1. Climate East Midlands Module 2 - Climate change Why councils should act now

2. Climate East Midlands 2 Overview The science - what is climate change? Where do CO 2 emissions originate from? What are the impacts: –Globally –Locally Taking action Image: NASA visible earth

3. Climate East Midlands 3 What is climate change? Image courtesy of Defra

4. Climate East Midlands 4 CO 2 concentrations are rising… Image: Wikipedia (data source – Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center)

5. Climate East Midlands 5 …causing the world to get warmer Image: The Hadley Centre

6. Climate East Midlands 6 … because of the fossil fuels we’ve consumed Image: Wiki Commons (data source - US Global Change Research Information Office)

7. Climate East Midlands 7 Carbon emissions by end user

8. Climate East Midlands 8 Global impacts Famine Drought Extreme weather events Flooding Collapse of ecosystems and extinction Images: Wiki Commons

9. Climate East Midlands 9 UK impacts Extreme heat Water shortages Flooding and sea level rises Knock-on effects: –Increased mortality due to heat waves –Increased insurance premiums –Disrupted maintenance –Disrupted services –Disrupted transport Image: EST

10. Climate East Midlands 10 What do we need to do? A two strand approach is needed: We need to mitigate climate change (i.e. reduce it) by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. We need to adapt to the changing climate  ACTING ON THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

11. Climate East Midlands 11 Other benefits Cutting greenhouse gas emissions has additional benefits: –Increased ‘security of supply’ –Improved air quality –Lower fuel bills and/or reduced fuel poverty Images: freeimages.co.uk

12. Climate East Midlands 12 Policy response Kyoto protocol –Global target: 5.2% decrease on 1990 levels by 2010 –EU: 8% cut –UK: 12.5% cut UK target –Climate Change Act –80% decrease on 1990 levels by 2050 Climate Change Act 2008

13. Climate East Midlands 13 Local authorities are still required to report on CO 2 reduction from LA operations (was NI185) Information on per capita reduction in CO 2 emissions in the LA area is now collected on behalf of DECC and published on an annual basis each autumn (was NI186) Single data list

14. Climate East Midlands 14 Other drivers Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006 Display Energy Certificates Carbon Reduction Commitment Housing standards Planning and building control Powers to act

15. Climate East Midlands 15 Local action is needed Local government is uniquely placed to tackle climate change. –Democratic mandate for action –Strategic role –Leaders in the community

16. Climate East Midlands 16 “Councils face challenging financial conditions with tough decisions about resource allocation. But these pressures cannot be an alibi for inaction. In our view, citizens are entitled to expect council leadership and action on climate change.” Professor John Chesshire, Chairman, LGA Climate Change Commission, 2007