1950 and 1970
onwards), with the most rapid warming occurring since
1985. The vast majority of the UK has experienced
increased mean temperatures in both summer and
winter between the 1961–1990 average and the 1991–
2004 average (see Map 1).
Daily maximum temperatures have increased by more in
the winter, while daily minimum temperatures have
increased by more in the summer and annually.
The strongest increases in mean monthly temperature
have been in South-East England, the Midlands and
East Anglia. The average length of the thermal growing
season has increased in all regions, with the largest
increases over Scotland and northern England.
Duration of winter cold spells has decreased, particularly
since 1986, and significant spells of cold weather are
now rare.
Eastern and central England have experienced a strong
increase in summer heat wave duration, but this pattern
is less marked for the western part of the UK.
Figure 3: Mean precipitation change (%) from the 1961-1990 average to the 1991-2004
average for summer and winter






The UK monthly precipitation record shows a high
degree of variability and no overall annual trend since
1914 (Map 2).
Since 1961 there has been a marked increase in winter
precipitation in all regions, but no clear trend in summer
precipitation.
North and west Scotland have experienced an increase
in annual precipitation of nearly 10% since 1914, while
North-East England has experienced a decrease of 5%
in the same period of time
Precipitation totals have increased since the early
1970s, most notably in Scotland where rainfall has been
at its highest since 1914 during the last 10 years.
The percentage increase of days with greater than or
equal to 10mm of rain (rain days) is larger than that for
total precipitation, with the largest increase in winter.
This indicates an increasing contribution of heavy rainfall
events.
Trapping more heat in our atmosphere is likely to have a number of effects on our climate.
Predicting what these effects will be becomes harder as you focus on smaller geographical areas.
The United Kingdom Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) has provided a number of detailed
scenarios for how climate change could impact on the UK, region by region. These assessments
6
provide a valuable indication of what we can expect over the coming decides - regardless of any
mitigation actions already undertaken or proposed as part of this Strategy.
In the South East, UKCIP scenarios suggest it is likely that there will be:
Table 1: How climate change could impact on the South East
Possible impact
Higher
temperatures
Flooding
Water Resources
Health
Biodiversity
Built Environment
Transport
Business and
Finance
3
Consequences for the South East

There is likely to be an increase in the demand for cooling and thus electricity in summer.

Against this, there will be a reduction in demand for winter heating providing a financial
advantage for bill payers and reducing incidences of fuel poverty3.

Increased risk of flooding, including surface, fluvial and flash flooding.

More frequent intense winter rainfalls are expected to increase the likelihood of flooding
by rivers and flash flooding when urban drainage systems become overwhelmed.

Increased risk of direct injury, mortality and morbidity.

Increased risk of chemical/ pollution contamination.

Increased risk from infectious disease – due to increase in bacteria in surface water.

Flooding incidents can have series effects upon mental health, especially in the elderly
and the vulnerable.

Water demand will be heightened during hot, dry summers, possibly leading to shortages.

Longer summers with higher temperatures and lower rainfall will reduce soil moisture and
the chance to replenish groundwater supplies.

River flows are likely to lower in summer and higher in winter.

Poorer air quality poses health problems for asthmatics as well as causing damage to
plants and buildings.

Higher levels of dehydration, heat exhaustion, heatstroke and irreversible damage to
organs and even death.

Increase in skin cancers and sunburn due to increased exposure to the sun.

Increase in occurrences of cataracts.

Higher levels of mortality related to summer heat stress are expected.

Higher winter temperatures would be likely to lead to a reduction in winter cold spell
related mortality - perhaps by as many as 20,000 a year nationally.

Developing and diversifying a sustainable energy portfolio at both a national and local
level could lead to greater energy security and help communities to tackle fuel poverty.

Measures to increase housing insulation could also help contribute to a decline in cold
related deaths and illnesses.

Encouraging walking and cycling could have a positive effect on health.

Warmer weather would favour conditions for increased competition from invasive non
native species as well as the spread of disease and pests, affecting both fauna and flora.

Increased summer drought will cause stress to wetlands and beech woodlands and
increase the fire risk to grassland and woodlands.

Changes in the timing of seasonal events could impact on climate space and increase the
risk of habitat loss and fragmentation.

The building industry will be likely to benefit from an increased number of construction
days.

Subsidence will worsen as clay soils dry out in summer and autumn.

Alternate wetting of clays in winter and drying of clays in summer may cause increased
ground movement resulting in increased potential for damage to underground pipes and
cables.

Increased temperatures will reduce comfort of occupants in domestic, commercial and
public buildings, and could lead to business disruption.

A warmer climate will increase the need for cooling, which could increase emissions.

Slough’s transport system and ancillary services are vulnerable to disruption from flooding
and other extreme weather events that are expected to increase in frequency and
intensity.

Increased temperatures on the London Underground, exacerbated by the urban heat
island effect, will lead to passenger discomfort.

Hotter summers may damage elements of transport infrastructure, causing buckled rails
and rutted roads, with their attendant disruption and repair costs.

Higher temperatures will lead to a reduction in cold weather-related disruption.

The UK’s insurance industry could be exposed to an increased volume of claims from
wind storms and flood events.

Lower income households may find it more difficult to access adequate insurance cover in
Residents who pay 10% or more of their income on paying for energy are considered to be in fuel poverty.
7

Waste


Lifestyle






the face of increased flood risk.
The risk management of potential climate change impacts may provide significant
opportunities for Slough businesses.
Unsatisfactory conditions for residents living near landfill sites during hotter and drier
summers.
Continuing methane emissions on landfill sites where alternative waste minimisation
arrangements not available.
Outdoor living may be more favoured, leading to a healthier population - although some
members of society may be less able to take advantage of this due to lack of facilities
locally, fear of crime or other forms of social exclusion.
Green and open spaces will be used more intensively.
An increase in accidents and injuries sustained as more people adopt a more active life
style due to warmer weather conditions.
Opportunities for local investment arising from climate change through supporting new
leisure opportunities, localised tourism and the development of active and vibrant local
communities. A study by the energy company Shell found the market opportunities from
tackling climate change for UK small firms to be £4 billion per year by 2010, and the
4
global market to be much higher, driven largely by strong government action
Longer, more reliable summer seasons could also lead to an increase in visitor numbers
to the region, which could lead to an increase in spending levels.
Increased tourism and leisure could also create more jobs and provide new opportunities
for small and medium sized businesses and help boost the local economy.
By planning ahead and taking timely adaptation action, the South East region could halve the
costs and damages from a moderate amount of warming.
1.3 Why should Slough act to tackle Climate Change?
The implications of predicted climate changes pose a significant risk to the safety, prosperity and
environment of Slough and beyond. As we are committed to climate change for the next 30-40
years, Slough Forward believes we must take action to manage the climate change risks we
cannot avoid whilst at the same time reducing our CO2 emissions to avert even more dangerous
climate changes in the decades ahead. Slough Forward believes this to be the right approach for
the following reasons.
1. Cost-effectiveness - The Stern Review on the economics of climate change5 illustrated
how costs to the global economy rise with increasing degrees of climate change, and that
early action to limit the extent of climate change is ultimately cheaper than waiting to
manage the impacts of climate change when they become more severe. It concluded that
while dealing with climate change by cutting emissions of greenhouse gases will cost a lot
of money – about 1% of the world’s wealth – doing nothing about it could cost the world
anything from 5 to 20% more. Stern recognised the strong economic benefits of tackling
climate change, by increasing energy efficiency and saving money by reducing energy
bills, increased energy security and new opportunities for businesses. This is very much
the case for Slough where a wealth of manufacturing expertise makes the borough well
placed to move from its traditional sector of manufacturing to the new environmental
technology sector (i.e. ‘Green infrastructure’) to create ‘green jobs’.
As well as highlighting the economic benefits of moving towards a low carbon economy,
Stern’s report also discussed the economic impacts of inaction, such as a loss in world
consumption of at least 5%, and major disruption comparable to the great wars and the
economic depression of the last century. The humanitarian impacts are far-reaching droughts, storms and flooding will increase in frequency and intensity, with the worst
impacts felt in poorer countries6. In 1990, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) noted that the greatest single impact of climate change could be on human
4
Shell Springboard and Vivid Economics, The business opportunities for SMEs in tackling the causes of climate change, October 2006
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sternreview_index.htm
6
If the Greenland ice cap where to melt, sea levels could rise by as much as 7 metres. This would leave London vulnerable to
devastating flooding. But sea level rise is a much greater risk to low lying countries like Bangladesh. A 7 metre sea rise there could
create 1.5 million refugees.
5
8
migration7 - with millions of people, often living in the poorest areas of the world; Africa,
Middle East, and Central Asia, being displaced by shoreline erosion, coastal flooding and
agricultural disruption. Since then various analysts have tried to put numbers on future
flows of climate migrants (sometimes called “climate refugees”) — the most widely
repeated prediction being 200 million by 2050 (compared to the 35-37 million we have
today). Figure 4 below shows the areas of population most at risk from costal flooding
under a business as usual scenario8.
Figure 4: Areas of population most at risk from coastal flooding
2. Quality of life – In addition to avoiding potentially very serious risks associated with future
dangerous climate change, strong action to cut greenhouse gas emissions can also
improve other areas of our lives. For example, improving the energy efficiency of our
homes can make them more comfortable and reduce our energy bills; whilst improving our
ability to walk, cycle or take public transport to move around Slough could reduce car
congestion and improve air quality and our health.
3. A sustainable economy – The future costs of doing ‘business as usual’ can be
expected to increase, for example, due to increasing costs of energy and those associated
with more frequent climate change impacts (e.g. insurance, clean-up and repair). A more
sustainable, energy and resource efficient, and climate-resilient form of business must
therefore be developed to ensure our economy remains strong and competitive. A study by
the energy company Shell found the market opportunities from tackling climate change for
UK small firms to be £4 billion per year by 2010, and the global market to be much higher,
driven largely by strong government action9.
While there are alternative views on the science behind climate change and the extent to
which it could impact on our lives, Slough Forward has formed the view that it does exist,
that human activity makes a significant contribution to it and we must act at a local level to
mitigate against the potential threat it represents to our local communities.
7
If climate change continues as predicted, Slough could also see further population growth/movement. The challenge for Slough
Forward is that whilst it cannot predict the future – it does however need to consider the plausible, probable and possible consequences
of increased migration to the area. Slough Forward will be looking at the issues of community cohesion, population change and
migration as part of the development of its Community Cohesion Strategy and hopes that this process will help create a useful dialogue
that can eventually inform the partnerships climate change thinking and work programme.
8
(Defra, 2006)
9
Shell Springboard & Vivid Economics, The business opportunities for SMEs in tackling the causes of climate change, October 2006.
9
2.
A Climate Change Strategy for Slough
Local authorities, public sector agencies, businesses and individuals must seize the opportunity
and take a lead in:


reducing their individual carbon foots prints
preparing adequately for a changing environment by adopting adaptation measures that will
improve our resilience to the unavailable impacts of climate change and
helping to develop new, clean energy efficient technologies

Slough Forward believes that all of these measures can be delivered in a cost effective way that
could create business and employment opportunities and improve the health and wellbeing of
town’s residents.
2.1 A vision for Slough
Slough Forward is working towards an agreed commitment for Slough where “people are proud to
live [in a place] where diversity is celebrated and where residents can enjoy fulfilling, prosperous
and healthy lives”. As part of this commitment:
Slough Forward will lead by example to achieve a low carbon Slough which is resilient to
the effects of future climate change.
This Climate Change Strategy (and its forthcoming Action Plan) has been structured to
compliment the related priority outcomes of the aforementioned Community Strategy. Namely:






to increase awareness of green issues and how communities can contribute;
to increase the use of renewable energy within the town;
to become more efficient about the energy we use;
to reduce the level of waste that is produced and increase the level of recycling in Slough;
to conserve and enhance the environmental and historical characteristics of the area; and
to increase the use of sustainable transport.
The relationship between Slough’s Community Strategy and the various groups that have been
involved in the development of this Climate Change Strategy is summarised in Figure 5 below.
10
Figure 5: Relation between Slough’s Sustainable Community Strategy and the various
groups involved in the development of Slough’s Climate Change Strategy
Council’s
Priorities
Slough’s Sustainable
Community Strategy
Slough Forward
Cabinet
members’ plans Other themed groups
of Slough Forward Climate Change PDG
LAA
Strategic Plan
Service
Plans
Carbon
Management
Programme
Board
Cleaner, Safer,
Greener Board
Climate Change Adaptation
Working Group
(to be established)
Team Plans
The Climate Change Partnership Delivery Group (PDG) of Slough Forward is the designated
environmental delivery arm of the Partnership, charged with the twin tasks of both preventing
climate change and adapting to its effects.
Examples of actions that have been taken to support the delivery of Slough Forwards climate
change goals can be found in section 4 and Appendices A and B of this Strategy.
The Climate Change Strategy has also been developed in a way to articulate the role of the
Partnership in delivering the Strategy, to show where collective working can bring added benefit
and where, in other areas, a particular activity may be more appropriately pursued by a single
organisation.
2.2 Purpose
The purpose of the Slough Forwards Climate Change Strategy (and its forthcoming Action Plan) is
to establish the framework for action in Slough to tackle the causes and consequences of climate
change. It describes the present situation, rationale, future intentions and actions for Slough
Forward to take in order to achieve them.
2.3 Aims
The aims of the Slough Forwards Climate Change Strategy (and its forthcoming Action Plan) are
twofold.
1.
2.
Using 2005 Defra Statistics as a baseline, to reduce per capita CO2 emissions
within Slough by 9% by 2011.
To ensure that the climate change risks to Slough are appropriately identified,
assessed, communicated and managed.
To contribute towards a reduction in Slough’s carbon footprint, Slough Borough Council will aim to
reduce CO2 emissions from its own activities, using 2008/09 as a baseline, by 40% by 2014.
11
2.4
Scope
The geographical focus for Slough Forwards Climate Change Strategy (and forthcoming Action
Plan) is defined by Slough’s boundaries, although its benefits and some actions may extend
beyond them.
This Strategy covers the domestic, industrial and commercial, public and road transport and waste
sectors for both carbon reduction (mitigation) and Climate Change adaptation activities. However,
it does not cover aviation or motorway emissions.
2.5
Status of this Strategy
Slough Forwards Climate Change Strategy is a non-statutory document and therefore does not
itself have specific powers. However, it is intended to set the framework within which the
Partnership can achieve its collective and individual partner aims and objectives. As such the
Strategy is intended to influence a very broad range of activity across a number of priority areas,
including how the statutory functions of Slough Borough Council are designed and delivered in the
future. For example:
o
land use planning – This is about taking a strategic approach to locating properties,
infrastructure and green spaces in areas that minimise exposure to flood risk, do not
increase flood risk to others, and do not create a legacy of flood defence or water supply
costs, managing competing pressure on the land – urban, natural and agricultural in
response to a changing climate and enhancing green spaces where effective in terms of
the town design to help manage surface water and cope with rising temperatures and heat
waves.
o
Assessing the whole-life cost, or life-cycle cost (LCC) of our assets - This is about
considering not only the financial cost of maintaining an existing asset, which is relatively
simple to calculate, but also its environmental and social costs, which are more difficult to
quantify and assign numerical values. Typical areas of expenditure which are included in
calculating the whole-life cost include, planning, design, construction and acquisition,
operations, maintenance, renewal and rehabilitation, depreciation and cost of finance and
replacement or disposal.
o
Infrastructure – This is about designing a new infrastructure with climate change in mind
to ensure that it can cope with rising temperatures and is resilient to storms, floods and
droughts and changing patterns in consumer demand in areas such as energy and water
uses, travel and consumption
o
Designing and renovating buildings – To ensure that they can cope with rising
temperatures and floods, minimise water use and construction and demolition waste
through the appropriate use of construction materials and the better design and sustainable
management of natural resources and waste – by improving and extending ecological
networks so that species can adapt as the climate changes; and making space for water
along rivers and waters courses.
o
Effective emergency planning – For example by making better use of weather
forecasting to anticipate extreme weather events more effectively, creating plans that
reduce the impact on and ensure the continuation of services for the most vulnerable
groups across the borough during heat waves and floods and developing business
continuity plans based on high quality climate risk assessments, so that the Partnership
can better cope with disruption to partners supply chains during floods and damage to
assets from severe weather.
Slough Forward has started to develop its knowledge and build capacity in these areas. It is
taking steps to provide information and raise awareness of the issue through the Climate Change
12
PDG to ensure that risks to Slough are appropriately identified assessed, communicated and
managed.
2.6
Roles and responsibilities for tackling climate change in Slough
Climate change is a global problem that demands a global solution. Action to address its causes
and consequences is being progressed at international and national levels.
At a more local level this Strategy is first and foremost a Slough Forward document, as it is only
through working in partnership that climate change issues can truly be addressed.
As a collective organisation, the Slough Forward will be able to influence the strategic decision
making for the area, ensuring that climate change remains high on the agenda, enabling
organisations and private individuals to take actions that will benefit both themselves and the town.
There is also an incumbent responsibility on the individual partnership organisations and agencies,
including Slough Borough Council, the East Berkshire Primary Care Trust, Royal Berkshire Fire
and Rescue Service and Thames Valley Police, to analyse their own climate change impacts,
identify individual actions, and act as beacons of good practice for private organisations across the
town.
In recognition of this responsibility, Slough Borough Council has identified three specific roles it
can fulfil in order for the causes and consequences of climate change in Slough to be addressed
more effectively.
1.
Community Leader – Slough Borough Council works with many organisations
such as Slough Forward to co-ordinate their activities across the town. Many
actions required to address the causes and consequences of climate change are
not within the power of Slough Borough Council to deliver alone, and so a primary
role will be to work in partnership with and influence others as a community leader
to deliver these actions.
2.
Service Provider – Slough Borough Council delivers a broad range of services to
the people and organisations of Slough, including planning and building control,
waste collection and disposal and recycling, pollution control, licensing,
entertainment and leisure, community facilities and management of street and open
spaces. The way that these services are designed and delivered can support
Slough Forward, organisations and people of Slough to reduce their CO2 emissions
and manage climate change risks.
3.
Estate Manager – It will be established in section 3 that the activities of Slough
Borough Council generate CO2 emissions, forming part of the Borough’s carbon
footprint. The Council therefore has a vital role in managing its activities differently
in order to reduce its own carbon footprint as well as manage the risks to its people,
property and functions from climate change.
13
Figure 6: How the work on climate change and this Strategy is being structured
Community leadership for climate
change - mitigation
Delivery Plan for Slough encouraging a
9% reduction in the per capita CO2
emissions across Slough
Working with partners, business and
residents to reduce borough wide carbon
emissions
Slough Borough Council’s Carbon
Management Plan 2009- 2014
encouraging a 40% reduction in CO2
emissions by 2014
Service provider & estate manager mitigation
Working internally to reduce carbon
emissions from Council buildings (including
schools), activities and operations
Community leadership for climate
change - adaptation
Working with partners, businesses and
residents to communicate and prepare for
the impacts of climate change
Slough Forward’s Climate Change
Strategy (and forthcoming Action Plan)
Service provider & estate manager adaptation
Working internally to assess, prepare for
and manage the impacts of climate change
on Council services, operations and
buildings
14
3.
Slough’s CO2 emissions in 2008/09
The carbon footprint of Slough is a measure of the total amount of CO2 generated by activities
within the borough, expressed in tonnes of CO2.
In April 2008 the UK government published a series of National Indicators for measuring the
performance of Local Strategic Partnerships and Local Authorities. This included the carbon
footprint of local areas, called National Indicator (NI) 186, and the carbon footprint of Local
Authorities from their own operations, called NI185.
3.1
Slough’s carbon emissions
Within the Council’s Local Area Agreement for 2008 – 2011, Slough Forward has formally signed
up to NI 18610 and has agreed a government target reduction for Slough of 9% against 2005
emissions levels by 2010/11.
In Slough the main sources of CO2 emissions by end user in 2007 were as follows:
Table 2: CO2 emissions by end user in 200811
Domestic
Industrial and
Commercial
239
351
Slough (kt CO2)
Slough %
UK (kt CO2)
10
34.33%13
149,317
50.4%14
178,697
Road Transport 12
Total
99
696
14.22%15
102,155
430,170
See Appendix E for an explanation of how NI 186 data is calculated.
11
There are a number of aspects to the data presented in table 2 which have important implications for the calculation and future
monitoring of Slough’s carbon footprint.
 Firstly, carbon dioxide emissions are allocated to the point at which energy or fuel is used, rather than the location of the power
station where the energy was produced, i.e. on an ‘end user’ basis.
 Secondly, the calculation of Slough’s carbon footprint excludes emissions of greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide. It also
excludes emissions which are judged by Defra to be largely beyond the ability of local measures to influence, including aviation
and motorway traffic.
Lastly, in order to assess whether this Strategy and its forthcoming Action plan is achieving its carbon reduction aims it is important to
establish what is and what isn’t included within the scope of Slough’s carbon footprint, and establish a baseline figure against which
future progress can be measured. National Indicator 186 will be used by the UK government to monitor the progress Slough makes in
reducing its carbon footprint and will therefore be the primary measure used to report the future progress of Slough Forward in
delivering the carbon reduction aims of this Strategy and its forthcoming action plan against the baseline figures for 2005.
12
Slough has relatively good road and rail connections but suffers from traffic congestion and crowded trains. Residents rely heavily
on cars for their daily travel and this adds to traffic congestion and CO2 emissions. It also reduces the viability of the boroughs bus
services and contributes to poor health through lack of exercise. Many people living in Slough also travel out of the borough for jobs
and access by transport is poor compared to the private car. Whilst a number of notable improvements have been made to the local
bus systems in recent years, there is still poor perception of local buses and residents find the fares too high.
13
Improving the efficiency with which our residents use energy in their homes could lead to reduced energy bills, improved comfort
levels and lower CO2 emissions across the borough. Generating energy from our homes from new technologies such as renewables
could also provide similar benefits.
14
CO2 emissions will vary considerably depending on the type of industrial and commercial activity being undertaken at each site.
Improving the efficiency with which energy is used in the workplace can generate a range of benefits, including lower energy bills,
current and future regulatory compliance, and developing an environmentally responsible profile for staff, customers and the wider
community. Generating renewable energy on work premises can also provide similar benefits
15
In 2005, the transport sector was responsible for around 27% of total UK CO2 emissions. While emissions caused by UK industry
have declined by 19% since 1990, those attributed to transport increased by 14% over the same period. The increase in transport
emissions is due to the following factors:
 As the economy grows, people travel further and buy more goods from all over the world.
 As people become more prosperous they choose to travel in ways that use more carbon.
 Although average new car fuel efficiency has improved by 10% since 1997, this is not enough to offset the increase in travel.
th
At 14.6% of the CO2 emissions for Slough in 2007, road transport is the smallest source of carbon within the borough and ranks 11 in
15
transport emission per capita emissions. Transportation is an essential activity for the people and organisations of Slough . However, it
has the potential to generate negative impacts which need to be managed, such as congestion, air quality and pollution (which can
cause illnesses, such as asthma), noise, accidents, pressure on available space, and climate change.
15
34.7%
UK %
41.5%
23.7%
Figure 7: CO2 emissions in Slough
Road
transport
emissions
14%
Domestic
emissions
35%
Industrial
emissions
51%
With a mid year population estimate in 2008 of 125,80016 this works out at approx. 5.5 tonnes of
CO2 emissions per capita.17
Table 2 shows that Slough emits a higher percentage of domestic (household) and industrial and
commercial and land use change CO2 than the national average but a lower percentage of road
transport CO2 than the national average (although the Slough figure would be higher if motorway
traffic were included).
Table 3: CO2 emissions per capita in 2008
Slough
Per capita CO2
(tonnes)
Domestic per capita
CO2 (tonnes)
UK Average
5.5
South East
Average
6.6
1.91
2.42
2.43
7.0
Table 3 shows that Slough emits less CO2 emissions per capita across all of its end user sectors
and the domestic (household) sector, than either the South East or the UK average.
The apparent contradictions in these figures may be due to the different intensity of end user
sectors in Slough, relative to the resident population. Although the domestic per capita CO2
emissions 1.91 tonnes CO2 per capita, is below the South East and UK averages this is no cause
for complacency. Gaining a better understanding of where our CO2 emissions come from will
enable Slough Forward to better focus its actions where they will have the most impact.
A comparison of Slough’s 2008 emissions data18 compared with that of the other Berkshire unitary
Authorities can be found at Appendix F to this Strategy.
16
ONS – see www.nomisweb.co.uk. Although this data has been collected and confirmed by the ONS, Slough Borough Council believes it is
inaccurate and on the conservative side.
17
Per capita emissions are derived from energy consumption from all sources, adjusted by removing emission from industrial users
already covered by carbon trading (ETS) and emissions from motorway and rail travel. The resulting emissions are allocated as “end
user” (i.e. all citizens) and reflect their energy use in the workplace, at home, through local travel and through consumption and lifestyle
generally. It excludes aviation and shipping emissions – although these will be covered by carbon trading eventually.
18 18
Slough’s NI 186 emission data is supplied by DECC. See Appendix E for a summary of how the data for NI 186 is calculated.
16
3.2
Slough Borough Council’s CO2 emissions 2008/09 and 2009/10
A proportion of the boroughs CO2 can be attributed to the activities of Slough Borough Council,
such as the energy consumed within its buildings and the fuel used by its fleet and waste
collection service.
In May 2009, Slough Borough Council joined Phase 7 of the Local Authority Carbon Management
(LACM) programme run by the Carbon Trust. This Programme uses the same methodology and
spreadsheet tool for NI 185 to calculate the carbon footprint of the Council, as represented in table
4 below.
The Council’s total emissions for 2008/0919, the baseline year, were 31,540 tonnes CO2. These
emissions were attributable to the following activities shown below:
Table 4: Baseline CO2 emissions 2008/09
Baseline CO2 emissions
(tonnes)
Buildings
Street lighting
Transport
Total
20,592
3,122
7,826
31,540
The Council’s CO2 emissions are measured and reported on annually. Our performance in
2009/10, compared our baseline year is summarised in table 5 below.
Table 5: CO2 emissions for 2009/10 in comparison with the baseline year
Category
Buildings
Street lighting
Transport
Total gross emissions
Carbon offsets
Green Tariff
Total
annual
net
emissions
3.3
Baseline year
2008/09
CO2 emissions
(tonnes)
20,592
3,122
7,826
31,540
0
0
31,540
2009/10
% Variation
21,655
2,645
1,243
25,543
0
0
25,543
-5.16
15%
84%
19%
0
0
19%
Reducing CO2 emissions in Slough
A summary of the high level actions being taken at a national, regional and local level to reduce
CO2 emissions from Slough’s domestic, industrial and commercial, road transport and waste
sectors can be found at Appendix A.
19
NI 185 data for 2008/09 and 2009/10. See Appendix D for how the data for this indicator is calculated
17
4. Potential impact of Climate Change on Slough
Section 1 examined how the climate for the UK is predicted to change by the 2080’s. The risks
associated with these changes to our climate are a function of their potential impacts coupled with
the probability of their occurrence. The potential impacts, in turn, could affect four broad areas of
Slough life, termed ‘receptors’: namely the residents, property, economy and environment.
This Strategy makes an initial assessment of five broad risk categories associated with future
climate change in Slough, identifying the associated impacts and probabilities of each where
possible. These relate to flooding, water supply, heat, higher wind speeds and subsidence.
Table 6 provides an overview of how these primary risks may affect residents, property, economy
and the environment in Slough, which are further explained and exemplified in this section of the
Strategy. These primary impacts may also have knock-on effects which accumulate to generate
impacts at a much larger scale, such as population migration price inflation or economic recession,
as suggested by the Stern review into the economics of climate change.
Table 6: Potential impacts of climate change risks in Slough’s risk receptors20
Risks
Evidence
Flooding
Based on UKCIP data, winter rainfall
across the borough could increase
by between 10 – 35% by the 2080’s,
with an associated increase in
winter rainfall intensity. A review of
the major flooding experienced in
2007 indicates that the incidents fell
into one, or a combination, of three
categories:
Receptors
People
 Public health
Property
 Building
and safety
risks

damage

Long term
physical and
mental health
impacts
Infrastructure
damage
Economy
 Lost work days
 Disruption to


transport and
supplies
Insurance and
repair costs
Agricultural
crop damage
Environment
 Habitat
changes
Restoration
costs

a) Flash flooding – caused by
intense rainfall generating rapid run
off causing water levels to quickly
rise. These incidents were typically
found to be mainly due to the water
exceeding the infiltration capacity of
the ground or the capacity of the
local drainage network. This type of
flooding can be expected to
increase as the level and intensity of
rainfall increases.
b) River flooding – caused by rising
water levels within a river such that
the river overflows its natural banks
c) Groundwater flooding – the
result of groundwater levels rising
through continued rainfall to a point
where the ground is saturated and
subsequent rainfall causes the
groundwater to rise to the point of
flooding.
Water
resources
The Environment Agency is the
organisation
with
primary
responsibility for managing water
resources across Slough.

Need for
water
rationing
Slough’s water supply is determined
by the level of rainfall which feeds
our
rivers
and
recharges
groundwater levels. UKCIP data
suggests that summer rainfall could
decrease by 35 – 50% by the
20


Hosepipe
bans
Requirement
for water
efficient
fixtures and
fittings


Disruption to
water reliant
processes
Closure of
water reliant
recreational
activities



Species and
habitat stress
Deterioration
of river and
wetland
ecology
Reduced
water quality
standards
This list is not fixed. Over time, Slough Forwards understanding of climate change and the local impacts will increase and it is
expected that this initial assessment will have to be reviewed accordingly.
18
Risks
Evidence
Receptors
People
Property
Economy


Environment
2080’s, and overall annual rainfall
could decrease by up to 10%.
Coupled with higher summer
temperatures,
which
increase
evaporation rates and overall water
demand, the level of our water
resources could decrease even
further. The risk of water shortages
and droughts can therefore be
reasonably expected to increase as
our climate changes. This could
have varying degrees of impact
upon
water
users,
including
Slough’s residents, businesses,
schools and other organisations, as
well as the natural environment.
Heat
UKCIP data suggests that average
annual temperatures in the south
east could rise by 3 – 4.5 °C by the
2080’s as a result of climate change,
with average summer temperatures
rising by up to 5 °C and the
probability of a given summer day in
‘Berkshire’ experiencing a maximum
temperature of 33 °C rising from
about 1% at present to 11%.
The impacts of such excessive heat
waves can be devastating on people
(most notably the elderly and young,
chronically ill and those with outdoor
occupations or unsuitable living or
working
environments),
the
economy and the environment. The
Centre for Economics and Business
Research estimated that the July
2006 heat wave cost the UK
economy £211 million a day.




The impact of higher wind speeds
includes breakage or removal of roof
tiles and slates on buildings or, in
exceptional
circumstances,
the
removal of an entire roof. High wind
speeds
can
also
disrupt
transportation, damage trees and in
extreme cases threaten the health
and safety of residents. UKCIP data
suggests that winter depressions
may become more frequent by the
2080’s leading to the possibility of
increased frequency of storms.
Winter wind speeds may also


Increased
energy
consumption
from cooling
and
refrigeration
Infrastructure
damage
(tarmac melt,
rail buckling)
Increased
need
for
vegetation
management


Changes
in
demand
for
weather
related goods
and services
Additional
staff
health
and
safety
risks
Heat stress to
utilities
and
building
services





Species and
habitat
21
migration
Longer
growing
season
Increased
frequency of
toxic
algal
blooms
Increased fire
risk
Increased
risk of some
species
extinction
2050.
The natural environment is affected
not only by heat waves but also by
changes to average temperatures
which influence the habitat ranges of
plants, insects and animals. Species
which are already at the limit of their
habitat ranges could face extinction.
New species may also arrive that
are better adapted to dealing with
the higher temperatures, including
insects that carry new diseases
(such as mosquito’s and midges –
both of which are capable of
transporting
diseases
over
enormous distances) for which we
are unprepared.
High Winds
Increased
risk of vector
borne
diseases
Increased
heat stroke
and other hot
weather
illnesses.
Increased
incidence of
food
poisoning
The numbers
of
deaths
associated
with
hot
weather may
also rise by
about 2,000
per year by

Public
health and
safety risks
21

Damage to
building
structure and
fittings


Insurance and
repair costs
Disruption to
transport and
supplies

Tree
damage
Immigrants such as parakeet, false widow spiders and the European cockroach are all now thriving in the UK’s warmer winters –
when normally the cold would have ended their invasion
19
Risks
Receptors
People
Property
Economy
Environment
Subsidence is where ground
movement occurs without additional
load being applied. It can occur due
to a number of reasons, including
where certain soils (such as clay)
dry out and shrink. UKCIP data
suggests that summer soil moisture
in the south east could decrease by
between 20 and 40% by the 2080’s.
Re-hydration of soils over the winter
months can cause them to swell, or
‘heave’, causing additional ground
movement. Ground movement due
to subsidence and heave can
manifest itself as cracking in
buildings, but damage can also
occur to buried pipes, particularly
when they cross foundations. In
severe cases of ground movement
underpinning of walls may be
required. The Association of British
Insurers estimate current average
annual insurance claims resulting
from subsidence to be £300 million,
which they predict will double by
2050. Assessing and managing the
risk of subsidence and heave needs
to be done on a site by site basis.




Very cold winters
increasingly rare

Evidence
become up to 10% stronger.
Subsidence
Extreme
cold
will
become


4.1
Public
health and
safety risks
The numbers
of
deaths
associated
with
cold
weather are
likely to fall,
perhaps by
20,000
per
year
Invasion of
diseases
currently
prevented by
cold weather
will increase

Damage to
building
structures and
fittings
Deterioration
of sports
grounds,
courses and
parks
Infrastructure
damage
Insurance and
repair costs


Lost work days,
disruption to
road and rail
networks and
supplies (grit)
and insurance
and repair costs
may all
decrease


Deterioration
of public
parks
Damage to
tree roots
Loss of
habitat and
wildlife will
increase,
especially
species near
the southern
end of their
ranges
Invasion of
pests
currently
prevented by
cold weather
will increase
Prioritisation of identified risks
Based on the analysis at Table 6 above, figure 8 below provides a prioritisation of identified
climate change risks to Slough based on the levels of certainty that they will increase due to
climate change and the impact they may have. This will influence the scale of actions developed to
manage them.
Figure 8: Prioritisation of Climate Change risks
20
Higher
Medium Priority
 Higher wind speeds
 Subsidence
High Priority
 Surface water flooding
 Heat
 Water resources
Lower
Low Priority
 Extreme cold
Medium Priority
Impact
Lower
Higher
Certainty
4.2
Adapting to climate change in Slough
A number of measures already exist at an internal, national, regional and local level to identify,
assess, prepare for and respond to the risk of a range of incidents occurring in Slough, such as
industrial or transport accidents, civil unrest, virus outbreak, and also climate change related risks
such as flooding. These are outlined in Table 7 below.
Any additional actions needed to manage increased climate related risks in Slough will be
designed to integrate with these existing measures.
Table 7: Existing climate change risk management measures
Measure
International
Framework Convention on
Climate Change.
Lead responsibility
Relationship to Climate Change Strategy
United Nations
The first global consensus on climate change came in 1992 with the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Following this, in 1997
many of the world’s nations signed the first protocol on climate change.
http://unfccc.int/2860.php
Agreed in December 1997 under the auspices of the UNFCCC, the Kyoto
Protocol commits signatory countries to reduce their overall emissions of a
basket of six greenhouse gases by 5.2 per cent below 1990 levels over the
period
2008-2012,
with
differentiated,
legally
binding
targets.
http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php
Represents the authoritative scientific consensus on climate change. It is
charged with assessing the most up to date scientific, technical and socioeconomic research in climate change. www.ipcc.ch/
Kyoto Protocol
United Nations
Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPPC)
World Meteorological
Organization (WMO)
and
the
United
Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP)
European
Commission
The
European
Climate
Change Programme (ECCP)
UK National
Department for Energy and
Climate Change
Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change
UK Govt
WHO
Governments Adapting to
Climate Change Programme
UK Govt
The Climate Change Act
(2008)
UK Govt
Hadley Centre for Climate
Change Prediction and
Research
Met Office
Led to the adoption of a wide range of new policies and measures including the
pioneering EU Emissions Trading System, which has become the cornerstone of
EU efforts to reduce emissions cost-effectively. To underpin these commitments,
EU leaders set three targets to be met by 2020 on a baseline of 1990 levels: a
20% reduction in energy consumption, a 30% reduction in carbon emissions and
an increase to 20% in renewable energies' share of total energy consumption.
www.europa.eu
DECC is responsible for all aspects of UK energy policy and for tackling global
climate change on behalf of the UK. www.decc.gov.uk
A leading international scientific body for the assessment of climate change. It
was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) with the aim of providing a clear
scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its
potential
environmental
and
socio-economic
impacts.
www.ipcc.ch/organisation/organisation. html
A cross governmental programme coordinated by Department for the
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) about adapting to climate change in
England. www.defra.gov.uk
Legislation that introduced the world’s first long term legally binding framework to
tackle the dangers of climate change and serves to further strengthen the
Government’s powers in attaining the goal of becoming a low carbon economy.
The main components of the Act are to:
 give statutory force to the Government’s targets for cutting CO2 emissions
by 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 , compared to 1990 levels;
 introduce a system of five-year carbon budgets; and
 create an expert committee of climate change to advise Government.
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/legislation/cc_act_08/cc_act_08.aspx
The UK’s foremost climate change research centre. It produces world-class
guidance on the science of climate change and provides a focus in the UK for
the scientific issues associated with climate change. Largely co-funded by Defra
21
Climate Change – what can
you do?
Helping local authorities
address climate risks
Carbon Reduction
Commitment (CRC)
Environment Agency
(the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), the Ministry of
Defence and Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), it provides indepth information to, and advise, the Government on climate change issues.
www.metoffice.gov.uk/climatechange/science/hadleycentre/
Climate Monitor Online (formerly known as Climate Monitor) provides access to
regular updates of meteorological and climate data. Also included on the site are
links to periodical weather commentaries from international press and media
sources. hwww.researchgate.net/publication/33389576_Climate_Monitor_Online
A detailed look at climate change its causes and its impacts. www.environmentagency.gov.uk
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/climatechange/31794.aspx
Environment Agency
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/41840.aspx
Environment Agency
UK Climate Impacts
Programme (UKCIP)
UK Govt
A scheme to improve energy efficiency and reduce C02 emissions from large
public and private sector organisations (including Local Authorities). It
encourages organisations to develop energy management strategies that
promote a better understanding of their energy use and to take direct action to
reduce CO2 emissions not already covered by Climate Change Agreements
(CCAs) and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. www.environmentagency.gov.uk/business/topics/pollution/98263.aspx
A Programme to help decision-makers in the public and private sector identify
how they may be affected by climate change. It also provides guidance and tools
for them to prepare for these impacts. www.ukcip.org.uk
Monitoring and research to detect and interpret environmental change.
www.ecn.ac.uk/
Brings together scientists, economists, engineers and social scientists who are
working to develop sustainable responses to climate change. They work not just
within the research community, but also with business leaders, policy advisors,
the media and the public in general. www.tyndall.ac.uk/about
The UK Climate Projections provides probabilistic information on expected
changes in the UK’s climate at a regional level throughout the 21st century. The
UKCP09 package also includes a Weather Generator, which will enable users to
estimate the increasing (or decreasing) frequency of specific weather types,
such as heat waves or heavy downpours of rain. It is available through an online
facility enabling users to access the information at different levels of detail and
customise it for their purposes.www.ukclimateprojections.defra.gov.uk
Aims to raise awareness of the link between personal behaviour and climate
change. www.actonco2.direct.gov.uk
Enables Local Authorities to show their commitment to tackling climate change.
Over 160 Local Authorities have signed up to this imitative and this figure is
continuing to rise. Slough Borough Council signed the Nottingham Declaration in
August 2009 and committed the Council “Within the next two years to developing
plans with our partners and local communities to progressively address the
causes and the impacts of climate change, according to local priorities, securing
maximum
benefit
for
our
communities”.
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/nottingham/Nottingham-Declaration/TheDeclaration/About-the-Declaration
Legislation that establishes a national framework for civil protection and requires
the production of Community Risk Registers by Local Resilience Forums (see
below). www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/36/contents
The campaign challenges individuals and organisations to reduce their CO2
emissions by 10% by the end of December 2010.
Climate Monitor online
Climate change online
The Climatic
Research Unit,
University of East
Anglia
Environment Agency
UK Environmental Change
Network
The Tyndall Centre for
Climate Change
UK Climate Projections
(UKCP09)
UK Govt
Act On CO2 Campaign
UK Govt
The Nottingham Declaration
UK Govt
The Civil Contingencies Act
2004
UK Govt
10:10 campaign
South East
The South East Climate
Change Partnership
(SECCP)
Berkshire Economic Strategy
Board
A mixture of public
and private sector
organisations –
including Slough
Borough Council
A range of public, private and voluntary sector organisations working together to
investigate, inform and advise on the threats and opportunities arising from the
impacts of climate change in South East England and to promote adaptive
planning in the region. The partnership aims to identify the potential impacts of
climate change; raise awareness of the need to adapt to climate change as well
as mitigate against it; help to develop integrated responses which enable the
region to adapt to the impacts and avoid exacerbating global warming; identify
any opportunities which could arise from climate change and link with national
and
other
regional
organisations
addressing
related
issues.
www.climatesoutheast.org.uk
Acts as the overarching economic strategic partnership for the sub-region. Key
activities and responsibilities include working at a strategic level to develop
economic strategy, monitoring economic trends, influencing sub regional
spending and aligning on agreed priorities, identifying and promoting
opportunities for collaboration between authorities in developing their Local Area
Agreements (LAAs), in order to deliver better economic outcomes for
communities, promoting learning and skills opportunities and identifying and
addressing gaps in provision, especially for those will low level skills and acting
as SEEDA’s sub regional economic partnership for Berkshire including
collaborating, and exchanging best practice, with other sub regional economic
partnerships
around
the
region.
www.southeastiep.gov.uk/categories/berkshire/projects/sustainable-prosperityand-berkshire-economic-strategy-board/documents/state-of-the-sub-region-
22
report
Are You Ready- a guide to
civil contingencies and
resilience
Thames Valley LRF
Climate Berkshire
A partnership of
Local Authorities and
other key
organisations from
across Berkshire
Thames Valley Local
Resilience Forum Community
Risk Register
Thames Valley Local
Resilience Forum.
Berkshire Integrated
Emergency Planning (BIEPS)
Slough
Borough
Council,
Bracknell
Forest
Borough
Council,
West
Berkshire
District
Council,
Reading
Borough
Council,
Royal Borough of
Windsor
and
Maidenhead
and
Wokingham Borough
Council
Slough
Motion to become carbon
neutral by 2020
Slough Borough
Council
Nominated Commissioner for
Environment and Open
spaces
Slough Sustainable
Community Strategy
Slough Borough
Council
Climate Change Partnership
Delivery Group
Slough Forward
Strategic Plan 2009 - 2011
Slough Borough
Council
Carbon Management
Programme Board
Slough Borough
Council
Major Incidence Plan
Slough Borough
Council
Energy Saving Week
Slough Borough
Council and partner
Slough Forward
A generic guide providing basic information for residents about what they can do
to protect themselves in the event of a major incident including weather,
transport accidents and terrorism, to name but a few. The guide provides the
basic do's and don’ts in simple steps to prepare for an emergency with
unnecessary
interruption
to
day
to
day
activities.
www.manchester.gov.uk/downloads/914/civil_emergenciesbusiness_continuity_advice
The partnership is working to address the challenges and opportunities
associated with climate change at a strategic level across the County and
reports to the Berkshire Economic Strategy Board. It aims to provide leadership
through encouraging organizational commitment, providing and informing
strategic direction and assisting in the delivery of projects and is paving the way
to the development of a market in low carbon technology in Berkshire.
The purpose of the Register is to assure the people in the Thames valley area
that an assessment of potential risks has taken place and that plans are in place
to deal with those risks. The Thames Valley Community Risk Register has been
prepared in accordance with the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. The risks
described in the Register are general hazards which may never affect us. By
identifying all potential hazards and their consequences, plans can be made and
any incidents that may occur can be dealt with more effectively.
http://thamesvalleylrf.org.uk/riskregister.ashx
Emergency Planning Officers form six Berkshire Unitary Authorities work
together to provide an integrated approach to emergency planning, in the
acknowledgement that emergencies are not necessarily confined to
administrative boundaries set by Local Authorities. The Group co-operates in
Emergency Planning in order to provide wide area coverage and a cost effective
means of delivering the service. A Memorandum of Understanding is reviewed
and agreed upon on an annual basis, and clearly details the integrated
Emergency Planning function across the Berkshire Unitary Authorities.
The Council is working in partnership with other public sector organisations,
businesses and the public to reduce their carbon emissions and its dependency
on fossil fuels to achieve a low carbon Slough.
Slough Borough Council has identified Councillor Satpal Parmar to take the lead
on
climate
change
issues.
www.slough.gov.uk/moderngov/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=164
Aims to co-ordinate the activities of the Partnership members to improve the
quality of life in Slough. This Strategy includes the following targets to help
achieve the boroughs climate change aspirations: that Slough will reduce its CO2
emissions by 20% by 2028, reduce it’s waste by 60% by 2028 and have our
public
transport
running
on
cleaner
fuel
by
2028.
www.slough.gov.uk/aboutus/articles/2224.aspx
Has responsibility for overseeing the Partnerships climate change programme
and the boroughs preparedness in the face of climate change. The PDG has
developed and published a Carbon Reduction Delivery Plan for the borough
which aims to reduce emissions by 9% or 63.09 kt tonnes/CO2, off a 2005
baseline by 2011/12.
This document explains how the Council is organised, what our priorities are,
how we are improving the way we work and how we pay for our activities.
www.slough.gov.uk/aboutus/articles/2230.aspx
Has responsibility for overseeing the strategic delivery of the Council’s carbon
reduction delivery targets (i.e. to reduce emissions from the Councils operations
by 40% or 12,616 tonnes of CO2, off a 2008/09 baseline of 31,540 tonnes CO2,
by April 2014).This plan indentifies the resources required to carry out the
necessary improvements to the Councils buildings, street lighting and transport
infrastructure to bring about the target reductions in CO2 by 2014. It also
explains the governance arrangements that have been put in place to drive the
Councils mitigation agenda forward. www.slough.gov.uk/services/21224.aspx
The Council maintains an emergency plan which explains how it will work with
the local community during an emergency, whilst maintaining essential council
services.
It covers the following emergency situations: severe weather
conditions and flooding, terrorist acts, disruption to supplies and services and
aircraft or train crashes. In recent years, the plan has been used to respond to
emergencies such as flooding, fire, loss of power and water to homes and
businesses in the town. It also lists how the Council will work with the local
emergency services and other organisations to provide additional help.
www.slough.gov.uk/services/763.aspx
Energy Saving Week usually takes place in October each year and offers staff
the chance to take control of their energy consumption by cutting their energy
23
Slough’s Rainbow Plan
Eco Teams
organisations
use at work, at home and in the way that they travel around the borough.
Slough
Borough
Council
Slough Forward and
Global Action Plan
Identifies, evaluates and outlines control measures to manage risks to the school
estate that result from emergency events.
Slough Forward is working with Global Action Plan, an EDF Energy’s charity
partner to establish a number of Eco Teams across the borough. Under the
project, residents and businesses work together to find ways of reducing their
ecological footprint by exploring a range of environmental topics, including
rubbish and recycling, and shopping, energy use, water conservation
sustainability and travel. A typical household taking part in the project usually
improves their energy and water management, reduces their CO2 emissions by
16.6% a year, reduces their energy bills by £170 a year, reduces waste by 20%
while increasing the proportion of rubbish that is recycled and reduces their water
consumption by 15%. www.ecoteams.org.uk/
In addition to those measures listed in Table 7 further measures exist specifically to manage the
risk from flooding, droughts, heat, high winds and subsidence at a national, regional and local
level. A summary of these measures can be found at Appendix B.
24
5.
Development of the Strategy
This Strategy has been subject to extensive consultation since March 2010, involving members of
the Climate Change PDG of Slough Forward, the local community22 the Council23 and its staff.
6.
Implementation of the Strategy
This Strategy and its forthcoming Action Plan will be reviewed and updated regularly as more
partners locally become engaged in the issue and its remit and priorities change. Government
policy is fast moving in this area and for this reason the Strategy should be seen as a flexible
‘framework document’.
The priorities and measures presented in this Strategy are high level activities which aim to
integrate carbon reduction and climate change risk management across the operations of all
Slough Forward’s partners.
This document therefore represents a programme of initial action since at the time of going to
print there are still many details to be resolved and decisions to be taken, as new measures are
developed further and potential new actions identified and quantified.
A dedicated Climate Change Action Plan will be developed to capture all of the specific actions
that partners across the partnership are taking, intending to undertake, to help manage the risks
associated with climate change24. It will also provide details on specific targets and goals as well
as highlighting key, specific outcomes. Target dates, responsibility and likely resources required
will also be included with a priority assessment to identify areas where resources and actions
should be targeted. In addition, mitigation and adaptation to climate change principles will be used
to revise all of the Councils current strategies, polices and plans as they come up for review.
7.
Collaborative working
Much of the specific action that will need to be carried out to meet this Strategies targets and goals
will require high level collaborative working between the Council and other Slough Forward
partners. A new delivery group, reporting to the Climate Change PDG of Slough Forward will
therefore be convened to drive this Strategy and its forthcoming Action Plan forward.
8.
Monitoring, reporting and review
A strong monitoring regime will be vital to track the success of this Strategy and its forthcoming
Action Plan and to demonstrate how Slough Forward is meeting its obligations to reduce carbon
emissions and increase sustainability across the partner’s corporate cultures.
Monitoring processes will be introduced where required. Specific monitoring regimes already in
place will be utilised to assist with the actual measuring of actions set out in the Strategy and
forthcoming Action Plan. This approach will utilise current information gathering processes, with
refinement where required so as not to increase further data gathering activities.
Regular reports on progress against key targets and goals and how much the Partnerships CO2
reduction initiatives are costing will be provided to Slough Forward’s Board, the Council’s Cabinet
and the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committees.
22
See www.slough.gov.uk/consultations
Slough Borough Council’s Overview and Scrutiny, Community, Leisure and Environment and the Neighbourhood and Renewal
Scrutiny Panels have been consulted during the development of this Strategy.
24
Separate action plans already exist to manage the Borough’s response to national indicator 186 and the Council’s response to 185.
23
25
26
APPENDIX A: SUMMARY OF MECHANISMS BEING
USED TO REDUCE CO2 EMISSIONS IN SLOUGH
1.
Domestic sector
34% of the CO2 emissions in Slough in 2007 resulted from the energy used in our homes.
Although data is not available showing how this energy was specifically used in Slough, figure 9
shows how energy was used in homes across the UK in 2003 for comparison.
Figure 9: Household carbon emissions by end use 200325
Cooking 5%
Lighting and
appliances 44%
Space heating
53%
Water heating
20%
Improving the efficiency with which we use energy in our homes can generate numerous benefits,
including lower energy bills, improved comfort levels and health, and lower CO2 emissions.
Generating renewable energy for our homes using some types of technologies can also provide
similar benefits.
Actions to reduce CO2 emissions from homes in Slough need to be designed to integrate with
existing measures being taken at the national, regional and local levels, which are listed in Table
8.
Table 8: Existing domestic carbon reduction measures
Measure
UK national
Energy Act
2008
The UK
Renewable
Energy
Strategy 2009
Local Energy –
Big Society
Community
25
Lead
responsibility
Relationship to Climate Change Strategy
UK Govt
The Energy Act 2008] was given Royal Assent on 26 November 2008. It implements the legislative
aspects of the Energy white paper 2007: ‘Meeting the energy challenge’. The Energy Act updates
energy legislation to reflect the availability of new technologies (such as Carbon Capture & Storage
(CCS) and emerging renewable technologies, correspond with the UK's changing requirements for
secure energy supply (such as offshore gas storage) and protect the environment and the tax payer
as the energy market changes. Along with the Planning Act 2008 and Climate Change Act 2008,
the Energy Act ensures that our legislation underpins our long-term energy and climate change
strategy. www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/legislation/energy_act_08/energy_act_08.aspx
Sets out how everyone has a role to play in promoting renewable energy, from individuals to
communities to businesses.
ww.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/energy_mix/renewable/res/res.aspx
UK Govt
UK Govt
A new website, developed with the help of community networks, the Local Government Group and
industry bodies such as the Combined Heat and Power Association, which provides support to local
authorities and community groups to develop local low carbon and renewable energy projects. It is
UK Government, The UK Climate Change Programme, 2006
27
Energy online
Decent Homes
Standard
UK Govt
Building A
Greener Future
UK Govt
Code for
Sustainable
Homes
UK Govt
Warm Front
UK Govt
Energy Saving
Trust (EST)
UK Govt
Community
Energy Saving
Programme
(CESP)
(1
October 2009 to
31 December
2012)
UK Govt
Energy
Performance
Certificates
Carbon
Emission
Reduction
Commitment
(CERT)
Renewables
Obligation
UK Govt
Feed in Tariffs
(FIT) (replaces
the Low carbon
Building
UK Govt
Ofgem
UK Govt
designed to give communities access to information from different independent sources on
generating low carbon heat and power. http://wwwceo.decc.gov.uk
Aims to raise all social housing to the ‘decent homes’ standard, which includes energy efficiency
standards,
by
2010
and
the
remainder
as
soon
as
possible
thereafter.
www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/SocialHousingAndCareHomes/RepairsToCouncilHome
s/DG_10021332
Sets out the Government’s proposed timetable for revising the Building Regulations so that all new
homes are zero carbon by 2016, with a major progressive tightening of the energy efficiency
building regulations - by 25 per cent in 2010 and by 44 per cent in 2013 - up to the zero carbon
target in 2016. It is envisaged that these targets will be achieved through better insulation and the
use of renewable energy. A progressive tightening of Building Regulations will also provide a
framework
to
support
this
target.
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/building-a-greener
The Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code) is the national standard for the sustainable design and
construction of new homes. It aims to reduce our carbon emissions and create homes that are more
sustainable. It applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Code is not a set of regulations.
The Code goes further than the current building regulations, but is entirely voluntary, and is
intended to help promote even higher standards of sustainable design. The Code measures the
sustainability of a new home against nine categories of sustainable design, rating the 'whole home'
as a complete package. It covers energy/co, water, materials, surface water runoff (flooding and
flood prevention), waste, pollution, health and well-being, management and ecology. The Code
uses a one to six star rating system to communicate the overall sustainability performance of a new
home against these nine categories and sets minimum standards for energy and water use at each
level. Code 6 is equivalent to zero carbon. In England the Code replaces the EcoHomes scheme,
developed
by
the
Building
Research
Establishment
(BRE).
www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/sustainability/codesustainablehomes/
The Government's main grant-funded programme for tackling fuel poverty. It installs energy
efficiency measures, including central heating and insulation, into vulnerable private sector
households. Funding for 2010/11 has now been fully allocated due to high levels of demand for the
scheme. As a result they are no longer able to accept new applications for the scheme in this
financial year. This is only a temporary measure. The scheme will accept new applications at a
given date after 1 April 2011. www.warmfront.co.uk
The main national provider of domestic energy savings advice through its Energy Efficiency Advice
Centres. The EST also promote energy efficient behaviour through their ‘Save Your 20%’
campaign, and are establishing a ‘Green Homes Service’ to deliver personalised environmental
Action Plans to UK households.www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
A key element of the Government’s Home Energy Saving Programme. It requires gas and electricity
suppliers and electricity generators to deliver energy saving measures to domestic consumers in
specific low income areas of Great Britain as part of a 'whole house' approach to water and energy
efficiency. The scheme requires certain gas and electricity suppliers and certain electricity
generators to meet a carbon emissions reduction target. The Department for Energy and Climate
Change (DECC) are responsible for setting the overall CESP target and the policy framework and
Ofgem is responsible for administering the programme.
CESP also contributes to the
Government’s Fuel Poverty Strategy by requiring actions to be delivered in geographical areas
selected using the Income Domain of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) in England,
Scotland and Wales. In England, the lowest 10 per cent of areas ranked in IMD will qualify and in
Scotland and Wales the lowest 15 per cent of areas will qualify. CESP targets households across
Great Britain, in areas of low income, to improve energy efficiency standards, and reduce fuel bills.
There are 4,500 areas eligible for CESP. CESP is funded by an obligation on energy suppliers and
electricity generators. It is expected to deliver up to £350m of efficiency measures. CESP promotes
a “whole house” approach i.e. a package of energy efficiency measures best suited to the individual
property. The programme is delivered through the development of community-based partnerships
between Local Authorities (LAs), community groups and energy companies, via a house-by-house,
street-by-street approach. This partnership working allows CESP to be implemented in a way that is
best suited to individual areas and coordinated with other local and national initiatives. Around 100
schemes are expected, benefiting around 90,000 homes and saving nearly 2.9m tonnes of CO2
emissions. CESP is expected to deliver annual average fuel bill savings for those households
involved of up to £300.
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/consumers/saving_energy/cesp/cesp.aspx
These provide an energy rating (from A to G) for homes and set out what steps can be taken to
improve its energy efficiency. They are required for all new and existing buildings when they are
constructed, sold or rented. http://epc.direct.gov.uk/index.html
This scheme replaces the Energy Efficiency Commitment from April 2011. It provides support to
households
to
help
them
improve
the
energy
efficiency
of
their
homes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_Emission_Reduction_Target
The main support scheme for renewable electricity projects in the UK. It places an obligation on UK
suppliers to provide 10% of the electricity they sell from renewables sources by 2010. A
Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) is a green certificate issued to an accredited generator for
eligible renewable electricity generated within the United Kingdom and supplied to customers within
the United Kingdom by a licensed electricity supplier. One ROC is issued for each megawatt hour
(MWh)
of
eligible
renewable
output
generated.
www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/Environment/RenewablObl/Pages/RenewablObl.aspx
Under this scheme energy suppliers make regular payments to householders and communities who
generate their own electricity from renewable or low carbon sources, such as PV, AD, Hydro, wind,
micro, CHP. The scheme guarantees a minimum payment for all electricity generated by the system
as well as a separate payment for the electricity exported to grid. These payments are in addition to
28
the bill savings made by using the electricity generated on-site. www.fitariffs.co.uk Also affects the
industrial and commercial sector
Programme
st
(LCBP) from 1
April 2010)
UK Govt
Sets out how everyone from individuals to communities to businesses has a role to play in
promoting renewable energy.
UK Govt
A payment for generating heat from renewable sources. Like the Feed-In Tariff, it is set by
Government and is administered by the official regulator Ofgem. Participants are paid up to
18p/kWhr for the hot water and heat they generate and use themselves. They also save money by
not needing to use any gas or oil, both of which are becoming increasingly expensive year-on-year.
www.rhincentive.co.uk/RHI/quick/ Also affects the industrial and commercial sector.
UK Govt
Provided grants for the installation of renewable energy technologies in a range of buildings
including households, community organisations, public, private and the non-profit sectors.
www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk
HM Revenue
and
Customs
UK Govt
Introduced in the 2004 Budget this provides tax relief on a range of energy efficiency improvements
made to rental properties. www.mtprog.com/
UK Renewable
Energy Strategy
Renewable
Heat Incentive
(for heat
generating
technologies)
st
(from 1 April
2011)
Low
Carbon
Buildings
Programme
(Closed to new
applicants from
24 May 2010.
Replaced
by
support
mechanisms, in
the form of a
Feed-In-Tariff
for renewable
electricity, from
1 April 2010)
Landlord's
Energy Saving
Allowance
Planning Policy
Statement 22:
Renewable
Energy 2004
Building
Regulation
Authorities
UK Govt and
local
authorities
Planning Policy
Statement 1:
Planning and
Climate
Change:
Supplement
(December
2007):
The
Planning
Act 2008
UK Govt and
local
authorities
Building
Regulations
2010 Part L –
energy
conservation
Home Energy
Conservation
Act 1995
UK Govt and
local
authorities
BREEAM
Building
Research
Establishment
(BRE)
UK Govt
UK Govt and
local
authorities
Encourages stand-alone renewable energy developments (such as wind turbines) and encourages
local planning authorities to promote incorporation of small scale energy generation into new
buildings. Policy under review from March 2010 as part of the PPS Climate Change Review.
These are regulatory standards designed to ensure the health and safety of people in and around
buildings and their energy efficiency. Local authorities, or private approved inspectors, enforce the
standards on behalf of Government. The energy standards were significantly tightened in 2006 and
2010. Also affects the Industrial and commercial sector.
This Planning Policy Statement (PPS) sets out how planning, in providing for the new homes, jobs
and infrastructure needed by communities, should help shape places with lower carbon emissions
and resilient to the climate change now accepted as inevitable. Consultation on revision ‘Planning
for a Low Carbon Future in a Changing Climate’ published March 2010 incorporating renewable
energy policy (PPS 22) and emphasising importance of planning for local decentralised energy
generationwww.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/ppsclimatechange
Also affects the Industrial and commercial sector.
Legislation intended to speed up the process for approving major new infrastructure projects such
as airports, roads, harbours, energy facilities such as nuclear power and waste facilities. Along with
the Climate Change Act 2008 and the Energy Bill. This Act is considered by the government to be
one of the "three legislative pillars” of the Government's strategy to secure long-term prosperity and
quality of life for all. www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2008/29/contents Also affects the Industrial
and commercial sector.
Building regulations for new and existing dwellings are expected to be enforced from October 2010.
These will require a reduction of CO2 emissions by 25% compared to 2006 building regulations;
increased air-tightness testing to ensure that the predicted improvements from energy efficiency
measures are realised; information to be provided for home owners and compliance under Part L
for conservatories. Also affects the industrial and commercial sector.
Requires every UK local authority with housing responsibilities to produce an energy conservation
report that identifies practicable and cost-effective ways of improving the energy efficiency of all
residential accommodation in their area; and to report on progress made in implementing the
measures. This Act has focused local councils' attention on the energy efficiency of all residential
accommodation, and on developing an integrated approach to their housing and energy efficiency
strategies. Improvements achieved through HECA will contribute to meeting the UK's Climate
Change commitments www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/10/contents
The leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets the
standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become the de facto measure used to
describe a building's environmental performance. BREEAM provides clients, developers, designers
and others with
 market recognition for low environmental impact buildings
 assurance that best environmental practice is incorporated into a building
 inspiration to find innovative solutions that minimise the environmental impact
 a benchmark that is higher than regulation
 a tool to help reduce running costs, improve working and living environments
 a standard that demonstrates progress towards corporate and organisational environmental
29
Home Energy
Generation
Selector
Wind speed
prediction tool
Energy Saving
Trust
Cash back
calculator
The Energy
Saving House
Energy Saving
Trust
Energy Saving
Trust
Planning Portal
Energy Saving
Trust
South East
Policy NRM11
of the South
East Plan
Berkshire
Waste Strategy
1998
Slough
Slough Local
Development
Framework:
Core Strategy
2006 - 2026
(include
environmental
polices
Energy Saving
Trust
objectives
www.breeam.org/
Also affects the Industrial and commercial sector.
Online guidance to help householders initially identify energy saving technologies that may be
suitable for their home. www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/renewableselector/start/
An online tool that allows householders to enter their postcode and predict the wind speed in their
area. www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Can-I-generate-electricity-from-thewind-at-my-home
An online tool to allow householders to calculate the annual revenues and payback of wind turbines
and solar panels www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Cashback-Calculator
An online tool that allows householders to identify all the ways they could save energy and money
at home.www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Home-improvements-and-products/Online-tools/TheEnergy-Saving-House
An online interactive planning tool that provides basic information on planning permission
requirements and building regulations for householders. Some planning requirements for energy
and heat generating equipment on dwelling
relaxed.www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/hhg/houseguide.html
Former South
East England
Regional
Assembly
Joint Berkshire
Planning Unit
Requires residential development of more than 10 dwellings and non-residential development of
1,000sqm or greater to secure 10% of their energy needs from decentralised, renewable or lowcarbon technologies. Government in process of deleting this Plan.
Slough
Borough
Council
Requirement to plan for and meet waste disposal requirements for landfill and recycling facilities.
Supplementary
Planning
Document
Slough
Borough
Council
Slough Green
Doctor scheme
Slough
Borough
Council &
Ground work
Thames Valley
Slough Warmer
Homes - Home
Insulation
Scheme
Help save energy
and money on your
fuel bills
Slough
Borough
Council
The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires the preparation of a portfolio of
documents that together will form the Slough Local Development Framework (LDF). The LDF
collectively sets out the policies and guidance that will govern the spatial planning of Slough over
the next 20 years. The Core Strategy is the overarching strategic policy document in the Local
Development Framework. It sets out the key issues to be addressed, and how these will be
achieved though the spatial vision, strategic objectives, spatial strategy and supporting policies for
addressing the social, economic and environmental issues for development across the Borough. It
covers the period from April 2006 to March 2026. The Core Strategy also includes a framework for
implementing and monitoring its policies. New developments must comply with the Core Policy 8 of
the Slough Local Development Framework (LDF), Core Strategy 2006-2026, Development Plan
Document (December 2008) The Core Policy 8 of the Slough’s LDF states that “All development in
the borough shall be sustainable, of a high quality design, improve the quality of the environment
and address the impact of climate change.”
Requires major new commercial developments to achieve at least BREEAM ‘Very Good’ or
‘Excellent’. Requires large housing schemes to achieve Code for Sustainable Homes level 3.
Requires the same developments to incorporate energy or heat supply from low or zero carbon
sources equivalent to 10% of developments energy.
Also affects the industrial and commercial sector.
A scheme to reduce CO2 emissions and fuel poverty across the borough by an average of 0.66
tonnes CO2 per year, by providing energy and money-saving advice tailored to individual
residents. The scheme includes a free home visit to discuss residents circumstances and look at
their individual energy needs and requirements. It is estimated that through the simple application
of a range of energy saving measures (including exterior, loft and cavity wall insulation) home
owners could save up to 35 % on their fuel bills. www.groundwork.org.uk/in-your-area.aspx
Scheme for cavity wall and loft insulation, in partnership with Green Energy Doctor and the Mark
Group. Set up to access government CERT funding for home owners in Slough. to be
updated/removed prior to publication
Slough
Borough
Council
and
Groundwork
Thames Valley
Slough
Borough
Council
Slough Residents can now borrow (and renew) an Energy Monitor for free from Slough Library for 3
weeks in the same way that they borrow a book. The monitors are easy to use and come with a full
set of instructions. They simply clamp to a cable next to your electricity meter and a monitor
displays how much energy you are using in your home and what it is costing.
www.slough.gov.uk/libraries/6272.aspx
High definition interactive areal thermal imaging map of the whole borough to allow residents to see
how much vital heat is being lost through their roof, simply by using their postcode details to search
for a particular location. www.slough.gov.uk/hothouse
How hot is your
house?
2.
Industrial and commercial sector
At 50.5% of all carbon dioxide emissions in Slough in 2007, the industrial and commercial sector
represents our largest source of emissions.
CO2 emissions will vary considerably depending on the type of industrial and commercial activity
being undertaken at each site.
30
Improving the efficiency with which energy is used in the workplace can generate a range of benefits,
including lower energy bills, current and future regulatory compliance, and developing an
environmentally responsible profile for staff, customers and the wider community. Generating
renewable energy on work premises can also provide similar benefits.
Slough has a local power station that supplies electricity and heat to many local buildings. It is an
example of decentralised energy and district heating. Furthermore the fuel used is biomass – mainly
woodchip. These all help to keep carbon emissions low for the town. An expansion of the scheme is
currently being explored.
Actions to reduce CO2 emissions from workplaces in Slough need to be designed to integrate with
existing measures being taken at the national, regional and local levels, which are listed in Table 9
below.
Table 9: Existing industrial and commercial CO2 reduction measures
Also see Table 8 where measure states “Also affects the industrial and commercial sector”
Measure
Lead
responsibility
Relationship to Climate Change Strategy
UK National
Climate Change Levy
UK Govt
Climate Change Agreement
UK Govt
UK Low Carbon Industrial
Strategy
UK Govt
Carbon Trust UK
UK Govt
Display Energy Certificates
(DEC)
UK Govt
Energy Efficiency Loans
Carbon Trust
Enhanced Capital Allowances
Carbon Trust
Carbon Surveys
Carbon Trust
Design Advice Service
Carbon Trust
Carbon Management
Programme
Carbon Trust
An energy tax introduced in 2001 applied to UK businesses which consume more
than
12,000
kilowatt
hours
(kWh)
per
year.
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal
?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageExcise_InfoGuides&propertyType=document&id=
HMCE_CL_001174
Climate Change Agreements (CCAs) allow eligible energy-intensive businesses to
receive up to an 80 percent discount from the Climate Change Levy (CCL) in
return
for
meeting
energy
efficiency
or
carbon-saving
targets.
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/change_energy/tackling_clima/cca
s/ccas.aspx
Sets out the action the government is taking to ensure that British businesses and
workers are equipped to maximize the economic opportunities and minimize the
costs
of
the
transition
to
a
low
carbon
economy.
http://interactive.bis.gov.uk/lowcarbon/2009/07/low-carbon-industrial-strategy/
An independent company funded by the Government established in 2001 to help
the UK move towards a low carbon economy by helping business and the public
sector save energy, reduce CO2 emissions and capture the commercial
opportunities of low carbon technologies. It provides independent information and
impartial advice on energy saving and carbon management, through site visits,
events, and case studies. www.carbontrust.co.uk
To raise public awareness of energy use, the EU Buildings Performance Directive
requires all public buildings over 1000m2 to display an energy label known as a
Display Energy Certificate (DEC). These show the energy performance of a
building based on actual metered energy consumption over a period of 12
months. The Operational Rating (OR) is a numerical indicator of the annual
carbon dioxide emissions from the building and a rating of 100 is the average. The
rating is shown on a scale from A to G, where A is the lowest CO2 emissions
(best) and G is the highest CO2 emissions (worst). A DEC is valid for one year
and
is
updated
annually.
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/displayenergycertificat
es
Interest free loans for small or medium-sized firms to invest in energy saving
projects
such
as
improved
lighting,
boilers
or
insulation.
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/cafe/Green-Communities/Funding-Advice/EnergyEfficiency-Loans
Permit 100% of the capital cost of approved energy saving equipment to be offset
against corporation tax. www.eca.gov.uk/
Free surveys to organisations with annual energy bills of over £50,000 identifying
energy saving opportunities and practical advice on how to achieve them.
www.carbontrust.co.uk/cut-carbon-reduce-costs/products-services/carbonsurveys/pages/carbon-surveys.aspx?survey10
Support for the construction of more energy efficient non-domestic buildings
ranging from self-help guidance to free or subsidised design and construction
www.carbontrust.co.uk/cut-carbon-reduce-costs/productsconsultancy.
services/building-design-advice/pages/building-design-advice.aspx
Provision of technical and change management support and guidance to help
reduce carbon emissions directed at private sector, health Authorities, Local
Authorities and colleges/universities. www.carbontrust.co.uk/cut-carbon-reducecosts/products-services/carbon-management/pages/carbon-management.aspx
31
Salix Finance
Salix Finance Ltd
The Chartered Institute of
Environmental
Health
(CIEH) – Environmental
Principles & Best Practice
Certificate
Corporate Environmental
Advice Centre (CEAC)
courses
CIEH
Slough East
Berkshire Waste Strategy
1998
Slough
Zero carbon homes
development in Chalvey
Small and medium enterprise
(SMEs) Energy Awareness
Events and Conferences
Meet the Buyer events
Slough Business Directory
School’s energy awareness
project
An independent, publicly funded company that provides interest-free match
funding (revolving loans) to the public sector to invest in energy efficiency
measures
and
technologies
that
will
reduce
carbon
emissions.
www.salixfinance.co.uk
A professional, awarding and campaigning body focusing on environmental and
public health and safety issues. CIEH offers routes to training for businesses in
food safety, health & safety and environmental protection. www.cieh.org/
CEAC
Independent guidance and advice for businesses on how best to recycle more,
reduce waste and save on energy and water. CEAC also run nationally accredited
courses that focus on environmental and waste issues in a business context and
provide participants with the skills to green their business. www.ceac.co.uk
Joint Berkshire
Planning Unit
Requirement to plan for and meet waste disposal requirements for landfill and
recycling facilities including rail depots
Slough Borough
Council working in
partnership with
Scottish &
Southern Energy
(SSE), Reading
University, the
National HouseBuilding Council
and the Building
Research
Establishment
A housing development designed to achieve the highest specification for
sustainable building, Code Level 6 in the Code for Sustainable Homes. The 10
properties feature grey water recycling, triple-glazed windows, enhanced
insulation, and its own renewable energy ‘heat hub’, housing five different types of
micro generation including air and ground-source heat pumps, a biomass boiler
and solar thermal panels. Photovoltaic tiles are also integrated into the properties
roofs in order to allow the properties to benefit from the Government’s new Feed
in Tariff for renewable electricity. The homes were also kitted out with the latest
energy efficient appliances and smart meters in order to allow SSE to monitor the
energy and water used by each of the properties over the next 2 years.
www.scottishsouthern.co.uk/SSEInternet/index.aspx?id=21640&TierSlicer1_TSMenuTargetID=
1368&TierSlicer1_TSMenuTargetType=1&TierSlicer1_TSMenuID=6
Events aimed at raising awareness and encouraging behavioural change amongst
SMEs in Slough.
Promoted by
Slough Borough
Council & Slough
Forward
Slough Borough
Council and BAA
Heathrow
Slough Borough
Council and key
partners
Slough Forward,
Atkins & NIFES
Hosted by BAA Heathrow, the aim of these events is to give local supply chains
the opportunity to promote their products and services to big purchasers at
Heathrow. www.business-business.co.uk/BAA_Heathrow/
Lists businesses based in Slough and provides details of the support services,
provided by the Council and others, that are available for local businesses.
www.freeindex.co.uk/south_east/berkshire/slough/
Two school energy awareness projects have been funded by the Partnership
since 2008 to help 7 primary schools across the borough understand where they
may have been wasting energy, help them save money on their energy bills and
cut their school’s carbon footprints. The project also found that a number of the
children took the energy conservation messages that they had learnt in
assemblies and the classroom home with them and applied them to their own
family’s energy usage/behaviour. [email protected]
3. Road transport and air quality
At 14.67% of the CO2 emissions for Slough in 2007, road transport is the smallest source of CO2
within the town and ranks 11th in transport emissions per capita emissions.
Transportation is an essential activity for the people and organisations of Slough. However, it has
the potential to generate negative impacts which need to be managed, such as congestion, air
pollution, noise, accidents, pressure on available space, and climate change.
Actions to reduce CO2 emissions from road transport in Slough need to be designed to integrate
with existing measures being taken from a national level down to those within Slough itself, which
are listed in Table 10.
Table 10: Existing road transport CO2 reduction measures
Measure
UK National
Renewable Transport Fuel
Obligation
UK Climate Change
Programme 2006
Lead responsibility
Relationship to Climate Change Strategy
UK Govt
Requires suppliers of fossil fuels to ensure that a specified percentage of
the road fuels they supply in the UK is made up of renewable fuels.
www.renewablefuelsagency.gov.uk/aboutthertfo
Commits the Government to reducing the impact of travel on the
environment; reducing the carbon content of transport fuels; increasing the
fuel efficiency of vehicles and; encouraging a move towards more
environmentally
friendly
forms
of
transport.
UK Govt
32
Low Carbon Transport: A
Greener Future (July 2009)
UK Govt
Delivering Sustainable Low
Carbon Travel: an Essential
Guide for Local Authorities
(Nov 2009)
UK Govt
Research report into the role
of transport in local level action
on climate change
UK Govt
Local Sustainable Transport
Fund
UK Govt
Low Carbon Vehicle
Partnership (LowCVP)
National partnership
Fleet Transport Advice
Energy Saving Trust
Green Fleet Review
Energy Saving Trust
Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles in
the UK
Dft
Alternative fuel infrastructure
grants
Energy Saving Trust
Current traffic conditions and
traffic forecaster
Disruption to transport systems
Highways Agency
Disruption to rail services
Department of
Transport
Rail operators
South East
Berkshire Strategic Transport
Forum and Berkshire
Economic Strategy Board
Slough
Local Development Framework
Local Transport Plan 2 (20062011) and 3 (from 2011)
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/change_energy/tackling_cli
ma/programme/programme.aspx
A strategy document setting out the policies and proposals for reducing
transport sector emissions through to 2022. It outlines how an additional 85
million tonnes of CO2 from domestic transport could be saved from 20182022 by supporting a shift to new technologies and fuels; promoting lower
carbon choices and using market mechanisms to encourage the shift to
lower
carbon
transport.
http://interactive.bis.gov.uk/lowcarbon/2009/07/low-carbon-transport-agreener-future/
A guide on delivering sustainable low carbon travel for local authorities
considering the third round of Local Transport Plans (LTPs). This document
supports the LTP guidance published in July 2009 by explaining
sustainable travel and exploring how programmes could be implemented
through LTPs. www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/guidelocalauth/
The research identifies good practice initiatives across a range of different
authorities to reduce transport emissions and adapt to climate change. It
addresses the challenges, drivers and barriers to taking action, especially in
relation to the delivery of transport services, and includes a comprehensive
review of the tools, methodologies and approaches different authorities are
using
to
monitor
and
model
future
transport
emissions.
www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/policy/climatechange/
A scheme that challenges local transport authorities outside London to
develop packages of measures that support economic growth and reduce
carbon in their communities as well as delivering cleaner environments,
improved safety and increased levels of physical activity. The measures
could include encouraging walking and cycling, initiatives to improve
integration between travel modes and end-to-end journey experiences,
better public transport and improved traffic management schemes.
www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/baker20101213
LowCVP is an action and advisory group, established in 2003 to take a lead
in accelerating the shift to low carbon vehicles and fuels in the UK and to
help ensure that UK business can benefit from that shift.
www.lowcvp.org.uk/
A free telephone advice service to organisations running fleets of under 50
vehicles
(and
up
to
3.5
tonne)
in
England.
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/business/Business/Transport-advice
A tailored, independent review of all fleet aspects to organisations running
fleets of 50 or more vehicles (and up to 3.5 tonne) in England.
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/business/Business/Transport-advice/Advicefor-organisations/Fleets-over-50-vehicles/Green-Fleet-Review
The UK’s strategy for Ultra Low carbon Vehicles announced in April 2009.
Includes financial incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles.
www.berr.gov.uk/files/file51017.pdf
As part of the UK Government’s strategy to decrease carbon emissions
road transport, grants were made available to encourage organisations to
install refuelling or recharging stations for alternative fuels.
Funding was available for hydrogen, electric, natural gas/biogas stations
and
for
infrastructure
to
deliver
gas
blends.
www.cenex.co.uk/programmes/igp
24 hour real time traffic information 0870 660 115. www.highways.gov.uk
Advice for travellers concerning problems on particular routes and any
potential cancellations or delays to airlines, train operators and other
transport system providers. www.dt.gov.uk
All transport operators have plans to deal with bad weather and put the
interests of passengers first. www.networkrail.co.uk
The Forum aims to increase the capacity of transport officers, managers
and Members in Berkshire and agree schemes and work which may be
taken
forward
jointly
for
bidding
and
implementation.
www.southeastiep.gov.uk/categories/berkshire/projects/berkshire-strategictransport-forum-and-berkshire-economic-strategy-board
Slough Borough
Council
Slough Borough
Council
The Core Strategy of the Local Development Framework includes land use
policies that aim to reduce the need to travel and encourage use of non car
modes of travel. For example locating major employment uses in
accessible areas and restricting car parking.
Local authorities have a statutory obligation, under the Transport Act 2008,
to develop a transport strategy. Slough’s Local Transport Plan 2 sets out
how Slough’s transport network and services will be maintained and
improved for the period 2006 to 2011. The plan has 4 aims:
o
to tackle congestion
o
deliver access to jobs and services
o
make roads safer
o
improve air quality
Work is currently underway to develop the new Local Transport Plan 3
33
Air Quality Management Area
Action Plans (as part of
Slough’s Local Transport Plan
26
2) (AQMA)
Slough Borough
Council
Travel Plans
Slough Borough
Council
Staff travel plan/employee
travel policy
Slough Borough
Council
Cycling Strategy
Slough Borough
Council
Slough Borough
Council
School Travel Plans
Transport Asset Management
Plan
Slough Borough
Council
Local Access Forum
Statutory Body
Reducing food miles
Bike it in Slough and South
Bucks
Groundwork Thames
Valley
Slough Borough
Council & Sustrans
Britwell Bike Project
in Britwell
Slough Borough
Council
School Travel Excellence
Programme (STEP)
Slough Borough
Council & other
Berkshire Unitary
authorities
Bikability training
Bike Recycling and Repair
Scheme in Britwell Youth and
Community Project
4.
Cyclewise Thames
Valley in partnership
with Slough Borough
Council
Cyclewise Thames
Valley in partnership
with Slough Borough
Council
(LTP3) for the borough covering the period 2011 to 2026. This will replace
the
current
Transport
Plan
which
expires
March
2011.
www.slough.gov.uk/services/1031.aspx
Sets out the measures being taken locally to improve air quality. As part of
the Plan’s reporting process Slough’s Local Transport Plan 2 (LTP)
provides updates on whether the actions being taken are reducing traffic
volumes,
congestion
and
trends
in
air
quality.
www.slough.gov.uk/services/1533.aspx
Support for schools, businesses and residential developments to minimise
car traffic through the development of a package of measures, such as
facilities for walking and cycling, public transport promotion and car clubs.
www.slough.gov.uk/services/13979.aspx
Support for staff to minimise the use of cars while on official business
through the development of a package of measures, such as facilities for
walking and cycling, public transport promotion and car clubs.
Promotes and facilitates cycling as a low carbon form of travel. Being
incorporated into the LTP3. www.slough.gov.uk/services/2209.aspx
Promotes and facilitates alternatives to the car for getting to and from
school.
Being
incorporated
into
the
LTP3.
www.slough.gov.uk/services/15788.aspx
A local initiative to help reconnect residents with local food producers and
reduce food miles by encouraging the establishment of food fairs and stalls
across the borough that only sells locally grown produce.
www.groundwork.org.uk/
Their main function is to advise the Local Highway Authority (LHA)) for their
area, as to the improvement of public access to land in that area for the
purposes of open-air recreation and the enjoyment of the area.
www.defra.gov.uk/rural/countryside/crow/local-access-forums.htm
Reducing food miles through the sourcing of locally produced food.
A community project that aims to create a strong community cycling culture.
Children, family, friends and neighbours are all encouraged to get involved
and get on their bikes. www.sustrans.org.uk/what-we-do/bike-it/wheres-bikeit/bike-it-in-slough-and-south-bucks
A project that provides a structured programme of bicycle maintenance and
repair by nationally accredited trainers and technicians for youngsters in
Britwell. www.slough-berkshire.org.uk/bike%E2%80%99s-alright-in-sloughbritwell/
A Programme covering the six Berkshire Unitary authorities that aims to
recognise and reward achievement in encouraging alternative modes of
transport to school in line with the Schools Travel Programme. The
programme is sponsored by Oracle and rewards schools, with bronze,
silver
or
gold
awards
for
their
travel
achievements.
www.slough.gov.uk/news/articles/archive/17903.aspx
A scheme to deliver 350 Bikeability training places to a limited number of
schools in the Slough and Wexham area, funded by the Slough - Wexham
School Sports Partnership. www.cycle-wise.co.uk
A youth engagement and community cohesion project to help recycle,
repair, refurbish and potentially redistribute old, unwanted or neglected
bikes to school children across the borough. www.cycle-wise.co.uk
Waste and recycling sector
How society manages its waste has a direct impact on climate change. Household waste contains
readily biodegradable organic matter such as kitchen waste, garden waste and paper. When these
wastes break down in landfill they give off CO2 and methane gas. Methane is one of the
greenhouse gases that is believed to be contributing to the effects of climate change and is 23
times more damaging to the atmosphere than CO2. Methane emissions from biodegradable waste
in landfill accounts for nearly 40% of all UK methane emissions and 3% of total UK greenhouse
gas emissions.
Recycling uses significantly less energy than making products from raw materials. For example
aluminium recycling uses 95% less energy than is used in making the same product from
aluminium ore. The recycling process avoids the extraction of virgin raw materials from the earth
26
At the time of writing, two Air Quality Management Areas have been declared in Slough: One along the M4 motorway and the other
from junction 5 of the M4, along the A4 London Road to the start of the Colnbrook by- pass. Both are due to a potential exccedance of
the nitrogen dioxide in both areas.
34
and the transportation of the raw materials to the processing plant. This energy saving process
through recycling extends to paper, plastics, metals and post consumer goods such as batteries,
printer cartridges and textiles.
There is now also a requirement for contractors who carry out building works to inform their
customers about their waste disposal methods. This helps ensure satisfactory disposal
arrangements are put in place and encourages recycling.
Energy consumption is a major contributor to climate change and reducing the amount of waste
generated through reduction, reuse and recycling measures will allow significant energy saving.
This is a significant step toward cutting the greenhouse gas emissions otherwise generated during
the production, use, transportation and disposal of materials, particularly for building construction.
This cycle is illustrated in Figure 10 below.
Figure 10: Links between waste management and climate change
The Waste Framework Directive clearly defines the 'Waste Hierarchy' in terms of a hierarchy for
the preference of how waste should be treated and dealt with:
35
Figure 11: The waste hierarchy
Disposal through landfill is the least preferred option. Waste that cannot be recycled or reused
should be utilised to produce gas, electricity and heat through energy recovery. Recycling and
composting are the best available options for diverting waste from landfill and incineration once a
product has been purchased, used and requires disposal. However, preference is for preventing
and reusing waste so that it is not created in the first place. This will reduce carbon emissions
significantly as there is a reduced dependency on energy consumption.
Slough Borough Council’s approach to managing the borough’s waste is based on the ‘waste
hierarchy’ (see figure 11 above). Options towards the top of the hierarchy are more sustainable
ways of managing waste than those lower down, e.g. preventing waste from being created in the
first place is usually more resource and CO2 efficient than recycling it or disposing of it in another
way. Measures can also generate financial savings and benefit local communities by making
secondary products and resources available for reuse.
Actions within the sector aimed at reducing emissions focus on three main areas:



Reducing the amount of biodegradable waste produced especially food waste;
Diverting waste away from landfill by making the alternatives easier and more economic (such
as supporting recycling and composting, supporting energy from waste, helping people to
chose the right waste management options, etc) and ensuring that landfill becomes the least
favourable option for disposal;
Capturing more methane emissions from landfill by supporting and promoting industry best
practice.
The following waste actions are being taken at a national, regional and local level to tackle climate
change and reduce CO2 emissions in Slough.
Table 11: Existing waste reduction measures
Measure
UK National
Waste Strategy for
England 2007
Site Waste
Management Plans
Regulations 2008
Lead
responsibility
Relationship to Climate Change Strategy
UK Govt
Sets the national framework for reducing the environmental impacts from waste management,
including
climate
change,
through
waste
prevention
and
reuse.www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/
Strategy/index.htm
These Regulations came into full force on 6 April 2008. The regulations do not apply to any
project planned before 6 April 2008, if construction work commenced before 1 July 2008. They
apply to all projects with a value of £300,000 or more, with additional updating requirements for
projects with a value of £500,000 or more. The regulations place the initial responsibility for the
production of the plan with the client. The client must produce the plan before the project is
UK Govt
36
Landfill Tax
UK Govt
Waste & Resources
Action Programme
(WRAP)
Envirowise
UK Govt
Business Resource
Efficiency and Waste
(BREW)
South East
Pathway to Zero
Waste in South East
England (PTZW)
UK Govt
South East
England
Development
Agency, the
Environment
Agency, the
Waste &
Resources
Action
Programme, the
Department for
Environment,
Food and Rural
Affairs and other
members in the
South East
started. If a project is started without a site waste management plan, then both the client and the
principal contractor are guilty of an offence under these regulations. The regulations also lay out
what the plan must include.
Landfill Tax is a tax on the disposal of waste. It aims to encourage waste producers to produce
less waste, recover more value from waste, for example through recycling or composting and to
use more environmentally friendly methods of waste disposal.
www.customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&
_pageLabel=pageExcise_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_001206&propertyType=document#P4_
22
A national programme to encourage and enable businesses and consumers to be more efficient
in their use of materials and recycle more, including the consumer campaign ‘Recycle Now’.
www.wrap.org.uk
A national programme offering free advice and support to businesses to improve resource
efficiency, focussing on materials and water use. www.envirowise.gov.uk
Now part of the WRAP Local Government Programme, BREW provide support to local
authorities working with their business communities to improve their management of waste,
recycle more and be more resource efficient.
The aim of PTZW is to stop the South East from sending waste to landfill, as landfill capacity in
the region will run out by 2014. Their focus is on diverting construction and demolition, food and
wood waste from landfill. Their work on minimising these waste types will also help with
recovery and reuse of plastics and electronics waste. The Partnership works with businesses
and Local Authorities to minimise waste through reuse, recycling and resource efficiency. PTZW
does this through:

working with private and public-sector procurement and supply chains to increase
demand for recycled materials and products

developing a market for recovered materials

developing infrastructure for recycling and re-use

sharing best practice

inputs into legislation and policy

information and research
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=5001608962&site=210&type=RESO
URCES
Slough
Waste Strategy
Slough Borough
Council
Waste Management
Team
Slough Borough
Council
Kerbside Waste and
Recycling Collection
Slough Borough
Council
Commercial Waste
and Recycling
Collection
Slough Borough
Council and
private waste
companies
Slough Borough
Council
Community
Recycling
School Recycling
Red recycling bins
Slough Borough
Council
Slough Borough
Council
Home Composting
Slough Borough
Council
Garden waste
collection service
Slough Borough
Council
‘Love Food Hate
Waste’ campaign
WRAP & Slough
Borough Council
Waste Education
measures
Slough schools
supported by
A plan to increase the range of materials that can be recycled (including construction waste)
increase the future availability of recycling centres and increase the amount of waste recycled
(including composting). It includes targets to improve and increase recycling performance and to
reduce the amount of waste produce per person and per household.
Undertakes a range of waste management activities including: arranging for the disposal of all
household waste generated in the borough; overseeing the operation of the household waste
recycling centres; and initiatives to encourage recycling and reduction of waste materials,
including composting.
As the waste collection authority for Slough, the Council manages the weekly doorstep
collections for recycling and household waste and the fortnightly kerbside collection for green
waste. This also includes the partnership with Enterprise who are the collection contractor.
Organisations, commercial and industrial premises in Slough can choose from a range of
companies to collect their waste and recycling, including Slough Borough Council.
The Council provides a waste recycling centre in Chalvey and manages 28 community recycling
points across the borough. This includes the collection of other recyclable materials at these
sites not available within the red recycling bins. These materials include textiles and shoes.
Slough Borough Council offers a recycling waste collection service to all maintained schools.
This weekly collection service is provided to all residents to recycle paper, card, cans, tins and
plastic bottles. The scheme encourages residents to recycle by promoting awareness about the
importance of recycling. Slough Borough Council are working to expand the amount of materials
that can be recycled in the red recycling bin and to reduce the amount of waste being placed in
the grey residual bin.
Slough Borough Council offers a subsidised compost bin scheme through Straight PLC so that
residents
can
compost
their
food
and
garden
waste
at
home.
www.slough.gov.uk/services/1541.aspx
The Council provides a fortnightly garden waste collection service for residents who do not want
to compost at home. This scheme is available to all residents and is free of charge. Garden
waste collected is composted at a specialised facility. www.slough.gov.uk/services/17073.aspx
A National Campaign run by WRAP supported by SBC looks at reducing food waste at home,
work and school. The programme is delivered to schools and local businesses around Slough
and also roadshows at Community Events. Further information can be found at:
www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/
A support programme for 15 schools across the Borough to help educate young people about
where their food (and waste) comes from and help connect young people with local food
37
Slough’s Heat and
Power Energy
Centre
The Lakeside
Energy from Waste
Plant (EfW)
(Colnbrook)
Big Lottery Local
Food
Programme and
Groundwork
Scottish and
Southern Electric
Grundons
producers.
Generates safe and secure sources of electricity, hot water, steam and drinking water supplies
on the Slough Trading Estate. Electricity, hot water and steam are generated from renewable
resources via a fully integrated combined heat and power (CHP) plant on the Estate. This plant
has the capacity to generate up to 101MW of electricity - almost twice the energy needs of
Slough Trading Estate – from a variety of fuels, including wood chips, fiber fuel, biomass and
waste paper – although it can also operate on natural gas, coal and distillate. Slough Heat and
Power’s Energy Centre also has its own fibre fuel processing plant, which takes delivery of
waste products and converts these into useable fuel - thereby providing a valuable market for
local wood-based enterprises and other businesses with non-recyclable materials , as well as
contributing to cleaner air and a reduction in waste across the borough.
www.sloughheatandpower.co.uk/index.htm
Generates approx 37 MW of electricity from burning over 410,000 tonnes of residual waste per
year from local authorities and businesses. Only a small amount of this recovered energy from
waste is used to power the plant itself while the vast majority is exported to the local electricity
grid
enough
to
meet
the
domestic
needs
of
c.16,000
customers.
www.grundon.com/how/energyFromWaste.htm
38
Slough Climate Change Strategy 2010 - 2014
December 2010
APPENDIX B: SUMMARY OF MECHANISMS BEING
USED TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS
Table 12: Summary of the existing actions that are being taken to tackle climate change at
a national, regional and local level
1. Flood risk management measures
Measure
UK national
The Pitt Review Learning the lessons
from the 2007 floods
Lead
responsibility
Relationship to Climate Change Strategy
UK Govt
A Cabinet Office led review which studied the emergency response to the flood in June and
July 2007 and made recommendations concerning how the risks and impact of flooding
might
be
reduced
in
the
future.
www.environmentagency.gov.uk/research/library/publications/33889.aspx
Identifies a lead role for local government in managing local flood risk from surface water,
ground
water
and
watercourses
other
than
main
rivers.
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/flooding/policy/fwmb/
Guidance
for
local
resilience
forums
and
emergency
planners.
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/.../flooding_ma_planning_guidance_0208.pdf
Flood and Water
Management Act
2010
Developing a Multiagency Flood Plan
(MAFP) & checklist
for multi-agency
Flood plan (MAFP)
Catchment Flood
Management Plan
Guidance (CFMP)
UK Govt
Flood preparation
guide for businesses
Planning Policy
Statement 25 and
practise guide:
Development and
Flood Risk
(PPS25)
Managing flood risks
Environment
Agency
UK Govt and local
authorities.
Am I at risk of
flooding?
Preparing for a flood
During a flood
After a flood
Flood Alerts
Current flooding
situation
Weather and Flood
warnings
Surface
Water
Management
Plan
Technical Guidance –
March 2010
Severe
weather
advice: Keeping safe
- heavy rain
BBC Weatherwise
Fact files - Floods
South East
The South East Plan
UK Govt
Environment
Agency
Environment
Agency
Environment
Agency
Environment
Agency
Environment
Agency
Environment
Agency
Environment
Agency
Environment
Agency
BBC
Defra
Provides an overview of the flood risk across each river catchment. They recommend ways
of managing those risks now and over the next 50-100 years. CFMPs consider all types of
inland flooding, from rivers, ground water, surface water and tidal flooding, but not flooding
directly from the sea, (coastal flooding), which is covered in Shoreline Management Plans.
They also take into account the likely impacts of climate change, the effects of how we use
and manage the land and how areas could be developed to meet our present day needs
without
compromising
the needs
of
future
generations
www.environmentagency.gov.uk/research/planning/33586.aspx
Guidance on developing your own your own flood plan, and how to be better prepared in the
event of a flood situation. www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/32354.aspx
Aims to ensure that flood risk is taken into account at all stages in the planning process to
avoid inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding. Where new development is,
exceptionally, necessary in such areas, it aims to make it safe, without increasing flood risk
elsewhere,
and,
where
possible,
reducing
flood
risk
overall.
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/pps25floodrisk
Information on what makes flood happen, managing flood water, forecasting and warning,
when a flood happens and into the future – climate change, new technology and
training.www.environment-agency.gov.uk/cy/swyddi/114491.aspx
Guidance which includes flood maps to assess flood risk by post code. www.environmentagency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31650.aspx
Practical advice on what to do to protect you and your property from flooding.
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31624.aspx
Practical advice on what to do to stay safe in a flood. www.environmentagency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31632.aspx
Practical
advice
on
recovering
from
flood.
www.environmentagency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31630.aspx
Telephone Floodline 0845 988 1188 for up to date information on flooding in England,
Wales and Scotland.
A national summary for England and Wales, searchable by area, town name, postcode and
river name. www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/113712.aspx
http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/hi/uk_warnings/
Met Office
Guidance to inform local authorities on how to approach the development of a surface water
management plan particularly in areas of high risk of surface water flooding. It reflects the
roles that different organisations will take in the development of surface water management
plans, and takes account of the findings from the six Defra funded first edition SWMPs.
ww.defra.gov.uk/environment/flooding/manage/surfacewater/plans.htm
www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/advice/
BBC
www.bbc.co.uk/weather/weatherwise/factfiles/extremes/floods.shtml
Former South East
England Regional
Assembly
Sets the broad development Strategy for the region and provides a framework for local
development documents and local transport plans. It includes policies for promoting
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems within new developments. The Government is in the
39
Slough Climate Change Strategy 2010 - 2014
December 2010
process
of
deleting
this
www.tsoshop.co.uk/bookstore.asp?Action=Book&ProductId=9780117539983
Slough
Preliminary Surface
Water Management
Plan for Slough
Slough
Council
Borough
Draft Strategic Flood
Risk Assessment
Slough
Council
Borough
Slough Local
Development
Framework
Slough
Council
Borough
Plan.
DEFRA has given the Council funding for a preliminary Surface Water Management Plan
(SWMP) as it has been identified as one of the 77 communities at highest risk of surface
water flooding in England. This ranking was calculated from preliminary Surface Water
Flood mapping. The SWMP is being developed with the assistance of WSP as consultant.
This Assessment is currently awaiting remodelling by the Environment Agency (EA). This
remodelling is being carried out following the concerns raised regarding the accuracy of the
current flood zone mapping in Slough. This informs planning decisions.
The Core Strategy policy 8 restricts development if it will be at risk of flooding or cause
flooding.
2. Drought and water resource risk management measures
Measure
UK national
Water Resources Act
1991
Lead
responsibility
Relationship to Climate Change Strategy
UK Govt
Legislation that regulates water resources, water quality and pollution, and flood defence.
Part II of the Act provides the general structure for the management of water resources. Part
III then explains the standards expected for controlled waters; and what is considered as
water pollution. Part IV then provides information on mitigation through flood defence.
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/57/contents
Contains proposals for revising water charging and Building Regulations to promote more
efficient use. www.defra.gov.uk/environment/.../water/strategy/pdf/future-water.pdf
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/publications/40731.aspx
Water Strategy for
England
Water Resources
Strategy - water for
people and the
environment
Envirowise - how
business can save
water
Water for the future
Managing water in
the South East of
England
Water situation for
England and Wales
UK Govt
Drought page
Environment
Agency
UK Govt
Defra
Water resources
Water watch
BBC
Weatherwise:
factsheet – drought
Building Regulations
South East
The South East Plan
Water Resources in
South East England
Environment
Agency
UK Govt
A national programme offering free advice and support to businesses to improve resource
efficiency, focussing on materials and water use. www.envirowise.gov.uk
Environment
Agency
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/waterressesummary_2005304.pdf
Environment
Agency
Weekly update with a summary and longer report. Includes latest water situation report,
rainfall report, soil moisture deficits, ground water levels, river flows, reservoir levels and
drought management. www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/.../33995.aspx
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/.../drought/default.aspx
Centre for Ecology
& Hydrology
BBC
Includes the water resources situation, groundwater, understanding water needs of the
environment, Save water, the demand management bulletin, water resources planning
guidelines, water company drought and water resources plans, securing water supply and
water
resources
for
the
future.
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/water/resources/abstraction/
Monthly and annual reports issued as part of the National Hydrological Monitoring
Programme (NHMP). www.ceh.ac.uk/
www.bbc.co.uk/weather/weatherwise/factfiles/extremes/drought.shtml
UK
Govt/Local
Authorities
The Building Regulations now include minimum standards to help reduce water
consumption.
Former South East
England Regional
Assembly
Sets the broad development Strategy for the region and provides a framework for local
development documents and local transport plans. It includes policies for promoting
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems within new developments. The Government intends to
delete
this
Plan.www.tsoshop.co.uk/bookstore.asp?Action=Book&ProductId=9780117539983
Chaired by the Environment Agency, members include water companies that operate across
the region, OFWAT and Defra. The Groups aims are to facilitate the management of water
resources
across
this
complex
supply
area.
www.environmentagency.gov.uk/.../100401_WRSE_Joint_report_Final.pdf
Water neutrality is an ambitious concept which aims to ensure there is enough water to
support new development without requiring additional water resources. The definition used
by the Environment Agency and Government is that the total water use after a development
does not exceed the total water use before development. www.environmentagency.gov.uk/research/library/publications/40737.aspx
www.london.gov.uk/lccp/publications/home-feb08.jsp
The
Water
Resources in the
South East Group
Water neutrality in the
Thames Gateway
Retrofitting report –
your home in a
changing climate
London
Climate
Change
Partnership
3. Heat risk management measures
Measure
Lead
responsibility
Relationship to Climate Change Strategy
40
Slough Climate Change Strategy 2010 - 2014
December 2010
UK National
Heat wave: Plan for
England 2010
Department
Health
of
What to do in case of
a heat wave
Supporting
vulnerable people
before and during a
heat wave – advice
for care home
managers and staff
Supporting vulnerable
people before and
during a heat wave –
advice for health and
social care
professionals
Looking after yourself
and others during hot
weather
Heat health watch
Department of
Health
Department of
Health
Sets out the arrangements for protecting health and reducing harm from extreme heat and
heat waves.
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH
_114430
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/MinistersandDepartmentLeaders/ChiefMedicalOfficer/Features/D
H_4135398
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH
_099028
Department of
Health
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH
_099036
Department of
Health
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH
_114432
Met Office
Thermal Comfort
Guidance
Health and Safety
Executive
Heat stress in the
work
place
information sheet
Health risks from
working in the sun
Health and Safety
Executive
Updates and alerts on the probability of heat wave conditions in England and Wales.
www.metoffice.gov.uk
Online guidance regarding thermal comfort in the workplace and what the law says. It
provides guidance for managers to help them conduct a thermal comfort risk assessment
and information for workers to improve thermal comfort in their workplace.
www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/thermal
Online guidance for employers regarding heat stress and how to avoid it in the workplace.
www.hse.gov.uk
Health and Safety
Executive
Online guidance for managers and staff to help understand and limit the risks associated
from working in the sun. www.hse.gov.uk
4. Higher wind speeds and subsidence risk management measures
Measure
UK National
Building Regulations
Lead
responsibility
Relationship to Climate Change Strategy
UK Govt and local
authorities
Severe weather
advice – keeping
safe: severe gales
Severe weather
warnings
Met Office
Standards designed to ensure the health and safety of people in and around buildings and
their energy efficiency. Local authorities, or private approved inspectors, enforce the
standards on behalf of Government. Part A covers building structure, including subsidence
risk and the resilience of roofs and cladding to high winds.
www.metoffice.gov.uk
Met Office
www.metoffice.gov.uk
BBC Weatherwise:
Factfiles on
Tornados
Hurricanes
Blizzards
Hail
BBC
www.bbc.co.uk/weather/weatherwise/factfiles/extremes/storms.shtml
5. Extreme Cold management measures
Measure
UK National
Winter Driving
Live
well:
Hypothermia
Live
well:
winter
health - keep warm,
keep well campaign
Weather
forecasts
and severe weather
warnings
Lead
responsibility
Relationship to Climate Change Strategy
Highways Agency
Downloadable guidance and general traffic information on how to drive safely in winter
08457 50 40 30
Advice on how to recognise and treat the systems of hypothermia. NHS Choices at
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.
Advice on the financial help and benefits available to help families keep warm and well over
winter. Also provides guidance on the key ways to keep warm and look after vulnerable
people if the weather turns extremely cold. NHS Choices at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.
www.metoffice.gov.uk
NHS Choices
NHS Choices
Met Office
6. Biodiversity management measures
Measure
International
The
Habitats
Lead
responsibility
Relationship to Climate Change Strategy
EU
Legislation that aims to protect the wild plants, animals and habitats that make up our
41
Slough Climate Change Strategy 2010 - 2014
December 2010
Directive
Regulations
and
UK National
Conservation
of
Habitats and Species
Regulations 2010
diverse natural environment. The directive created a network of protected areas around the
European Union of national and international importance. They are called Natura 2000 sites.
These sites include Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), which support rare, endangered
or vulnerable natural habitats, plants and animals (other than birds) and Special Protection
Areas (SPAs) which support significant numbers of wild birds and their habitats. In the UK,
the Habitats Directive is implemented by the Conservation of habitats and species
regulations 2010 (SI no. 2010/490), more commonly known as the Habitats Regulations.
UK Govt
Replaced the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 1994 in April 2010. The
main purpose of the new legislation was to consolidate all of the amendments which have
been made to the regulations since 1994. The Regulations affect a wide range of species
and habitats including all British bat species and the great crested newt.
www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2010/uksi_20100490_en_1
Every public authority must in exercising its functions, have regard, so far is consistent with
the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity.
www.defra.gov.uk/rural/policy/ruraldelivery/nerc.htm
Natural Environment
& Rural Communities
(NERC) Act 2006
UK Govt
England Biodiversity
Strategy Climate
Change Adaptation
Principles Conserving
biodiversity in a
changing climate
Planning
Policy Statement
(PSS9): Biodiversity
& Geodiversity
Conservation Policy
Making space for
nature
UK Govt
www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/biodiversity/biostrat/index.htm
UK Govt
Guidance for planners on how to protect and strengthen networks of natural habitats.
www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuildings/planningsystem/planningpolicy/planningpolic
ystatements/
Environment
Agency
Planning
Policy Statement 1
(PPS1) and Climate
Change supplement
to PPS1
UK Govt
Planning Policy
Statement 12
(PPS12): Local
Spatial Planning
UK Govt
Planning Policy
Guidance 17
(PPG17)
UK Govt
Review of England’s wildlife sites and ecological network considering the effects of climate
change and other pressures on our land including scope for enhancing ecology and linking
areas together.www.defra.gov.uk/environment/biodiversity/.../201009space-for-nature.pdf
Sets out the Government's overarching planning policies on the delivery of sustainable
development through the planning system. This replaces Planning Policy Guidance 1:
General Policies and Principles (PPG1), which was published in February 1997. It requires
developments to ensure an appropriate mix of uses including green space and that plans
and developments should help deliver green infrastructure and biodiversity as part of a
strategy to address climate change. Climate change supplement under review.
www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuildings/planningsystem/planningpolicy/planningpolic
ystatements/
Sets out the Government's policy on local spatial planning, which plays a central role in the
overall task of place shaping and in the delivery of land uses and associated activities. It
requires local planning authorities to plan for green infrastructure requirements as part of all
new developments.
www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuildings/planningsystem/planningpolicy/planningpolic
ystatements/
Sets out the policies needed to be taken into account by local planning authorities in the
preparation of development plans. It may also be material to decisions on individual planning
applications. It requires local planning authorities to seek opportunities to improve open
space networks and incorporate open space into new developments.
www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuildings/planningsystem/planningpolicy/planningpolic
ystatements/
South East
South East Green
Infrastructure
Framework from
Policy into Practise
SE regional
partners
Guidance that seeks to establish green infrastructure as an integral and essential component
of sustainable communities, develop a common understanding of the role and importance of
green infrastructure, help implement the South East Plan's green infrastructure policy and
provide detailed guidance on how green infrastructure can be delivered through the planning
system and local partnerships.
www.naturalengland.org.uk/.../south_east/.../greeninfrastructureframework. aspx
Making space for
wildlife in spatial
planning
Natural England
An information document on how local authorities can help incorporate biodiversity
adaptation to climate change through the planning system. The document provides
information about biodiversity adaptation to climate change in the region, how spatial
planning systems can help support it, the benefits that biodiversity can provide, and tools to
help Local Authorities deliver adaptation measures. A supplementary document highlights
examples of best practise in planning for biodiversity adaptation to climate change, a
checklist for planners and a section which signposts users to further information.
www.naturalengland.org.uk
42
Slough Climate Change Strategy 2010 - 2014
December 2010
Standing Advice on
Protected Species for
Local Planning
Authorities
Natural England
A set of national standing advice on protected species for planners. From mid-October 2010
Natural England will only provide advice on those applications where adequate survey
information is available and where significant impacts on protected species are likely as a
result of development.
www.naturalengland.org.uk/regions/south_east/ourwork/standingadvice/default.aspx
Green Infrastructure
guidance NE176
Natural England
Guidance that promotes the concept of Green Infrastructure as a way to deliver a wide range
of benefits for people and the natural environment. The guidance articulates the importance
of early planning for green infrastructure and integrating green infrastructure strategies within
spatial planning. It will be useful to anyone taking forward green infrastructure strategies,
plans, policies and proposals in the coming years especially local authorities, developers and
other key partners. www.naturalengland.org.uk
Slough Borough
Council
The Core Strategy has policies that limit the loss of green field sites, restricts development
that adversely affects biodiversity and seeks landscaping as part of new development (Policy
9) that collectively contribute to green infrastructure. Local Wildlife Sites identified and future,
potential, nature reserves proposed.
Slough Borough
Council
The Council as owner of green open spaces managed some sites with biodiversity in mind.
Two statutory Local Nature Reserves are owned by the Council
Slough
Slough Local;
Development
Framework: Green
Infrastructure and
biodiversity
Managing land for
nature
43
Slough Climate Change Strategy 2010 - 2014
December 2010
Appendix C: Glossary
Adaptation–- Practical steps to protect countries and communities from the likely disruption and damage that will result
from effects of climate change. The IPCC distinguishes several types of adaptation:
o
o
o
o
o
o
Anticipatory or proactive adaptation—Adaptation that takes place before impacts of climate change are
observed. Also referred to as proactive adaptation.
Autonomous adaptation—Adaptation that does not constitute a conscious response to climatic stimuli but is
triggered by ecological changes in natural systems and by market or welfare changes in human systems. Also
referred to as spontaneous adaptation.
Planned adaptation—Adaptation that is the result of a deliberate policy decision, based on an awareness that
conditions have changed or are about to change and that action is required to return to, maintain, or achieve a
desired state.
Private adaptation—Adaptation that is initiated and implemented by individuals, households or private
companies. Private adaptation is usually in the actor's rational self-interest.
Public adaptation—Adaptation that is initiated and implemented by governments at all levels. Public
adaptation is usually directed at collective needs.
Reactive adaptation—Adaptation that takes place after impacts of climate change have been observed.
Biodiversity – The variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or on the entire Earth. Biodiversity is often
used as a measure of the health of biological systems.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) – One of several greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which cause climate change.
Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) – A figure which takes into account the overall prevalence of a given greenhouse
gas. To obtain the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), the carbon equivalent is multiplied by 44/12, a calculation which
allows for the relative molecular weights of carbon dioxide and carbon.
Carbon footprint – The total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, organisation, area, event or
product. It should be expressed in CO2 equivalent (CO2e).
Climate – The long-term average weather of a region including typical weather patterns, the frequency and intensity of
storms, cold spells, and heat waves. Climate is not the same as weather. See below.
Climate change – Refers to changes in long-term trends in the climate, such as changes in average temperatures.
Scientists use the term climate change to refer to any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or
as a result of human activity.
Climate impacts - Consequences of climate change on natural and human systems. Depending on the consideration of
adaptation, one can distinguish between potential impacts and residual impacts as follows:
o
Potential Impacts--All impacts that may occur given a projected change in climate, without considering
adaptation.
o
o
Residual Impacts--The impacts of climate change that would occur after adaptation.
Aggregate Impacts - Total impacts summed up across sectors and/or regions. The aggregation of
impacts requires knowledge of (or assumptions about) the relative importance of impacts in different
sectors and regions. Measures of aggregate impacts include, for example, the total number of
people affected, change in net primary productivity, number of systems undergoing change, or total
economic costs.
Market Impacts - Impacts that are linked to market transactions and directly affect gross domestic
product (GDP, a country's national accounts) for example, changes in the supply and price of
agricultural goods.
Non-Market Impacts - Impacts that affect ecosystems or human welfare, but that are not directly
linked to market transactions, for example, an increased risk of premature death.
o
o
Climate refugee - A person displaced by climatically induced environmental disasters. Such disasters result
from incremental and rapid ecological change, resulting in increased droughts, desertification, sea level rise,
and the more frequent occurrence of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, cyclones, fires, mass
flooding and tornadoes.
Decentralised Energy – heat and power generated from low or zero carbon sources primarily used locally. Less
power is lost if power distribution cables are short. It can include district heating schemes such as Slough Power Station.
44
Slough Climate Change Strategy 2010 - 2014
December 2010
Disaster A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material,
economic or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own
resources.
Emissions – The release of substances (e.g. greenhouse gases) into the atmosphere.
Extreme weather event – An event that is rare within its statistical reference distribution at a particular place. Definitions
of "rare" vary, but an extreme weather event would normally be as rare as or rarer than the 10th or 90th percentile. By
definition, the characteristics of what is called "extreme weather" may vary from place to place. An "extreme climate
event" is an average of a number of weather events over a certain period of time, an average which is itself extreme
(e.g., rainfall over a season).
Flooding - A flood is an overflow or accumulation of an expanse of water that submerges land.
Fossil fuels – Carbon-based fuels including coal, natural gas and fuels derived from crude oil (e.g. petrol and diesel);
called fossil fuels because they have been formed over long periods of time from ancient organic matter.
Greenhouse effect – This is a natural process which keeps the earth warmer than it would otherwise be, and without
which life on earth would not be possible. Like the glass in a greenhouse, certain gases in our atmosphere trap heat,
preventing it from escaping back into space.
Greenhouse gases (GHG) - There is a “basket” of GHG, which can be emitted and removed by natural processes. The
main GHG include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur
hexafluoride (SF6) and water vapour (H2O). Human activities can increase levels of these gases, increasing the
greenhouse effect and global warming. Additional GHG from human activity include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The potency of each of these gases in the context of exacerbating the greenhouse effect is
variable. The relative impact of a GHG is measured by its global warming potential, with carbon dioxide represented by
1. The global warming potential of methane, for example, is 23 - in other words, it is 23 times more powerful than carbon
dioxide in trapping heat in the atmosphere. Three gases - CO2 (56%), CH4 (16%) and N2O (5%) - have contributed the
majority of all the warming effect produced by GHG from 1750 to the present day. In order to get a better picture of the
overall impact of the basket of GHG, a carbon equivalent figure is used which takes into account the overall prevalence
of each gas.
Green infrastructure - strategically planned and delivered network of high quality green spaces and other
environmental features. It should be designed and managed as a multifunctional resource capable of delivering a wide
range of environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities. Green Infrastructure can provide many social,
economic and environmental benefits close to where people live and work including:
 Places for outdoor relaxation and play.
 Open space and habitat for wildlife with access to nature for people.
 Climate change adaptation - for example flood alleviation and cooling urban heat islands.
 Environmental education.
 Local food production - in allotments, private gardens and through agriculture.
 Improved health and well-being – lowering stress levels and providing opportunities for exercise.
Heat Island - Typically seen in urban areas, where the temperature can be several degrees hotter than it is
in surrounding areas
LAA – Local Area Agreement. A three-year agreement between a local area and central government which sets out
how local priorities will be met by applying local solutions. It also contributes to national priorities set out by the
government.
Low Carbon Energy – energy that uses some carbon but much less than traditional power generation from burning
fossil fuels e.g. heat pumps; combined heat and power plants.
Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) - A non-statutory body which brings together service deliverers, local communities,
those who use local services, the voluntary sector, social enterprises and businesses, to develop integrated approaches
to local service delivery and tackle priorities in a joined-up way. Central Government sees LSPs as the main mechanism
for the co-ordination of delivery of better local services.
Micro Generation – Small scale generation of energy from renewable or low carbon sources such as a small wind
turbine of solar panels on a building.
Mitigation – measures or actions to decrease the intensity of climate change by reducing the concentration of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Mitigation is distinguished from adaptation, which involves acting to minimize the
effects of global warming.
45
Slough Climate Change Strategy 2010 - 2014
December 2010
PDG – Partnership Delivery Group
Renewable Energy – Energy derived from a source that is continually replenished, such as wind, wave, solar,
hydroelectric and biomass. Although not strictly renewable, geothermal energy is generally included.
Resilience – The capacity of a system, community or society potentially exposed to hazards to adapt, by resisting or
changing in order to reach and maintain an acceptable level of functioning and structure. This is determined by the
degree to which the social system is capable of organising itself to increase its capacity for learning from past disasters
for better future protection and to improve risk reduction measures.
Risk - Is the probability that a situation will produce harm under specified conditions. It is a combination of two factors:
the probability that an adverse event will occur; and the consequences of the adverse event. Risk encompasses impacts
on human and natural systems, and arises from exposure and hazard. Hazard is determined by whether a particular
situation or event has the potential to cause harmful effects.
Risk (climate-related) – Is the result of interaction of physically defined hazards with the properties of the exposed
systems – i.e., their sensitivity or (social) vulnerability.
Subsidence - The process of sinking or settling of a land surface because of natural or artificial causes
Surface water - precipitation that does not soak into the ground or return to the atmosphere by evaporation
or transpiration. It is stored in streams, lakes, rivers, ponds, wetlands, oceans, and reservoirs.
Weather – The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place, with respect to variables such as temperature,
moisture, wind velocity, and barometric pressure.
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Slough Climate Change Strategy 2010 - 2014
December 2010
Appendix D: How CO2 reductions from Local Authority operations are calculated
The aim of NI 185 is to measure the progress of local authorities to reduce CO2 emissions from the relevant buildings
and transport used to deliver its functions and to encourage them to demonstrate leadership on tackling climate change.
Measurement against this indicator requires each Local Authority to calculate their CO2 emissions from analysis of the
energy and fuel use in their relevant buildings and transport, including where these services have been outsourced. CO2
emissions means the total amount of direct and indirect CO2 emitted as a result of LA operations.
Direct emissions are emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the Local Authority, e.g. emissions from the
combustion in owned or controlled boilers and vehicles.
Indirect emissions are emissions that are a consequence of the activities of the Local Authority, but occur at sources
owned or controlled by another entity, i.e. emissions from consumption of purchased electricity or heat, transport-related
activities in vehicles not owned or controlled by the Local Authority and outsourced activities.
Local Authority operations are defined as the delivery of the relevant functions of a Local Authority which result (either
directly or indirectly) in the emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere. Functions of an authority covers all their own
operations and outsourced services. Even if the services are being provided by an external body (e.g. a private
company) they remain the function of the authority. This includes schools, but excludes social housing.
The indicator is assessed annually to measure the reduction of CO2 emissions. The first year of data was reported in
2009 for the financial year, 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009, which has become the baseline year.
The following formula is used to calculate the proportion of CO2 reduction measured against emissions from the previous
year:
(( y - x ) / y ) * 100
where:
x = amount of CO2 emission in the current year
y = amount of CO2 emission in the previous year
Worked example:
Take April 2008 to March 2009 calculated emissions of 52 tonnes CO2. April 2009 to March 2010 emissions totalled 50
tonnes CO2
Therefore the percentage of CO2 reduction from Local Authority operations to be reported for 2009 = (52 - 50) / 52 ) *
100 = 3.8%
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Slough Climate Change Strategy 2010 - 2014
December 2010
Appendix E: How percentage reductions of the per capita CO2 emissions in a Local Authority area are
calculated
This indicator comprises of an annual amount of end user CO2 emissions across an agreed set of sectors (domestic
housing, road transport and business) measured as a percentage reduction (or increase) of the per capita CO2 emission
from the 2005 baseline year.



Domestic Housing - All housing in the Local Authority area (Including Arms Length Management Organisations
(ALMOs), privately owned and leased housing
Business - Industrial and commercial emissions, including public sector, but not those included in the EU
Emissions trading scheme
Road Traffic - All road traffic excluding motorways.
The indicator works by allocating emissions from fuel producers to fuel users. This ‘end user’ calculation therefore
allows estimates to be made of emissions for a consumer of fuel, which also include the emissions from producing the
fuel the consumer has used.
The following formula is used to calculate the percentage reduction in per capita CO2 emissions
Where
h = CO2 emissions from domestic housing, calculated from DECC
electricity and gas consumption data
b = CO2 emissions from business and industry, calculated from DECC
electricity and gas consumption data and those fuel usage statistics
reported by larger organisations
r = CO2 emissions from road transport calculated using detailed specific
transport census data (annual average daily flows) published by DfT;
pop = LA population (thousands) calculated using the ONS mid year
population projection (from the same year as the CO2 data)
t = baseline year (2005)
t + n = latest year of data
Worked example:
2005 emissions for Low Carbon City
Business = 90 k.t CO2
Housing = 91 k.t CO2
Transport = 124 k.t CO2
LA Population = 31 (thousands)
Total emissions (tonnes) per capita = 9.8 capita
2007 emissions for Low Carbon City
Business = 89 k.t CO2
Housing = 85 k.t CO2
Transport = 115 k.t CO2
Population = 32 (thousands)
Total emissions (tonnes) per capita = 9.0
= 8.2% per capita reduction in CO2 emissions in the Local
Authority area in 2007
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Slough Climate Change Strategy 2010 - 2014
December 2010
APPENDIX F: BERKSHIRE SUMMARY
Summary of which Local Strategic Partnerships have adopted NI 185 and 186 into their Local Area Agreements:
LA area
Bracknell Forest
Reading
RBWM
Slough
West Berkshire
Wokingham
NI 185
Corporate emissions
Adopted (D)
Adopted (L)
X
X
X
Adopted (D)
NI 186
Area wide emissions
X
Adopted (D)
Adopted (D)
Adopted (D)
Adopted (D)
X
D = Designated indicator (reward target)
L = Local indicator
X = not in LAA
Comparison of sector distribution of emissions by LA area in 2008
LA area
Industrial and
Domestic
Road
Commercial
Transport
Bracknell Forest
Reading
RBWM
Slough
West Berkshire
Wokingham
South East
National
296
469
376
374
495
296
20,104
178,697
260
335
409
246
439
388
20,295
149,317
155
111
227
99
372
206
14,439
102,155
Total
711
915
1,010
696
1,306
890
54,837
430,170
Population
(‘000s, Mid
year
estimate)
114.0
149.2
141.7
125.8
151.4
159.7
8,368.5
61,398.2
Per capita
Emissions
T CO2
6.2
6.1
7.1
5.5
8.6
5.6
6.6
7.0
Loc
al emissions are partially linked to measurable borough characteristics. Higher emissions are associated with large, rural
boroughs such as West Berkshire, due to increased road travel and more oil rather than gas heating. Lower emissions
are associated with small urban boroughs with mains gas, good public transport facilities and more poverty such as in
Slough. The pattern is less polarised for boroughs with a mixture of features, such as Reading and Bracknell Forest.
49
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Climate Change Strategy for Slough 2011 - 2014
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