Download Highland climate change strategy

Agenda
Item
Report
No
THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL
8 February 2007
HIGHLAND CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY
Report by the Chief Executive
Summary
This report seeks approval for the scope of work set out by the Climate Change Working Group to develop
a Highland Climate Change Strategy. This includes action by Council Services to adapt to the impact of
global warming, and increased activity to reduce the Council’s carbon footprint. The report highlights
predicted impacts of climate change and the Council’s existing commitments to reducing greenhouse gas
emissions. It also seeks approval for a range of future activity to reduce our carbon footprint through
tackling obstacles to the delivery of renewable energy projects in the Highlands.
1.
1.1
BACKGROUND
The Highland Council agreed on the 26th of October 2006 to develop a Highland Climate Change
Strategy and to sign Scotland’s Climate Change Declaration, which asks Councils to produce and
publicly declare a plan to achieve a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from their
own operations, and assess the risks and opportunities for services and communities of predicted
climate change impacts and take action to adapt accordingly. The Declaration was signed at
Sustainable Development Select Committee on the 17th of January 2007.
1.2
Recent research by the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) shows important climatic
changes for Scotland in future years. There is a growing trend of warmer, wetter, and cloudier
winters, and warmer, drier summers, combined with an increase in the frequency of extreme
weather events. At the UK level, winter storms have increased by 50% over the last 50 years and
the four warmest years ever recorded were the last four years - with 2006 the warmest year ever in
Scotland. In the Highlands the January 2005 storms cost the Council over £4m in remedial work,
while in October 2006, prolonged heavy rainfall followed by winds on the east coast cost the
Council an estimated £5.4m.
1.3
It was agreed that a short-life Member/Officer Working Group would be established to oversee
the development of the Highland Climate Change Strategy, whose first meeting took place on 25
January 2007. This report presents the scope of the work of this group, as agreed at that meeting.
1.4
Much work can be taken forward with others and the Working Group will seek presentations and
dialogue with appropriate partners, eg HIE, SNH, NHS and the Forestry Commission, at future
meetings. A partnership approach to land and environment is to be developed with community
planning partners as one of the changes to the Wellbeing Alliance. The Working Group proposed
that climate change should become a shared issue within this arrangement, focussing on both
challenges and opportunities presented to the region in dealing with climate change in partnership.
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2.1
ISSUES TO CONSIDER AND AVAILABLE SUPPORT
The Working Group agreed that the Highland Climate Change Strategy should address all three
dimensions of the Council’s role as manager of its own estate, service provider and community
leader. To do so, the Group needs to consider the following issues:
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•
•
•
•
•
How the Council needs to adapt to the impact of global warming (eg preparing for and
responding to extreme weather events/ higher temperatures / warmer, wetter and windier
conditions).
How the Council can continue to reduce green house gas emissions from its own operations
and from other sources through its regional stewardship role;
How the Council can work with strategic partners to minimise the adverse effects of global
warming, limit emissions, and ensure a focussed approached to awareness raising and
promoting wider understanding of the issues involved;
How to take advantage of the opportunities for the region in developing a climate change
strategy;
How the Council’s approach to climate change will fit with the new Scottish Climate Change
Programme priorities and targets, and Scotland’s Declaration on Climate Change
requirements.
2.2
To draw on good practice, learn from experience in Highland and elsewhere and to make good use
of the support available in developing climate change strategies, the Working Group will benefit
from:
• Learning lessons from dealing with recently experienced weather-related events;
• Specialist advice from guest speakers;
• Research commissioned by climate change advisory bodies, such as the DEFRA-funded
UK Climate Impacts Programme;
• Guidance and tools available such as the new support tool which takes local authorities
through a step by step process to adapt to the impact of climate change.
3.
3.1
ADAPTING TO THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL WARMING
The biggest challenge facing the Council is the need to adapt its services, resources, plans and
policies to deal with the predicted climate change and the increase in the frequency of extreme
weather events. The potential impacts of climate change reported previously to Council included:
Planning:
•
Building standards:
•
•
Housing:
•
Building design
services:
Emergency planning:
Business support:
•
Roads maintenance:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Higher risk of flooding / erosion of susceptible developments in
floodplains or coastal margins.
Previously identified development sites may no longer be suitable
for development.
Design changes to promote greater energy efficiency, support
micro regeneration of renewable energy sources.
Hotter drier summers could increase pressure on water resource
further.
Milder wetter winters causing damp, condensation and mould
problems.
Increased risk of flooding and severe weather.
Climate change provides changing markets, e.g. tourism and
agriculture and demand for new products.
Increased rainfall intensity affecting embankments and bridge
piers and washing more debris into gullies.
Higher risk to roads located in flood plains or coastal areas.
Increase in rate of growth and length of growing season of road
verges.
Increased risk of landslips due to increased rainfall intensity.
Increased risk of damage to bridges carrying roads over rivers due
to higher river levels.
Reduction in the number of frost days due to warmer wetter
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•
Health and
services:
social
•
•
•
Environmental
health:
•
winters.
Increased frequency of salt wash-offs due to wetter winters.
Milder winters giving rise to fewer cold related deaths
Potential reduction in fuel poverty
Heat stress likely to increase to the old, poor and vulnerable
communities/people.
Warmer drier summers may lead to an increase in cases of food
poisoning.
3.2
It is proposed that each Service will bring forward relevant Service-specific issues for
consideration to separate meetings of the Working Group. In a presentation to its first meeting,
the Director of TEC Services presented an overview of the impact that climate change is expected
to have on road maintenance, referring to:
•
the anticipated trend away from conditions of severe cold/ice/snow to higher incidence of
rainfall, wind and flood risk;
•
the current focus on flood prevention measures, including rapid response activity and
maintenance; and
•
the need to seek improvements to the Flood Prevention Scheme statutory process, which will
include lobbying for a change in legislation to speed up this process.
3.3
The Working Group also noted that measures to adapt to global warming will impact on the
capital programme. Members are reminded that at its meeting on 1 February 2007 the Council was
asked to approve investment of £1M in drainage and watercourse maintenance as a flood
prevention measure in 2007-08.
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4.1
REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
The Council is already acting to reduce the Highland’s carbon footprint, with significant activity
underway to limit greenhouse gas emissions, as listed in Paras 4.4 – 4.6 below. Our carbon
footprint is the measure of the effect of Council activity on climate change in terms of the quantity
of greenhouses gases produced.
4.2
This activity is a key strand of the climate change strategy but more work is needed to ensure
existing commitments are fit for purpose and go as far as possible to minimise emissions and
adapt to climate change. The Working Group needs to:
1. Review the information currently available (and to fill any information gaps) to define a
carbon footprint for the Council;
2. Consolidate the various carbon emissions targets for a Council wide target;
3. Identify any gaps in carbon emissions data and systems for tracking carbon emissions and
consider how this may be overcome;
4. Consider whether and how any off-setting of targets could operate.
4.3
At its first meeting the Working Group also acknowledged the importance of promoting climate
change awareness in schools and agreed that discussions be held with the Director of Education,
Culture and Sport with a view to submission of a report to the next meeting of the Working Group
on this project and on proposals for appropriate material/projects at primary school level.
4.4
Commitments already underway to reduce the Highlands’ carbon footprint include:
•
The Fuel Poverty and Home Energy Conservation Act Strategies which have achieved a
reduction in fuel poverty, energy use and CO2 emissions through investment in improvements
in energy efficiency of houses in the public (through the Warm and Dry Programme) and
private sectors, the provision of energy advice and working to reduce the cost of fuel by a
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range of methods including the introduction of renewable heating schemes.
•
The Highland Area Waste Plan limiting greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the use of
landfill to 29%, increasing recycling to 31% and energy from fuel to 27%, and maintaining
levels of composting at 13%, by 2020.
•
The Highland Renewable Energy Strategy sets targets to increase the Highlands’ installed
capacity of a diverse range of renewable energy technologies by 13.3 GW by 2050
contributing a total saving in CO2 emissions of 22.7M Tonnes.
•
The Energy Management Performance Plan set targets to reduce energy use by 15%, avoid
£3.8M in energy costs, reduce CO2 emissions by a minimum of 15% and increase the installed
capacity of renewable energy equipment by a minimum of 4,000kW by 2010.
“Green Electricity - 64% of the electricity currently used in Council buildings is exempt from
the Climate Change Levy (CCL), which means it is generated from a combination of
renewable sources and good quality Combined Heat and Power plants, commonly referred to
as “green” electricity. The amount of CCL-exempt electricity purchased is expected to
increase over the lifetime of the current contract, which expires in March 2009, as the
Council’s energy supplier brings more renewable generation on stream. The electricity used
for streetlighting is purchased under separate contract and is currently 100% “green” (ie CCLexempt).
•
4.5
The following work is either due to begin or is in progress:
• Making arrangements to implement and track progress with the Carbon Management Plan
agreed in 2006, which sets targets to reduce CO2 emissions from Council properties,
streetlighting, staff travel, fleet transport and waste management by 7% by 2010.
• Conducting strategic environmental assessment of all Council plans, programmes and
strategies that have a significant impact on the environment (presenting an opportunity to
“climate proof” future action).
• “Greening” in-house resources, to cover Council procurement and internal waste management
(to be prepared by April 2008).
4.6
The Council is also taking active steps to promote energy efficient practice including “lowcarbon” solutions in Council buildings and new development through:
•
Piloting the “Sustainable Design Statement” requirement by planning applicants in Ross &
Cromarty (supported by new Development Plan Policy Guidance on designing for
sustainability in the Highlands) with a commitment to extend this requirement in due course to
all Highland Areas;
•
Use of the BREEAM method for assessing the environmental and sustainable quality of new
development designed or procured by the Council, including the adoption of a CO2 emission
target of 5kg/m2 as a reference standard for all new development;
•
Support for the Highland Housing Fair demonstration project to showcase innovative, modern
“low-carbon” housing designs and demonstrate sustainable development through advanced
forms of site servicing, scheme layout and building practice;
•
Ongoing support for Community-owned sustainable energy projects (such as Caithness Heatr
and Power District Heating Scheme, Eigg Electrical Ltd and Knoydart Hydro Ltd);
•
Support for the Highland Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (HEEAC), which serves the
domestic and business sectors offering, free, impartial advice on saving energy and CO2
emissions, and runs a comprehensive range of local and national energy efficiency schemes
with energy efficiency partners.
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5.1
FUTURE COMMITMENTS TO REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
At the meeting of the Energy Management Working Group on 16 November 2006, it was agreed
that a range of activity would be proposed for the Council’s approval to tackle obstacles to
delivering renewable energy projects in the Highlands. These are:
5.2
(a)
To review progress on achieving exemplary standards of energy efficiency in Council
properties, with a commitment that the Council will ensure that all new buildings,
extensions and refurbishments in the 5-year capital programme demonstrate “low-carbon”
design principles, prioritising the need to minimise energy demand and make appropriate
use of renewable energy, where necessary, as an alternative to fossil fuels. This would go
further than the presumption in favour of renewable energy use already approved by
Council, because it must ensure that a “low-carbon” approach is woven into the delivery of
all projects under the capital programme, including mechanisms for monitoring compliance.
It should also lead to the development of a whole-life costing model that allows the Council
to (substantially) fund any additional capital expenditure associated with this approach.
5.3
(b)
To commission a clear appraisal of the supply and market for woodchip over the next 20
years (including the ability to harvest a sustainable local supply.) This should take into
account any work done already by the Forestry Commission and HIE. It would contribute
to the discussion required with lenders and developers on the risks perceived in the
installation of wood fuel boilers.
5.4
(c)
As the strategic housing authority, and planning and building standards authority, the
Council should seek to influence the adoption of “low carbon” design practice for all new
housing in the Highlands, in particular:
•
the affordable housing development programme of around 500 houses per annum, funded
by Communities Scotland, to increase the use of renewable energy sources which would
also help to deliver the fuel poverty strategy;
•
new housing for the private sector by commercial developers.
There may be scope also to consider the Council’s private sector housing grants programme.
5.5
(d)
To continue to lobby the Scottish Executive for changes to the Scottish Building Standards
to ensure that all new development complies with “low-carbon” design practice and that
planning policies require a proportion of renewable energy sources to be installed in
appropriate new development.
5.6
(e)
To review the operation of Highland Energy Advice Centre to deliver effective advice and
action on alternative energy sources as well as energy efficiency and examining how grant
aid might be tailored and extended to better encourage the installation of micro and
community renewables, particularly in areas with restricted fuel choice. The review should
take into account the role and fit with HIE’s Community Energy Community. It should also
include consideration of any new legislation on this issue (e.g. the Private Member’s Bill on
micro-regeneration).
5.7
(f)
To explore options for a partnership approach to achieving more widespread buy-in to “lowcarbon” energy solutions in the Highlands, including the potential for joint action with
public sector partners and / or energy suppliers in the procurement of renewable energy
installations, and in improving energy and carbon management practice.
5.8
(g)
To explore in principle the potential for the Council to take part in the Carbon Trust’s
“Partnership for Renewables” scheme, which is a DTI funded initiative set up to develop
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renewable energy projects on public sector land; and to report the outcome of this
investigation to a future meeting of the Energy Management Working Group.
Recommendation
The Council is asked to consider the report and:
1. AGREE to the scope of the work of Climate Change Working Group as set out in
Section 2, 3 and 4, covering the need to:
(a)
address all three dimensions of the Council’s role as manager of its own estate,
service provider and community leader;
(b)
consider adapting to global warming, reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
partnership approaches, awareness raising, opportunities presented to the region
and the fit with national requirements;
(c)
develop service-specific measures for adapting to climate change, using the
tools and other support methods available;
(d)
ensure existing commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions are fit for
purpose and go as far as possible to minimise emissions and adapt to climate
change in terms of: defining a carbon footprint, consolidating targets, sorting
any data issues and considering the need and mechanisms for off-setting against
carbon emission targets;
and
2. APPROVE the range of activity to tackle obstacles to delivering renewable energy
projects in the Highlands as set out in Section 5, specifically to:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
Ensure that a “low-carbon” approach is woven into the delivery of all building
projects under the Council’s capital programme, including mechanisms for
monitoring compliance;
Commission a clear appraisal of the supply and market for woodchip over the
next 20 years;
Influence the adoption of “low carbon” design practice for all new housing in
the Highlands;
Lobby the Scottish Executive to ensure that the Scottish Building Standards and
Scottish planning policy actively promotes “low-carbon” design;
Review the operation of Highland Energy Advice Centre to deliver more
effective advice and action on alternative energy sources as well as energy
efficiency;
Explore options for a partnership approach to achieving more widespread buy-in
to “low-carbon” energy solutions in the Highlands;
Explore in principle the potential for the Council to take part in the Carbon
Trust’s “Partnership for Renewables” scheme.
Signature:
Designation:
Chief Executive
Date:
1 February 2007
Authors:
Carron McDiarmid, Una Lee, Cath King
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