1. Rhondda Cynon Taf – Climate Change and Pathfinder Programme.
Brian Houston – Emergency Planning & Sustainable Development Manager and Environmental Partnership Coordinator

2. Environmental Partnership
Steering Group is made up of the Council, Groundwork Merthyr & RCT; Countryside Council for Wales, who provide funding, Interlink and the Environment Agency.
Focus on Climate Change – shared objective and linked to Changing Climate Changing Places Project.
Developing open spaces to increase well-being in the community.
The Steering Group provides strategic guidance to the partnership and the forum will be the networking and communication and listening post of the partnership.
The partnership has undergone an extensive review process involving the steering group members and the Wales Audit Office. The partnerships refocused energy and objectives now include Climate Change, along with highlighting access to the environment and its protection.
Climate Change – both mitigation through carbon reduction and adaptation through the Changing Climate Changing Places Project- has been the focus of a number of actions of the Council.
A reduction of 11% of carbon emissions from council buildings has been achieved y-o-y in 2009/10 versus 2008/2009. Through Department of International Development funding we worked with communities in Fernhill, Glenboi and Tonypandy on raising awareness of climate change through community action using volunteers from South Korea, Uganda and Japan.
The Council is also one of only 4 authorities taking part in the “Changing Climate Changing Places” project that aims to ensure local government and local communities can adapt to the challenges that climatic change may bring us.
The other steering group partners, including Interlink who arranged this wonderful event, have climate change as one of their objectives. Therefore it seemed logical to make communicating and providing networks on Climate Change one of the main objectives of the partnership.

3. Environmental Partnership “Changing Climate Changing Places”
This project is being developed to improve the resilience of local communities in Wales to the impacts of climate change.
The project will answer the basic questions:
What does climate change mean for our community? - 28th March – Our Community and Climate Change Event.
What risks and opportunities does climate change represent to services and particular localities? – Mapping the impacts on certain communities and costing those impacts.
How can we adapt now and in the future? - Adaptation strategy in 2011, part of Climate Change Strategy and linked to WAG ‘Outcome Agreements’.

4. LCLIP outcomes - RCT Heat Rain Noise Pollution
Rat / Wasp / Fly infestations
Rain
Loss of Business Continuity
Flooded Homes / Buildings
Damaged road surfaces
Collapsed / damaged culverts
Water logged playing fields
Flooded Rest Centre
Land slip
Vegetation growth
Loss of Reputation
High Winds
Debris on rail/roads - closures
Fallen trees
Cold
School closures
Withdrawal of Home to Schools transport
Road accidents
Increased Gritting
Loss of Business Continuity
Loss of Reputation

5. Extreme Weather Events
Severe weather event
Total number between
High temperatures/ heat wave 3
Excessive rainfall/ flooding 22
Wind 2
Frost/ ice/ snow 8
The conclusions above were

6. Environmental Partnership
Building on the outcomes from the March Community Event.
Competition for best adaptation suggestion for a community- £200 and half a day with a consultant.
Facilitating the development in local hydro power.
‘Heatwave Here’ day in May 2011 – bringing Health, Social Care providers, Council Social Care, Police and community together to understand and develop plans for heatwaves in RCTCBC.

8. Council and Community effects of Climate Change.
Increased flood risk to our rivers
Land erosion
Inadequate drainage and sewerage systems
Drier soils and subsidence
Significant habitat and species changes
Water quality issues in rivers and lakes
Greater incidence of drought and problems
with water supply;
Lower air quality
The Climate Impacts projections for our area could lead to the following.

9. Climate Change and the Council. “”
Increased costs for insurance and decreased property values
Increased risk of forest and heathland fires
Changed agricultural practices for food
Growth in tourism due to warmer weather;

10. Wider Environmental improvement activities:
- Love Where you Live .
- SALIX funding for Carbon Reduction activities.
- Tonyrefail and Rhydyfelin Flood Aleviation Scheme.
- Affordable Warmth programme expanded.
- Green Travel Policy.
- Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme.
The Borough Council has been very successful in gaining SALIX funding for a plethora of Carbon reduction actions – including solar pannelling on a number of our schools, improvements to community buildings that have led to reduced energy consumption. The highly successful Tonyrefail and Rhydyfelin Flood alleviation schemes – which delivered improved infrastructure but also highly successful local engagement in these improvements. Our Affordable Warmth strategy has been expanded and Council funded grants are available for energy efficiency improvements in local housing. The Borough Council has developed and is in the process of implementing a Green Travel Policy. The Carbon Reduction Energy Efficiency Scheme has recently come into force and the Council has been the 1st, and one of only 2 Welsh Local Authorities to gain the Carbon Trust Standard as an indication of our readiness for the scheme.
But with all the information at the Council’s disposal and it’s existing actions in terms of mitigation and planning for adaptation – although there is concerted effort on mitigation in certain communities – we need a more cohesive effort. The local authority needs to be able to learn from those communities and groups that are succesfully mitigating against climate change – but also understand what is stopping other groups and communities from taking action. In addition, there is a knowledge gap on the types of adaptation that communities and groups are willing to deliver, withstand and condone.

11. Climate Change and the Council.
Between 2002 and 2009 extreme weather events have cost RCT CBC over
£3 million, which includes:
- Staffing (including overtime)
- Immediate costs- sandbags, grit
- Maintenance and repair.
- Does not include costs of not
running a service; External Charges etc.
Most engaged service areas include Community and Childrens ,
Insurance, HR, Equalities, Highways and IT.

12. Blaenau Gwent; Caerphilly; Merthyr Tydfil; Bridgend; Neath Port Talbot & Swansea.
Blaenau – Working with Mark Group and EDF to deliver energy efficiency improvements; Developing Community skills training for energy efficiency
Merthyr – Working in partnership with local groups to raise awareness of Climate Change and impacts. Local Environment Partnership focusing on energy efficiency.
Caerphilly – SD Action Plan; Leading the way in environmentally friendly buildings; Development of Ecological Footprint; Very active Environment Partnership.
Bridgend - Bridgend Environment Partnership; Bridgend Environmental and Sustainability Partnership; Green Dragon Level 5 across all council buildings.
Neath Port Talbot – 2010 Climate Survey of residents; Development of Carbon footprint; Reduction in council Carbon Emissions; Sustainable Transport; Combined Energy and SD Teams;
Swansea - Sustainable Swansea awards; Swansea Renewable Energy.

13. Environmental Partnership
Thank You.
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