Download Ealing Borough Climate Change Strategy 2008-2011

Ealing Borough
Climate Change Strategy
2008-2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword .......................................................................................................... 1
Executive Summary ......................................................................................... 2
Introduction ...................................................................................................... 3
Aims and Objectives ........................................................................................ 4
Governance and Performance Management Framework ................................ 4
Statement of Community Involvement ............................................................. 6
Theme 1: Energy ............................................................................................. 7
Theme 2: Waste............................................................................................. 10
Theme 3: Transport ....................................................................................... 12
Theme 4: Resource Use ................................................................................ 14
Theme 5: Adaptation ...................................................................................... 16
Glossary ......................................................................................................... 17
References..................................................................................................... 20
Appendix 1: Action Plan ................................................................................. 21
Appendix 2: Performance Indicators and Targets .......................................... 26
Appendix 3: Climate Change Explained ......................................................... 31
Please note that Ealing’s carbon dioxide emissions mentioned throughout the strategy are
now out of date. Revised 2005 data and new 2006 was released on 18th September 2008,
after Cabinet approval of this strategy.
See http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localgovindicators/ni186.htm
Foreword
Welcome to Ealing’s first borough-wide Climate Change Strategy. It has been developed
by the Environment and Climate Change Board; and is a demonstration of the Local
Strategic Partnership’s commitment to reducing the borough’s contribution to climate
change over the three-year period 2008 to 2011.
Affects of climate change are already apparent, and it is predicted that as a result of
climate change there will be warmer and wetter winters, hotter and drier summers and
more frequent extreme weather events.
With the enormity of this problem, action must also take place at the local level as well as
the global and national level. This is not work which we can do in isolation: as well as
environmental, there are economic, social and health consequences to climate change;
and meeting these challenges requires a coordinated approach involving many
individuals, groups and institutions.
This strategy co-ordinates a range of priorities into an over-arching document that sets
out how we plan to work in partnership to reduce the borough’s carbon dioxide emissions.
It builds on existing activities and policies, and highlights work going on across the
borough to address both the causes and the consequences of climate change.
With new issues and opportunities emerging daily this strategy will need to be reviewed
regularly, and updated in 2011.
Councillor Susan Emment
Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Board
Portfolio holder for Environment and Street Services
September 2008
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Executive Summary
In 2005, Ealing’s end user carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions were 1717 kilotonnes, which
is equivalent to 5.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per capita (King et al 2007). This
first Climate Change Strategy sets the strategic direction of what Ealing’s Local Strategic
Partnership (LSP), Partnership for Ealing, intends to do to reduce Ealing’s contribution to
climate change.
The United Kingdom is the world’s eight largest emitter of carbon dioxide emissions, with
London being responsible for eight per cent of these emissions (Greater London Authority
2007). The Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) released figures
for carbon dioxide emissions by sector in Ealing for 2005:
Ealing’s CO2 emissions 2005
Sector
CO2 emissions (kt CO2)
Industry and commercial
636
Domestic
657
Road Transport
424
TOTAL
1717
CO2 emissions (%)
37%
38%
25%
100%
Source: King et al 2007
This strategy aims to reduce Ealing borough’s contribution to climate change with a target
to achieve a 10 per cent reduction in per capita carbon dioxide emissions by 2010/11
from a 2005 baseline. The strategy’s target and timeline is consistent with the new Local
Area Agreement (LAA) to help provide the strategic direction to the LSP for helping to
achieve this target.
The LSP acknowledges that this strategy does not address everything in relation to
climate change but it does seek to address issues around five key themes: energy,
transport, waste, resource use and adaptation. Objectives and actions have been set
around each of these themes. Progress and actions will be monitored regularly by the
second tier partnership, Environment and Climate Change to ensure the LSP is on track
to meeting its target.
Delivering on the actions (see Appendix 1) will be the joint responsibility of all partners
represented on the LSP. Therefore it is essential that the partnership work in
collaboration, with each other and the community, to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions
of the borough.
With mitigation an immediate priority for the LSP, as reflected by the LAA, the key activity
areas for the LSP are:
 Minimising waste and increasing recycling;
 Reducing the energy consumption and improving the energy efficiency of LSP
properties and encouraging the domestic, voluntary and community, and
commercial sectors to do the same;
 Building climate change principles into policies and contracts;
 Using resources more efficiently through sustainable procurement practices; and
 Communication campaigns with LSP staff, local businesses, residents, and
community and voluntary groups to raise awareness and educate on climate
change, its implications and what they can do to help tackle climate change.
Realistically, the LSP can only have limited influence on emissions; action by all those
who live and work in Ealing is essential for tackling climate change. However, there are
many important areas that the LSP can influence and the action plan reflects this.
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Introduction
There is overwhelming scientific evidence that climate change is happening and that
human activity is causing it. Climate change is a global challenge but will have local
impacts and thus needs to be tackled from all levels.
The Stern Review, published in 2006, estimates that the cost of inaction to be up 20 per
cent of gross domestic product (GDP) per year, whereas in contrast the costs of action to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions can be limited to around one per cent of global GDP
each year (Stern 2006). Therefore, the benefits of strong and early action far outweigh
the economic costs of not acting.
People have become more aware about the links between their everyday behaviour and
the climate. With the United Kingdom economy at risk of recession and the cost of
essentials such as petrol, energy and food increasing, changing your everyday behaviour
will not only help the environment but also could save you money. Tackling climate
change can also help combat issues such as deprivation and fuel poverty.
Ealing’s LSP Executive has recognised the importance of the issue of climate change
and in March 2007 agreed to pursue the development of a Climate Change Strategy for
Ealing. Cabinet agreed to the development of this strategy on 1 May 2007. Ealing Council
became a signatory of Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change on 16 May 2007,
committing the Council to work with the community to address the causes and the
impacts of climate change.
The Government also recognises the need to act now and the Climate Change Bill
currently before Parliament sets up the framework for the UK to achieve its long-term
goals of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and to ensure steps are taken towards
adapting to the impact of climate change. The Bill contains provisions that will set a
legally binding target for reducing UK carbon dioxide emissions by at least 26 per cent by
2020 and at least 60 per cent by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. There will be a review of
the target with an expectation that this will be increased to 80 per cent by 2050.
The Bill will introduce a new system of legally binding five-year carbon budgets for the UK
starting in 2008. Enabling powers to introduce carbon-trading schemes through
secondary legislation is also included. The Bill will also support emission reductions
through several specific policy measures including implementation of the Carbon
Reduction Commitment – a mandatory cap-and-trade scheme covering energy use
emissions from large, non-energy intensive organisations. Therefore it is important for the
LSP partner organisations to consider their carbon footprint and how to go about reducing
it.
A new streamlined performance framework for local government was introduced that has
required local government to report its performance against 198 indicators since April
2008. Out of the 198 indicators there are three indicators specifically on climate change.
However there are numerous other indicators that relate indirectly to climate change
issues such as fuel poverty and air quality.
The new LAA contains 23 indicators, including one of the climate change indicators - per
capita carbon dioxide emissions in the local authority area. The LAA target set for
2010/11 is a reduction of per capita emissions by 10 per cent from this 2005 baseline.
The second tier partnership board, Environment and Climate Change, was tasked with
developing the strategy, with Ealing Council leading the development on behalf of this
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group, and brought together a partnership of public, private and voluntary organisations
to contribute to the development.
Aims and Objectives
In 2008, Partnership for Ealing approved the refreshed Sustainable Community Strategy
(SCS) for Ealing. This document set out a series of ten-year goals that the Local Strategic
Partnership will deliver. For the Environment and Culture theme, the ten-year goal is to
make Ealing a better place to live.
One of the objectives under this theme is:
“Reduce the borough’s contribution to climate change and be recognised as a
‘green’ borough”
In order to achieve these goals, the LSP has set itself some immediate priorities for
improvement over the next three years, set out in its Local Area Agreement (LAA) with
central government. One of the immediate priorities of the LAA is to reduce carbon
dioxide emissions per head of population across the borough.
The overarching aim of this strategy is to reduce Ealing borough’s contribution to climate
change. Based on the LAA target, the target for this strategy is to reduce per capita
carbon dioxide emissions in the borough by 10 per cent by 2010/11 from a 2005 baseline.
The objectives of the strategy are to:

Prevent waste going to landfill through reducing the amount of waste produced,
and increasing the re-use and recycling of waste

Reduce energy consumption across the borough

Reduce emissions resulting from transport through transport planning and our
own activities

Develop policies and procedures that promote the effective use of natural
resources

Ensure the borough is prepared to manage risk from a changing climate and
make the most of new opportunities
Each of these objectives links to particular themes throughout the strategy. Underlying
these objectives are key work areas that cut across all the objectives, including sharing
best practices, planning policy, and education and communication internally within
partner organisations and externally within the borough.
Governance and Performance Management Framework
Governance
For Ealing to reduce its contribution to climate change it is essential that the LSP work in
collaboration towards common objectives. The Climate Change strategy is a multi-agency
document that can only be delivered if the public, private and third sectors work together.
Overall ownership of this strategy rests with Ealing’s LSP, Partnership for Ealing. The
LSP Executive Board will be asked to approve the Climate Change strategy and its action
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plan initially and whenever it is revised. The Executive Board is responsible for ensuring
the delivery of the SCS. As climate change forms a part of this strategy’s key objectives
and cross-cutting themes it is vital that the Executive Board review progress against the
Climate Change strategy. Therefore, progress updates against the strategy will be
integrated into the existing performance management framework of the Executive Board.
The Environment and Climate Change Board, the second tier partnership within the LSP,
will be the lead partnership for this strategy. Performance reports, which will set out
progress being made across the partnership with regard to the delivery of the strategy
action plan, will be brought to this board for scrutiny.
As climate change is a crosscutting issue, one strategic board cannot implement the
range of actions. Therefore, the actions within the strategy action plan will be assigned to
one of the second tier partnership boards and they will be required to monitor progress
against these actions and report back to the Environment and Climate Change Board on
a quarterly basis. For example, actions around housing such as improving energy
efficiency will be the responsibility of the Economy, Enterprise and Housing Board.
The third tier partnerships within the LSP will provide support to the second tier
partnership through delivering on actions and providing monitoring reports as delegated.
A new third tier partnership for the Environment and Climate Change board will be
established to effectively deliver on the actions of the strategy. They will develop annual
project and communication plans to show how they will do this. Each quarter, all the
groups will be required to report on performance and two groups per quarter will present
project updates reports.
Finally, the Council Cabinet will also be asked to approve both the strategy and action
plan initially and whenever it is revised. As Ealing Council will be a key lead delivering
agency for this strategy it is vital that the commitments made by that organisation have
the support of Councillors. The Cabinet will receive annual performance reports on Ealing
Council’s performance with regards to the delivery of the strategy action plan as well as it
own action plan on carbon management.
Performance Management and Targets
Performance indicators will be tied to each of the strategy’s objectives. Improvement
against these performance indicators will be used to measure the extent to which the LSP
is fulfilling these objectives (see Appendix 2).
For each performance indicator targets have been set for three years. Some are existing
stretch targets that have been taken from the previous LAA. Many of the performance
indicators taken from the national indicator set have not been collected before and the
LSP only has baseline information to set targets. Some of the national indicators require
a 2008 baseline to be established therefore targets for some indicators have not been set
yet.
The third tiers will be tasked with further developing the performance management of the
strategy and help establish targets where they are missing, as appropriate. The strategy
is a flexible document that is reviewable on an annual basis and therefore it will be
updated with these targets at its annual review.
Further, it is important to remember that the delivery of the strategy will also be monitored
through the extent to which projects and activities within the action plan are delivered.
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Statement of Community Involvement
In order to inform this strategy and initial action plan the LSP undertook a series of
research and consultation activities to inform it’s thinking. The process consisted of:

Partnerships for Ealing Assembly Climate Change Workshop: In November
2007 a LSP Assembly was held and the attendees were asked to consider two
questions that related to interventions to tackle climate change.

Environment and Climate Change Board Workshop: Ealing Council facilitated
a workshop with attendees of the Environment Climate Change Board meeting in
March 2008. The aim of this workshop was for the Board to suggest actions for
the action plan around three areas: the LSP, the borough and adaptation.

Climate Change and Sustainability Board Workshop: The Climate Change
and Sustainability Board organised a workshop, which consisted of members of
this board, the Sustainability Network (SUN Group), and officers from Ealing
Council. Attendees considered suggested themes for the strategy and proposed
how they could be taken forward and by whom.

Climate change work analysis: Interviews were conducted with colleagues from
across the LSP to review what work was currently being undertaken on climate
change and reducing carbon dioxide emissions from organisation’s operations. In
the case of Ealing Council this was reviewed against what other London boroughs
were doing via a desktop study.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: On 29 May 2008, the Overview and
Scrutiny Committee considered a draft of the Climate Change strategy and action
plan as part of the consultation process.

Stakeholder consultation: The strategy in its various forms has been provided to
stakeholders, including LSP partner organisations, for comment.
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Theme 1: Energy
Objective: Reduce energy consumption across the borough.
Context
Energy is central to our everyday lives. However, we face two long-term challenges
around energy:
1. tackling climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and
2. ensuring secure, clean and affordable energy supplies.
To generate electricity we burn fossil fuels that produce greenhouse gases, particularly
carbon dioxide emissions. London’s electricity and gas consumption causes 75 per cent
of London’s carbon dioxide emissions (Greater London Authority 2007) and more than
two thirds of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions come from the way we produce and
use energy, so energy policy has to play a major part in meeting the challenge of tackling
climate change (Department of Trade and Industry 2007).
Energy Efficiency
The most cost effective way to reduce carbon emissions is to use energy more efficiently
(Department of Trade and Industry 2007). Improving energy efficiency also contributes to
financial savings, the security of energy supply, and reducing fuel poverty through lower
bills and tackling health and social problems. In 2005, the domestic sector accounted for
38 per cent of Ealing’s carbon dioxide emissions while the industry and commercial
sector accounted for 37 per cent of emissions (King et al 2007). The carbon dioxide
emissions by end user for this sector are broken down in Figure 1. An important action for
the LSP will be communicating with staff, householders, voluntary and community groups
and local businesses regarding energy efficiency and the support available to achieve
reductions in the carbon dioxide emissions from these sectors.
Ealing Community Network (ECN)
ECN is purchasing trial software to monitor and reduce energy use in community
buildings. This will initially be piloted in five premises managed by voluntary groups.
The average household creates around 6 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year (Energy Saving
Trust 2008b). Domestic sector emissions come from the energy used to heat, light and
power our homes, including cooking and appliances.
The planning system offers one of the greatest opportunities to influence energy use and
carbon emissions from new developments. The government has committed for all new
homes to be zero carbon by 2016 with a progressive tightening of energy efficiency
building regulations. Since May 2008 all new homes are required to have a Code rating
against the Code for Sustainable Homes to show the overall sustainability performance of
the new home. The new Mayor for London proposed that all new homes will meet code
level 3 by 2010, and code level 6 by 2016. Therefore these homes are more energy and
water efficient, produce fewer carbon emissions and are better for the environment as it
encourages their owners to live in a more sustainable way. Energy Performance
Certificates (EPCs) will be required for all buildings whenever a building is constructed,
rented or sold. EPCs set out the energy efficiency and carbon emissions of a building.
The Home Energy Conservation Act 1996 seeks a 30 per cent improvement in energy
efficiency in existing residential accommodation over the following 10-15 years. Carbon
Savings of around 20 per cent can be made by installing readily available technologies
like loft and cavity insulation and gas condensing boilers (Energy Saving Trust 2008a).
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There are numerous national and local initiatives that aim to improve the energy
efficiency of private sector housing such as Warm Front and London Warm Zones that
offer free or discounted cavity wall and loft insulation. Ealing Council actively promotes
these initiatives and where to go for energy efficiency advice. The Council will publish a
Private Sector Housing Strategy in late 2008 that addresses improving the quality of
private housing in the borough, which will also address energy efficiency.
Figure 1: 2005 Ealing CO2 emissions from domestic, and industrial and commercial
sectors
Ealing Council will develop an Affordable Warmth Strategy that covers all housing stock
in the borough, to address the issues of fuel poverty in Ealing and will aim to make links
with climate change. Ealing Homes has developed and Energy Efficiency Strategy and is
responsible for ensuring that the council’s housing stock complies with the Decent Homes
standard, which means properties must have reasonably modern facilities, be warm and
weatherproof. The Decent Homes programme will improve the thermal efficiency of the
council’s housing stock. Work will be done with the borough’s RSLs to deliver affordable
homes and design quality protocols.
Emissions from the commercial and public sector primarily come from electricity usage,
including lighting and computing. Energy used for cooling buildings could also become a
significant cause of emissions with the climate becoming warmer.
From 1 October 2008 Display Energy Certificates (DECs) are required for all public
buildings greater than 1,000 m2 that are occupied by public authorities or institutions
providing a public service to a large number of persons. With the introduction of the
requirement of DECs, the LSP needs to consider how to improve the energy efficiency of
their buildings.
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Ealing Primary Care Trust (PCT)
Ealing PCT rent their office space, located on Armstrong Way in Southall. Despite this,
the PCT have had the Carbon Trust undertake a carbon survey of their premises. As a
result they have worked with the Carbon Trust to develop an Energy Strategy in 2007 and
implemented an Energy Champions scheme within their office.
Local residents in Ealing have access to an Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, which
provides free independent energy advice on behalf of the Council on grants, general
energy efficiency, tariff switching, renewable energy and referrals to certain schemes.
There are numerous national and local schemes that are available for energy efficiency
and renewable and low carbon technologies.
The Business Environmental Support and Training initiative aims to support local
businesses to become more environmentally responsible whilst improving their
processes, profitability and competitiveness. Groundwork London, one of the partners in
Ealing’s LSP, offer businesses a variety of support including practical advice, and energy
audits, to realise cost saving through improved environmental performance.
As in the case of residential development where the Code for Sustainable Homes will be
applied, the planning authority will expect new commercial developments to also comply
with Environmental Assessment Methodologies such as BREEAM.
Some partners have already begun doing work around improving energy efficiency,
including working with the Carbon Trust such as Ealing Council, which is a participant in
phase 6 of the Carbon Trust’s Local Authority Carbon Management Programme. Through
this programme, the Council will be working with the Carbon Trust to identify carbon
emissions savings from the Council’s operations.
The LSP will continue to work with organisations such as the Carbon Trust and the
Energy Saving Trust to improve energy efficiency within their buildings and will
encourage local businesses and residents to seek advice and support from these
organisations.
Renewable Energy
In combination with using energy more efficiently, generating energy from sources that
emit low or even zero levels of greenhouse gases, such as renewable energy, can
reduce the impact of climate change. In 2006, renewable energy sources contributed 4.6
per cent of total UK electricity supply (BERR 2008). The Government has set a target for
10 per cent of UK’s electricity to be generated by renewable sources by 2010 and
increasing to 20 per cent by 2020.
The Government has an expectation that all planning authorities include policies around a
percentage of energy in new developments to come from on-site renewable where it is
viable (referred to as the ‘Merton Rule’). Ealing Council now has a policy for developers
to achieve carbon emission savings of 20 per cent through on-site renewables in line with
the London Plan.
Renewable energy will be considered by the LSP in future procurement choices and
developments within the borough.
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Theme 2: Waste
Objective: Prevent waste going to landfill through reducing the amount of waste
produced, and increasing the re-use and recycling of waste.
Context
In the UK, waste management is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions,
mainly through land filling waste and incineration, which emits methane and carbon
dioxide. Most of the waste we generate ends up in landfill where the breakdown of the
biodegradable part generates methane. Recycling and composting needs to continue to
increase to divert waste away from landfill and incineration to reduce its impact on climate
change.
Ealing Council has a Waste Collection Strategy for Ealing 2003 – 2013 and an associated
Waste Minimisation Strategy that has targets to ensure that there is a reduction in the
amount of the waste that the borough produces and there are increases in recycling and
composting in the borough. Through the planning process, new developments generally
provide facilities for recycling as well as storage of waste. As a waste planning authority,
Ealing Council needs to make sure there are adequate sites available for waste
management and disposal facilities of all waste in the borough to divert waste away from
landfill. Ealing are currently working with five other west London boroughs to develop a
Joint Waste Development Plan Document for this purpose.
Ealing Council
With cleaner streets identified as one of the Council’s three priorities as a response to
residents’ concerns, the Council heavily invested in changes to refuse collection and
recycling services. In November 2007, the Council introduced plastic recycling, same-day
refuse and recycling collections, weekly garden waste collection and same-day pick-ups
for missed refuse collections. That month 1,400 tonnes of dry waste was recycled – a
20% increase compared to the same month a year before. The total weight of plastic
collected in the first few weeks of plastic recycling collections was the equivalent 11.5
double decker buses!
Municipal waste recycling has increased by 9.33 percent since 2006/07. With the
introduction of a borough wide commercial recycling service planned, it is expected this
will increase. Ealing residents produce 120,000 tonnes of household waste annually, but
only approximately 30 per cent of this is reused or recycled. However, recycling in the
borough is recycling 42 percent more than two years ago. Reusing and recycling waste
reduces waste buried in landfill, lowers waste disposal costs and helps reduce our carbon
footprint.
The LSP will continue to raise awareness and educate, and support the borough to
encourage householders, voluntary and community groups, local businesses and schools
to minimise their waste and to re-use or recycle.
Energy from waste
Using waste to generate energy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions emitted from
waste when compared to landfill and provide an alternate energy source to move away
from non-renewable sources. Currently in Ealing, the Council collects food wastes from
residents in the borough and this is anaerobically digested to produce organic fertiliser
and generate energy. This reduces the amount of food waste that would otherwise end
up in landfill sites and produce greenhouse gas emissions. Since the contract started
enough energy has been produced to heat over a 1000 homes. The Council also offers
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local businesses free collection of their used cooking oil, which will then be turned into
biodiesel.
Transportation of waste
The transportation of waste can contribute to climate change. However by reducing the
amount of transport associated with waste collection and management, the amount of
carbon dioxide emissions associated with it are reduced.
Climate change mitigation from the transport of waste can be achieved by:
 Ensuring the most efficient collection routes,
 Reducing the distance travelled between waste management sites and waste
collection points (the Proximity Principle),
 Reducing emissions from vehicles, and
 Ensuring contractors take climate change objectives seriously.
Ealing currently maximises the proximity principle, managing all its waste, except
batteries, within the UK. Ealing Council will be considering the viability of developing a
recycling processing facility in the borough to manage waste locally.
Groundwork London
The Groundwork London office in Acton recycles paper, cardboard, glass, cans and
plastics. In 2007, they recycled 3200kg of paper and cardboard, 40kg of glass and 65kg
of cans and plastic. Collectively this is equivalent to saving 37 trees and 4600kWh of
energy (Source: Paperround). Groundwork London also recycles as much as they can on
their projects, diverting over 100 tonnes of waste from landfill.
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Theme 3: Transport
Objectives: Reduce emissions resulting from transport through transport planning and our
own activities.
Context
Good transport systems are important for building economies and improving access and
mobility for people to access jobs, education and services. Road transport is also a
significant contributor to climate change, local air pollution and congestion. Planning
policy should promote integrated settlements that minimise the need for travel, enhance
public transport, support high quality and energy efficient design and encourage
renewable energy. There is a push for low to zero carbon development with the design
and location of new developments, including the accessibility to public transport to allow
sustainable transport options, key elements to achieving this.
Road transport contributes the most to poor air quality in Ealing and contributed to 24.7
per cent of Ealing’s total carbon dioxide emissions in 2005 (King et al 2007). The carbon
dioxide emissions by end user for this sector are broken down in Figure 2. Measures to
reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the transport sector will not only have benefits for
climate change mitigation but also on health and air quality. Air quality will be addressed
in Ealing’s Air Quality Strategy currently under development.
Figure 2: 2005 Ealing CO2 emissions from road transport
Reducing carbon dioxide emissions from this area requires: a reduction of the number of
journeys and miles undertaken by individuals, businesses and other organisations in
vehicles producing carbon dioxide emissions; improving vehicle efficiency; and affecting a
switch to zero or low emission modes of transport and fuels. These changes also present
an opportunity to save money on vehicle running costs.
Some LSP partners have implemented or are developing staff travel plans that
encourage cycling, car sharing and working from home to reduce staff journeys and
miles. There has been some consideration switching to greener fleets but there will need
to be further work in fleet management across the LSP partners to make the change. The
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review of fleet to switch to more sustainable options will be explored and would be
delivered through procurement.
London Fire Brigade.
There are four fire stations within the borough (Northolt, Southall, Ealing and Acton) with
around 200 personnel. Fire trucks are leased and are becoming more environmentally
friendly. The LFB are investing in lower emission pumping appliances and dual fuel cars,
testing the use of bioethanol fuel in their fleet cars and seeking to introduce the use of
biodiesel for appliances when possible.
School travel plans
53 schools in the borough have travel plans in place. School travel plans aims to promote
the well-being of children and the local community through promotion of safe and
sustainable modes of transport. These can range from engineering measures to promote
safe walking routes to school, to road safety and environmental education and incentive
schemes to encourage environmentally responsible travel choices.
It is important that the borough is aware of sustainable travel practices and transport
choices that are available to them in order to change their travel behaviour. The LSP will
develop communication campaigns to promote sustainable transport amongst staff,
voluntary and community groups local businesses and residents.
Aviation
Ealing is in close proximity to London Heathrow Airport. Aviation is a contributor to carbon
dioxide emissions although these emissions are not included in reductions obligated by
the Kyoto Protocol and the UK’s assessment of emissions. The Council along with 16
other London borough councils are part of the 2M Group that oppose the proposed
expansion to the airport due to the environmental impacts it will have on communities.
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Theme 4: Resource Use
Objective: Develop policies and procedures that promote the effective use of natural
resources.
Procurement
Adopting a green procurement approach encourages the efficient use of resources and
the reduction in waste and greenhouse gases, as less energy is required to produce the
goods or services. This can save organisations and individuals money.
Greenhouse gas emissions are generated by the production, supply, consumption and
disposal of products and services. Climate change can be tackled through procurement
by considering the carbon footprint of the goods and services that are procured. Aspects
to consider include the life span of the product, can the product be reused or recycled,
how much waste does it generate and how much natural resources were used in its
manufacture or to operate it.
Some LSP partner organisations have sustainable/green procurement frameworks in
place. The LSP will build on these and share best practice so all partners are working
towards embedding green procurement policies within their organisation. The LSP will
also encourage local businesses, voluntary and community groups and other
organisations to change their purchasing behaviour.
Ealing Community Network (ECN)
ECN has been actively engaging with the whole local voluntary sector in environmental
issues:
 Developed a local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Environmental Strategy.
 Prepared an ECN Environmental Charter, which has been circulated, to 800 local
groups to sign-up to.
 Currently developing an online section on the ECN website called the Going Green
Zone
 Launching an annual ECN ‘ Going Green’ Award for local voluntary groups.
 Piloting energy efficiency software in voluntary sector run premises.
 Helping local groups achieve the Green Quality Mark.
 Running environmental skills training workshops for voluntary groups in partnership
with Groundwork London.
Planning
Tackling climate change has become a key Government priority for the planning system
with an increasing focus on climate change mitigation and adaptation in national planning
policy. Development Plan Documents are required to include policies to contribute to the
mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change. The Planning Policy Statement, Planning
and Climate Change, sets out how planning should contribute to reducing emissions and
stabilising climate change.
The bill and policy statements will feed into the development of the Council’s Local
Development Framework (LDF). The Council’s LDF plans to address climate change
through the borough’s planning policy. The LSP will work with developers to ensure
climate change is considered when submitting planning proposals and during the
development and construction stage. Compliance with planning policy requirements by
developers will ensure successful delivery of the objectives set out in the LDF.
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Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)
The MPS consumes energy, water, raw materials and natural resources through its
operations. The objectives in their Environmental Strategy seek to minimise the impact of
its operations in these areas including the reducing the emissions of transport fleet,
implementation of a Sustainable Staff Travel Plan, use of green energy as the sole
source of electricity supply and increasing the energy efficiency of buildings.
Water
Water use produces greenhouse gases through energy use associated with abstracting,
pumping, treating and heating water and treating and pumping wastewater. Water
efficiency is important to reduce water use, which in turn reduces energy use, thus
reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It will also ensure that water is available and protect
the natural environment. Ealing should be considering the impact of increased risk of
flooding and water shortages on the borough as a result of climate change.
15
Theme 5: Adaptation
Objective: Ensure the borough is prepared to manage risk from a changing climate and
make the most of the new opportunities.
Context
Some degree of climate change resulting from past and present emissions of greenhouse
gases is inevitable. Climate change adaptation is changing behaviour, institutional
arrangements or economic activity to adapt to both direct and indirect consequences of
climate change.
Adapting well to climate change is about assessing and managing risks using the best
available information on climate change and relating it to the local landscape, the location
of all critical infrastructure and services, and the needs of the local community. Climate
change may also bring opportunities that could be exploited therefore adaptation needs
to consider taking advantage of certain consequences of climate change.
It is predicted that as a result of climate change there will be warmer and wetter winters,
hotter and drier summers and more frequent weather events such as storms and flash
flooding in store for Ealing and the rest of London, which will impact on local services and
infrastructure (see Appendix 3). By understanding more about what the impact will be for
our local area we will be better equipped to take action to reduce the risks and take
advantage of the potential benefits. A London Local Climate Impacts Profile (LCLIP) is
proposed that will identify, categorise and quantify the impacts of weather event upon
each London borough. Ealing Council will be working with the London Climate Change
Partnership to contribute to the development of the LCLIP.
Climate change will have implications for services including, emergency planning, waste
management, planning, estates management, social services and the provision of leisure
services. The LSP will need to work together and with other agencies such as emergency
services and the Environment Agency to minimise the increased risk to communities
associated with these impacts.
With the built environment designed to last a long time, it is clearly vulnerable to any
changes in the climate. Adaptation of the built environment (new and existing) will need to
consider ensuring that it has the flexibility or resilience to cope with the projected climate
changes. Timing of adaptation measures is important to reduce overall costs so
introduction of measures should be considered to coincide with planed maintenance
and/or upgrading or when certain opportunities arise such as unscheduled breakdowns.
Spatial planning also has a role to play in shaping sustainable communities that are
resilient to the consequences of climate change.
As part of the work the LSP will be doing around adaptation, the LSP will also be
communicating to residents, local businesses, and voluntary and community groups on
the impacts of climate change on the borough and how they can be prepared to deal with
these.
Ealing Council – Planning policy
Work has begun on adapting the borough to climate change. The Council has undertaken
a strategic flood risk assessment of the borough to identify areas of risk to flooding and to
what level. This will influence policy in regards to future developments in the borough to
prevent inappropriate construction in flood risk areas and ensuring existing development
identified in a flood risk area can cope with the impacts of flooding.
16
Glossary
Adaptation – addresses the impacts and opportunities resulting from a changing climate.
BERR – Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. A UK Government
department that leads work to create the conditions for business success through
competitive and flexible markets that create value for businesses, consumers and
employees. It drives regulatory reform, and works across Government and with the
regions to raise levels of UK productivity.
Biofuel – a fuel produced from organic matter or combustible oils produced by plants.
Carbon dioxide – a naturally occurring gas, it is also a by-product of burning fossil fuels
and biomass, as well as land-use changes and other industrial processes. It is the
principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s temperature. It is the
reference gas against which other greenhouse gases are indexed (referred to as Global
Warming Potential).
Carbon footprint – the amount of carbon dioxide emitted directly and indirectly by an
individual, organisation, event or product.
Carbon Reduction Commitment – is a mandatory emissions trading scheme being
introduce by the Government to cover large businesses and public sector organisations
such as government departments, universities, retailers, banks, water companies, hotel
chains and local authorities. The scheme covers large business and public sector
organisations whose annual half-hourly metered electricity use is above 6,000 MWh. The
scheme will begin in January 2010, with a three-year introductory phase. The first capped
phase will begin in January 2013.
Carbon Trust – an independent company set up by the Government in 2001 to accelerate
the move to a low carbon economy by working with organisations to reduce carbon
emissions and develop commercial low carbon technologies.
www.carbontrust.co.uk
Climate – refers to the average weather experienced over a long period. This includes
temperature, wind and rainfall patterns.
Decent Homes – A Government standard that Council’s and Housing Associations have
to meet for all their homes by 2010.
Defra – Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. A United Kingdom
Government department whose mission is to enable everyone to live within our
environmental means.
Ealing Homes – an arms length organisation that manages council housing residents on
behalf of Ealing Council.
Ealing Community Network – the umbrella forum for local voluntary and community
groups.
Energy Saving Trust – not for profit organisation set up by the Government in 1993 with
funding from government and private sector. Set to address the damaging effects of
climate change through reducing carbon dioxide emissions by promoting the sustainable
and efficient use of energy.
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
17
Fossil Fuels – carbon-based fuels formed in the ground over very long periods, including
coal, oil and natural gas.
Fuel poverty – A low-income household that has to spend more than 10 per cent of its
income to maintain an adequate heating regime.
Global Warming Potential (GWP) – an index representing the combined effect of the
differing times greenhouse gases remain in the atmosphere and their relative
effectiveness in absorbing infrared radiation. The GWP of a greenhouse gas is compared
to the GWP of carbon dioxide, which is 1.
Greenhouse gas emissions – gases in the atmosphere that absorb and re-emit infra-red
radiation, producing the greenhouse effect. These gases occur through both natural and
human-influenced processes. The major greenhouse gases are water vapour, carbon
dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Other greenhouse gases are
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).
This strategy focuses on carbon dioxide emissions, as this is the gas that is reported on
for the new national indicator 186.
Green procurement – purchasing goods and services that minimise environmental
impact.
Kyoto Protocol – first ever international treaty to set legally binding GHG emissions
reduction targets on developed countries that have ratified it.
Local Area Agreement (LAA) – negotiated set of short-term priorities between the LSP
and the Government.
Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) – framework of statutory, private and third sector
organisations that deliver services or are stakeholders in the borough. See also
Partnership for Ealing.
Methane – one of the greenhouse gases to be controlled under the Kyoto Protocol, which
is 21 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.
Merton Rule – planning policy pioneered by the London Borough of Merton, which
requires the use of renewable energy onsite to reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions
in the built environment.
Mitigation - refers to the efforts to limit the man-made causes of climate change primarily
through reducing greenhouse gases.
Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change – a voluntary pledge to address the issues of
climate change. It represents a high-level, broad statement of commitment that any
council can make to its own community. The declaration was originally launched in
October 2000 and was re-launched on 5 December 2005. Ealing Council signed the
declaration on 16th May 2007.
Partnership for Ealing (PfE) – the name of Ealing Borough’s Local Strategic Partnership.
The Partnership brings together the full range of key strategic partners from all sectors in
Ealing, including private, voluntary, statutory and business sectors. Partnership members
have an interest in promoting and improving the quality of life of all who live and work in
the borough.
18
Proximity Principle – waste should be disposed of as close to the point at which it is
generated.
Renewable energy – term used to describe energy flows that occur naturally and
continuously in the environment, such as energy from the wind, sun, waves or tides.
Sustainable Community Strategy – the document that sets the vision and priorities for
Ealing that guides the LSP to identify and take action on local issues in the borough.
United Kingdom Climate Impact Programme – established in 1997 by the Government to
help coordinate scientific research into the impacts of climate change, and to help
organisations adapt to those unavoidable impacts.
www.ukcip.org.uk
WestTrans – a partnership of the six West London boroughs of Ealing, Brent,
Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow. Led by Ealing Council, and
joined by the Park Royal Partnership, it works with Transport for London to identify,
develop and implement transport projects to the benefit of the subregion. It contributes
advice to West London leaders relating to the development of an appropriate transport
strategy for West London through liaison with the West London Strategic Transport
Group.
www.westtrans.org
19
References
BERR (2008) Frequently Asked Questions (on renewables) available at
http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/explained/intro/faqs/page43371.html
Defra (2007) The environment in your pocket 2007. Available at
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/eiyp/intro.htm
Department of Trade and Industry (now BERR) (2007) Meeting the Energy Challenge A
White Paper on Energy. Available at
http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/whitepaper/page39534.html
Greater London Authority (2007) Action Today to Protect Tomorrow – The Mayor’s
Climate Change Action Plan. Available at
http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/environment/climate-change/ccap/index.jsp
King K, Goodwin J, Passant N, Li Y and Brophy N (2007) Local and Regional CO2
Emissions Estimates for 2005 for the UK, AEAT/ENV/R/2522, AEA Energy &
Environment.
Available at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/globatmos/galocalghg.htm
Stern, N (2006) Stern Review: The Economics of Climate Change. Available at
http://www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/stern_review_economics_climate_change/sternrevi
ew_index.cfm
Energy Saving Trust (2008a) Emission impossible? A vision for a low-carbon lifestyle by
2050. Available at
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/your_impact_on_climate_change/emission_impossib
le
Energy Saving Trust (2008b) How we contribute to climate change available at
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/your_impact_on_climate_change/how_we_contribut
e_to_climate_change
20
Appendix 1: Action Plan
Objective: Prevent waste going to landfill through reducing the amount of waste produced, and increasing the re-use and recycling
of waste
Policy Area
Activity
Thematic Partnership
Lead Organisation(s)
Timeline
LSP
LSP partner organisations to undertake communication Environment and Climate
All LSP partner
Ongoing
campaigns with staff to promote waste minimisation
Change Board
organisations
and recycling.
LSP partner organisations to ensure that the facilities
Environment and Climate
All LSP partner
January
are provided to staff to recycle all paper, cardboard,
Change Board
organisations
2009
plastics and aluminium cans.
Further develop and initiate a borough wide schools
Environment and Climate
LBE
October
waste education campaign.
Change Board
2008
Introduce a school’s food waste recycling collection
Environment and Climate
LBE
October
trial.
Change Board
2008
Investigate the expansion of food waste collection and
Environment and Climate
LBE
April 2009
recycling to LSP partner organisations e.g. hospital and Change Board
residential homes.
Borough
Increase awareness and participation in recycling
Environment and Climate
LBE
Ongoing
wide
services through a programme of education.
Change Board
Maximise the take up of existing recycling services.
Environment and Climate
LBE
Ongoing
Change Board
Introduce a borough wide commercial waste recycling
Environment and Climate
LBE
To be
scheme.
Change Board
confirmed
Roll-out and promote the existing estates based
Environment and Climate
LBE
Ongoing
recycling facilities.
Change Board
Recover energy from the borough’s food waste through Environment and Climate
LBE
Ongoing
anaerobic digestion.
Change Board
21
Objective: Reduce energy consumption across the borough
Policy Area
Activities
LSP
LSP partner organisations to undertake communication
campaigns with staff to promote energy efficiency.
LSP partner organisations to work in partnership with
support agencies, such as the Carbon Trust, to improve
the energy performance of their buildings.
LSP partner organisations ensure that when facilities are
updated or replaced an evaluation of the best option for
significant investment decisions using option appraisal
and whole life costing techniques informs purchasing
decisions.
An appraisal is undertaken for the potential of renewable
energy generation, including the selling of surplus
energy, when developing all major capital schemes.
All LSP partner organisations to receive at least 10% of
their electricity from renewable sources.
Ensure all public buildings greater than 1000 m2 display
Energy Performance Certificates and improve energy
performance year on year.
Borough
wide
Undertake communication campaigns with residents,
voluntary and community groups, businesses and other
organisations to promote energy efficiency.
Provide energy grants to residents in private sector
housing.
Work with RSLs to deliver affordable homes and design
quality protocols.
22
Thematic Partnership
Environment and Climate
Change Board
Lead Organisation(s)
All
Timeline
Ongoing
Environment and Climate
Change Board
All
Ongoing
Environment and Climate
Change Board
All
As required
Environment and Climate
Change Board
LBE
Ongoing
LBE
2012
LBE and other all LSP
partner organisations
that this applies to
1 October
2008
LBE
Ealing Homes
Ealing PCT
Chamber of Commerce
ECN
LBE
Ongoing
LBE
Ongoing
Economy, Enterprise and
Housing Board
Environment and Climate
Change Board
Economy, Enterprise and
Housing Board
Environment and Climate
Change Board
Economy, Enterprise and
Housing Board
Economy, Enterprise and
Housing Board
Economy, Enterprise and
Housing Board
Economy, Enterprise and
Housing Board
Ongoing
Objective: Reduce emissions resulting from transport through transport planning and our own activities
Policy Area
Activities
Thematic Partnership
Lead Organisation(s)
LSP
LSP partner organisations to undertake communication Environment and
All LSP partner
campaigns with staff to promote sustainable transport.
Climate Change Board
organisations
Borough
Economy, Enterprise
and Housing Board
Change for Children
Board
Environment and
Climate Change Board
Encourage the borough’s schools to develop and
deliver school travel plans.
LSP partners to work in partnership with support
agencies such as WestTrans to develop and deliver
staff travel plans.
LSP partners to undertake a review of their vehicle
fleet, including cost benefit analysis of switching to
more sustainable options.
Incorporate environmental component to borough wide
transport strategy supplementary to the Local
Implementation Plan.
LBE
Ongoing
All LSP partner
organisations
June 2009
Environment and
Climate Change Board
All LSP partner
organisations
June 2009
Environment and
Climate Change Board
LBE
October 2009
LBE
ECN
Ealing Community
Transport
Chamber of Commerce
LBE
WestTrans
Ongoing
LBE
2011
LBE
Ongoing
Economy, Enterprise
and Housing Board
Environment and
Climate Change Board
Undertake communication campaigns with residents,
community and voluntary groups and local businesses
to promote sustainable transport.
Encourage local businesses to work in partnership with
support agencies such as WestTrans to develop and
deliver staff travel plans.
Bid for and implement a trial for three Power Ramps to
produce energy from transport.
LSP partners to oppose the expansion of Heathrow
Airport.
Economy, Enterprise
and Housing Board
Environment and
Climate Change Board
Environment and
Climate Change Board
Economy, Enterprise
and Housing Board
23
Timeline
Ongoing
Ongoing
Objective: Develop policies and procedures that promote the effective use of natural resources
Policy Area
Activities
Thematic Partnership
LSP
LSP partners to develop policies so that the climate
Environment and Climate
change impact of suppliers is considered within its
Change Board
commissioning or procurement decisions.
LSP partner organisations collate reliable
Environment and Climate
information/data to manage progress in achieving our
Change Board
objectives to reducing our impact on climate change.
LSP partner organisations evaluate the best option for
All boards
significant investment decisions using option appraisal
and whole life costing techniques.
Introduce climate change impact assessments in key
Environment and Climate
decisions made by LSP partners.
Change Board
Incorporate climate change principles into LSP
Environment and Climate
organisations’ training and induction programmes.
Change Board
Borough
Introduce flexible working policies across the whole of
LSP partner organisations, including the review of
remote working options.
Introduce Climate Change Champion schemes (or
similar) to all large LSP organisations.
Environment and Climate
Change Board
Incorporate the mitigation of climate change into the
development of the Local Development Framework.
Environment and Climate
Change Board
Develop Supplementary Planning Guidance on climate
change for new developments.
Economy, Enterprise and
Housing Board
Environment and Climate
Change Board
Environment and Climate
Change Board
Economy, Enterprise and
Housing Board
24
Lead Organisation(s)
All major LSP
partner
organisations
All major LSP
partner
organisations
All major LSP
partner
organisations
LBE
Timeline
March 2011
All major LSP
partner
organisations
All major LSP
partner
organisations
All major LSP
partner
organisations
LBE
April 2009
LBE
December 2009
Ongoing
As required
December 2009
April 2010
April 2009
December 2009
Objective: Ensure the borough is prepared to manage risk from a changing climate and make the most of new opportunities
Policy Area
Activities
Thematic Partnerships
Lead Organisation(s) Timeline
Adaptation
Identify a lead official to provide advice on potential
Environment and Climate Local Adaptation
October 2008
impacts of future climate change to the Council, other
Change Board
Partnership
LSP partners, local businesses, residents and other
organisations
Establish a local adaptation partnership as part of third
Environment and Climate LBE
October 2008
tier restructure
Change Board
Undertake a Local Climate Impacts Profile for Ealing on Environment and Climate Local Adaptation
June 2009
determining potential impacts of future climate change
Change Board
Partnership
Produce a Comprehensive Risk Assessment
Environment and Climate Local Adaptation
December 2009
Change Board
Partnership
Publish a Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan
Environment and Climate Local Adaptation
2010/11
Change Board
Partnership
Initial cost analysis undertaken and potential sources of Environment and Climate Local Adaptation
2010/11
funding identified for major vulnerabilities
Change Board
Partnership
Organisational business plans include actions to
Environment and Climate All major LSP
2011/12
address the risks as identified by the Local Climate
Change Board
partner
Impacts Profile.
organisations
Incorporate adaptation to climate change into the
Environment and Climate LBE
December 2009
development of the Local Development Framework
Change Board
Economy, Enterprise and
Housing Board
25
Appendix 2: Performance Indicators and Targets
Table 1: Existing indicators and targets
Strategy
objective
Indicator
Baseline
07/08 Final
Improvement Target
Prevent waste
going to landfill
through reducing
the amount of
waste produced,
and increasing
the re-use and
recycling of
waste
BV82(a)(ii) –
tonnage of
household
waste sent for
recycling
BV82(b)(ii) –
tonnage of
household
waste sent for
composting
BV84a) –
amount of
household
waste collected
per head of
population
Average SAP
ratings for local
authority
dwellings
Average SAP
ratings for
private sector
(non-RSL)
dwellings
2005/06 –
19,151
24,792
(target was 26,194)
08/09
Standard: 26,500
Stretch: 26,894
09/10
Standard: 28,000
Stretch: 30,894
2006/07 –
21,914
2005/06 –
4887
9,533
(target was 13,395)
Standard: 14,000
Stretch: 14,495
Standard: 16,000
Stretch: 17,500
Ealing Council
2006/07 –
8037
2005/06 –
411kg
385.5kg
(target was 411kg)
Standard: 411kg
Stretch: 411kg
Standard: 411kg
Stretch: 400kg
Ealing Council
72.6
Standard: 71
Stretch: 73
Standard: 72
Stretch: 74
Ealing Council
and Ealing
Homes
Data not available
Standard: 53
Stretch: 56
Standard: 54
Stretch: 59
Ealing Council
Reduce energy
consumption
across the
borough
Lead partner(s)
Ealing Council
2006/07 –
404kg
2005/06 – 68
2006/07 – 71
2005/06 – 51
2006/07 – 51
26
Table 2: New performance indicators and targets
Strategy
objective
Indicator
Baseline
Reduce Ealing
borough’s
contribution to
climate change
NI 186: Per
capita CO2
emissions in the
LA area
5.7 Domestic
per capita
CO2 tonnes
(2005) is
baseline.
Prevent waste
going to landfill
through reducing
the amount of
waste produced,
and increasing
the re-use and
recycling of
waste
NI191 –
Residual
household
waste per
household
NI 192:
Household
waste recycled
and composted
NI193 –
Percentage of
municipal waste
land filled
Improvement Target
Lead partner(s)
08/09
3.33% reduction against
baseline (0.188 tonnes)
09/10
6.66%
(An additional 3.33%
reduction against
baseline (additional
0.188 tonnes)
10/11
10%
(An Additional 3.33%
reduction against
baseline (additional
0.188 tonnes)
Ealing Council
Ealing Council
Not yet
confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Not yet confirmed
An agreed overall 3 year
improvement of 10%
against the baseline
(0.57 tonnes), with an
improvement of 3.33%
each year.
Not yet confirmed
24% (06/07),
29.6%
forecast
(07/08)
Not yet
confirmed
32%
38%
40%
Ealing Council
Not yet confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Ealing Council
27
Strategy
objective
Reduce energy
consumption
across the
borough
Indicator
Baseline
The capacity of
new waste
management
facilities by type
Amount of
municipal waste
arisings, and
managed by
management
types, & the
percentage each
management
type represents
of the total
waste managed
NI187 –
Tackling fuel
poverty - % of
people receiving
income based
benefits living in
homes with a
low energy
efficiency rating
Renewable
energy capacity
(mw) installed
by type
Not yet
confirmed
Improvement Target
Lead partner(s)
08/09
Not yet confirmed
09/10
Not yet confirmed
10/11
Not yet confirmed
Ealing Council
Not yet
confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Ealing Council
No baseline
data available
yet
Target not set – need
baseline data
Target not set – need
baseline data
Target not set – need
baseline data
Ealing Council
Not yet
confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Ealing Council
28
Strategy
objective
Indicator
Baseline
Reduce
emissions
resulting from
transport through
transport
planning and our
own activities
NI 167:
Congestion –
average journey
time per mile
during the
morning peak
NI175 – Access
to services and
facilities by
public transport,
walking and
cycling
NI177 – Local
bus and light rail
passenger
journeys
originating in the
authority area
NI198 –
Children
travelling to
school – mode
of transport
usually used
NI188 –
Planning to
adapt to climate
change
No baseline
data available
yet
Develop policies
and procedures
that promote the
effective use of
Improvement Target
Lead partner(s)
08/09
Target not set – need
baseline data
09/10
Target not set – need
baseline data
10/11
Target not set – need
baseline data
Ealing Council
No baseline
data available
yet
Target not set – need
baseline data
Target not set – need
baseline data
Target not set – need
baseline data
Ealing Council
Not yet
confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Ealing Council
Not yet
confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Ealing Councils
and schools in
borough
Not yet
confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Not yet confirmed
29
Strategy
objective
Indicator
natural resources NI189 – Flood
and coastal
Ensure the
erosion risk
borough is
management
prepared to
manage risk from
a changing
climate and
make the most of
new
opportunities
Baseline
Not yet
confirmed
Improvement Target
Lead partner(s)
08/09
Not yet confirmed
09/10
Not yet confirmed
30
10/11
Not yet confirmed
Ealing Council
Appendix 3: Climate Change Explained
What is it?
Climate change is the result of a rise in the average global temperature due to
increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere.
Greenhouse Effect
Gases form a blanket around the earth, which trap heat near earth’s surface that
would otherwise escape into space. Energy from the sun is trapped inside our
atmosphere as it is reflected back from the earth towards space. This is a natural
process called the ‘greenhouse effect’. This blanket of gases keep the earth warm,
allowing it sustain life.
Source: http://unfccc.int/essential_background/feeling_the_heat/items/3157.php
Greenhouse gases
The atmospheric gases that form the blanket around the earth that traps in heat are
called ‘greenhouse gases’ (GHG). The main GHG are water vapour and carbon
dioxide. However, there are a number of GHG that are emitted by human activities
that increase their concentration in the atmosphere that enhance the greenhouse
effect causing the earth’ climate to change unnaturally.
The six GHG considered the most potent and are therefore covered by the Kyoto
Protocol are:
 Carbon dioxide (CO2)
 Methane (CH4)
 Nitrous oxide (N2O)
 Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
31


Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)
The global warming potential of each gas is measured against that of carbon dioxide.
For example, methane’s global warming potential is 21 times that of the same unit of
carbon.
What causes climate change?
Human activity has changed the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
The burning of fossil fuels for energy and transport, and cutting down forests are the
main sources of carbon dioxide. The decomposition of organic matter through waste
in landfill sites and agricultural activities produces methane. The growth of the world’s
population is leading to an increased demand for food, livestock and energy, which is
in turn leading to an increase in emissions.
The UK is the world’s eight largest emitter of carbon dioxide, with London being
responsible for eight per cent of these emissions. In London in 2005, industry and the
transport sectors each accounted for around 28 per cent of emissions and domestic
users accounted for a further 27 per cent (The environment in your pocket 2007).
While for the same year, the industry and commercial and the domestic sectors each
accounted for approximately 38 per cent of the total emissions in Ealing.
Likely effects/impacts of climate change
With global temperatures rising and the climate changing, there will be changes in
weather, rising sea levels and more extreme weather.
The UKCIP projects that by 2080 London will have warmer and wetter winters, hotter
and drier summers, rise in sea level in the Thames Estuary and more frequent
extreme weather events such as storms and flash flooding. Table 1 summarises
predicted possible impacts for Ealing.
Table 3: Summary of the possible impacts for Ealing
Issue
Higher
temperatures
Flooding
Water
Resources
Health
Possible impacts for Ealing – main points
 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 poverty.
 Increased risk of 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.
 Water demand will be heightened during hot, dry summers.
 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 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.
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Biodiversity
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Built
Environment
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Transport
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Business and
Finance
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Tourism
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Lifestyle
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Warmer weather would favour conditions for increased
competition from exotic 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.
Earlier springs, longer frost-free seasons and reduced
snowfall could affect dates of bird egg-laying, as well as the
emergence, first flowering and health of leafing or flowering
plants.
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.
London’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 weatherrelated disruption.
The London 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 the face of increased flood risk.
The risk management of potential climate change impacts
may provide significant opportunities for London businesses.
Increased temperatures could attract more visitors to Ealing,
benefiting the tourist sector.
Leisure and recreational facilities and tourist attractions will
need to be able to cope with climate change by providing a
pleasant environment for visitors.
High temperatures could lead to residents leaving Ealing in
search of a more comfortable environment on holidays or
breaks.
Outdoor living may be more favoured, 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.
Source: Adapted from London’s Warming – The Impacts of Climate Change on London
Summary Report (2002)
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This strategy is published by Policy and Performance,
Ealing Council on behalf of Partnership for Ealing
For strategy enquiries, please contact
Graeme McDonald
Director of Policy and Performance
London Borough of Ealing
Perceval House
14-16 Uxbridge Road
Ealing
W5 2HL
Tel 020 8825 7485
Email [email protected]
Courtney Smith
Policy Officer
London Borough of Ealing
Perceval House
14-16 Uxbridge Road
Ealing
W5 2HL
Tel 020 8825 6227
Email [email protected]
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