http://www.climate-em.org.uk/ Climate East Midlands News en mike.peverill@emra.gov.uk Copyright 2012 2012-01-25T21:49:25+00:00 http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/inspiring-leaders-programme-gets-underway/ http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/inspiring-leaders-programme-gets-underway/#When:20:49:25Z Inspiring Leaders is a new Climate Skills Programme aimed at elected members of local authorities in the East Midlands and is delivered directly by Climate East Midlands. Briefing sessions for members have been offered to all 46 local authorities and interested members are being invited to all of the Climate Skills Programme concluding events to hear about what’s been learnt over the last few months of intensive activity. Portfolio Holders for Climate Change are being invited to host Inspiring Visits where their council has a good story to tell. Inspiring Leaders is a new Climate Skills Programme aimed at elected members of local authorities in the East Midlands and is delivered directly by Climate East Midlands. There are three elements to it: Briefing sessions for members have been offered to all 46 local authorities prior to Council meetings Interested members are being invited to all of the Climate Skills Programme concluding events to hear about what's been learnt over the last few months of intensive activity Portfolio Holders for Climate Change are being invited to host Inspiring Visits for members of other councils where their council has a good story to tell. Blaby District Council (Leicestershire) was the first to take up the offer of a pre-Council briefing in December, followed by West Lindsey and South Holland District Councils (Lincolnshire) in January. Coming up in the next few weeks include Boston and North Kesteven Borough Councils (Lincolnshire), Lincolnshire County Council, Derby City Council, Mansfield District Council (Nottinghamshire) and Daventry District Council (Northamptonshire). We're also pleased to be supporting Lincoln City Council's Climate Change Conference during Climate Week on Wednesday 14th March. The aim of the programme is to bring members up to speed with the latest national and regional developments on climate change, discuss what's been achieved over recent years by local action and invite members to renew their commitment by signing up to the new Climate Local initiative when it's launched in April 2012. This is the new version of the Nottingham Declaration - itself a success story from the East Midlands. Read more on the LGA website here The programme also makes the case for why tackling climate change is important even in a time of austerity - it's about saving money, becoming more efficient, building local resilience and supporting the development of the low carbon and well adapting economy. Contact Mike Peverill for more details, M: 07854 284 588 or E: mike.peverill@emcouncils.gov.uk 2012-01-25T20:49:25+00:00 http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/first-uk-climate-change-risk-assessment-published/ http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/first-uk-climate-change-risk-assessment-published/#When:14:21:16Z The Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman, launched the findings of the UK’s first Climate Change Risk Assessment on 26th January 2012, as required under the terms of the Climate Change Act 2008. This major project for Defra has considered over 100 climate-related risks to the UK’s economy, society and natural environment and scored them in a consistent way. Climate East Midlands has produced a short information pack to interpret the key risks and opportunities for the East Midlands. The Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman, launched the findings of the UK’s first Climate Change Risk Assessment on 26th January 2012, as required under the terms of the Climate Change Act 2008. This major project for Defra has considered over 100 climate-related risks to the UK’s economy, society and natural environment and scored them in a consistent way. It is the first assessment of its kind for the UK and the first in a 5 year cycle. It provides underpinning evidence that can be used by Government to help inform priorities for action and appropriate adaptation measures. It also highlights where more work is needed to understand the scale and nature of the risks, and to help us consider what action we need to take and as such will inform the development of the National Adaptation Programme (NAP) which UK Government will publish in 2013. To coincide with the publication of the UK CCRA 2012 and given the importance of local adaptation action, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) commissioned the Climate UK (The Climate Change Partnerships across England - including Climate East Midlands) to produce an information pack to highlight key risks and opportunities from climate change within each area.  To sit alongside the regional packs, a series of case study "Impact Examples" have also been published. Click here to access the documents and find out more. See Defra's Press Release here See the BBC's interpretation here 2012-01-24T14:21:16+00:00 http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/climate-change-back-in-the-headlines/ http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/climate-change-back-in-the-headlines/#When:10:07:38Z Following the unexpected breakthrough at last week’s UN conference in Durban and a subsequent row over the cause of energy price rises, climate change has bounced back into the national news. A succession of ministers, experts, scientists and activists have traipsed through BBC Radio 4’s Today studio to argue their corner in recent days. Listen to some of the best bits. Last week's annual UN Climate Change conference produced an unexpected breakthrough after several years of wrangling. After some extended negotiations, with the UK and the EU playing a prominent role, a new 'Durban Platform for Enhanced Action' was agreed. This sets out a path towards a new global deal in 2015 which comes into force in 2020. A new £60bn Green Climate Fund will also come into operation then to provide finance to developing countries to enable low carbon development. In the meantime, the current legally binding Kyoto Protocol (to which the UK is a signatory) expires in 2013. This will be extended till 2020 so that at least a proportion of countries will be legally obliged to continue reducing emissions in the meantime. Will this allow the world to limit climate change to 2 degrees? (the threshold considered by climate scientists to be the safe limit and beyond which could trigger all sorts of feedback loops that could send temperatures rising even further). Listen to this 5 min BBC interview with Lord Nicholas Stern (author of the 2006 Stern Review into the Economics of Climate Change) to help understand the significance of the Durban deal. http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9660000/9660222.stm Since then, a new debate has started about the reason for increases in energy bills, with David Kennedy, Cheif Executive of the Committee on Climate Change arguing (on the BBC's Today programme) that the impact of green policies has had and will have a relatively small impact on bills compared to the rise in the wholesale price of gas. http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9662000/9662371.stm Later in the same programme, Matthew Sinclair, Director of the Taxpayers' Alliance and George Monbiot, journalist and green campaigner argue about whether taxation is the right way to tackle climate change in national policy. http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9662000/9662413.stm Would you like a debate on this subject with your own colleagues? Climate East Midlands has just started a round of briefing talks to elected members of local councils. Contact Moira Hunt if you'd like to take up the offer for your council (or other organisation). E: moira.hunt@emcouncils.gov.uk T: 01664 502 636 2011-12-15T10:07:38+00:00 http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/east-midlands-authorities-receive-carbon-trust-awards/ http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/east-midlands-authorities-receive-carbon-trust-awards/#When:14:38:20Z The hard work undertaken by 7 East Midlands’ authorities in developing carbon management plans was recognised by the awarding of certificates at the Carbon Trust annual alumni event.  During 2010/11 Amber Valley Borough Council, the Peak District National Park, Daventry District Council, Kettering Borough Council, Broxtowe Borough Council, Newark and Sherwood District Council and Rushcliffe Borough Council took part in the East Midlands Carbon Management Programme. In total, over £1million worth of year on year savings were identified by the 7 authorities, with a pay back period of just over 3 years. For  more information, contact Anne Gayfer anne.gayfer@emcouncils.gov.uk 07554 439 131 2011-12-09T14:38:20+00:00 http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/power-to-the-people1/ http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/power-to-the-people1/#When:14:00:41Z The eight communities exploring energy efficiency and ways of reducing carbon emissions have met twice to share the agonies and ecstasies of people power. The eight communities awarded grants from the Skills Programme are all moving forwards with developing projects that make their communities more resilient, and help to reduce carbon emissions in their areas. All the projects are leading to skills development within the communities, providing a continuing legacy, and are replicable elsewhere encouraging aspiring communities to follow their lead. Representatives from the communities have met twice to share best practice and benefit from cross fertilisation of ideas, as well as to engage in lively debates about pertinent issues – for instance, ‘how do you respond to voluble opposition to renewables?’, and ‘how do you generate interest in your community in low carbon activity’? The networking opportunity was welcomed by the communities. Projects experiencing difficulties received support and suggestions of positive ways forward to projects, whilst those with success stories shared their achievements in bringing communities together to combat climate change. Particularly stimulating discussions at the second workshop focused on communication, funding opportunities, managing grant schemes, sustaining momentum and opposing “bad” development. Discussions were so engaging they continued long after the events had formally finished and were rated highly by delegates! • Cross fertilisation of ideas x4 similar remarks. • Networking • Hearing about and being inspired by what other groups are doing, meeting other people with similar interests • Great people, great opportunity to learn from others experiences • The variety of schemes (funded) • Discussion workshops were good. x 7 similar remarks For more information, contact Diane Whitehead Groundwork East Midlands 07912 741883 0115 9420448   2011-12-09T14:00:41+00:00 http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/carbon-trust-implementation-energy-efficiency-made-easy/ http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/carbon-trust-implementation-energy-efficiency-made-easy/#When:13:56:24Z The Carbon Trust recently launched its new Implementation services to support the public and private sector find the best energy efficient solution to their specific needs, reduce energy use and save money. At the end of October, the Carbon Trust launched a new business called Implementation services, helping organisations reduce their energy costs and install greener, more efficient technology. Research among Carbon Trust customers revealed that around 60% do not move forward with implementing energy efficiency recommendations. This is because that, while companies recognise the opportunity to improve energy efficiency, they are held back by key barriers: insufficient time or resources; being able to quantify the expected returns and energy efficiency being a lower priority than other business considerations. Implementation services removes these barriers by providing independent, objective evaluation of the most effective energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies for a customer; a means of choosing trusted, accredited suppliers to carry out the work and helping customers to run competitive tenders for their projects. This unique service is funded by a flat rate commission from suppliers, meaning there is no cost to the customer itself in obtaining this support. The new service goes hand-in-hand with the flexible Energy Efficiency Financing scheme that the Carbon Trust and Siemens Financial Services Ltd (SFS) launched in April 2011, providing green equipment finance worth up to £550 million over the next three years. Under this scheme SFS provides the financial backing and the Carbon Trust uses its expertise in carbon saving from energy efficient technologies to assess the carbon, energy and cost savings of any application. The financing pays for itself through energy savings, resulting in no net cost to the customer.   Contact the Carbon Trust for more information Website www.carbontrust.co.uk/implementation Email customer@carbontrust.co.uk   2011-12-09T13:56:24+00:00 http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/extreme-weather-impacts-revealed/ http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/extreme-weather-impacts-revealed/#When:14:58:57Z A series of Local Climate Impact Profiles have just been published by Climate East Midlands that reveal some of the ways that extreme weather has affected people, places and public services. The findings of a short research project that looked into the impacts of extreme weather on people, places and public services has just been published. 'Local Climate Impact Profiles' have been completed for the cities and counties of the East Midlands and look at how the local authorities in particular coped with the challenges of flooding, storms, heatwaves and cold snaps. The purpose of this exercise was to help the councils concerned to get a picture of the range of impacts from extreme weather over the last ten years by looking back at reports in the media and by talking to some of the people involved in responding to the events at the time. Such impacts are likely to increase in frequency and severity in the future due to climate change, so this is considered a useful way to assess current vulnerability. All of the councils concerned have gone on to conduct detailed assessments of risk to their services from the future climate and found this a useful building block to engage key members of staff in thinking through the issues. Some of the further responses that councils have gone on develop are also mentioned in the LCLIPs, including action plans for adaptation. The LCLIP summaries are one of the outputs from the ongoing Well Adapting East Midlands project, which is funded by East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership through the Climate Sklls Programme. View the LCLIP summaries here. Contact Mike Peverill, Climate East Midlands for more information. T: 07854 284588. E: mike.peverill@emcouncils.gov.uk 2011-12-07T14:58:57+00:00 http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/new-big-lottery-fund-for-climate/ http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/new-big-lottery-fund-for-climate/#When:13:51:38Z The Big Lottery Fund launched a new £50m ‘Communities Living Sustainably’ programme on 29th November 2011, to help support community action on climate change. Climate East Midlands may be able to assist communities in the East Midlands wishing to apply by the deadline of 31st January 2012. The new Big Lottery programme 'Communities Living Sustainably' aims to support community action on climate change. Up to 10 projects across the country will receive up to £1m each to help tackle the local causes and consequences of climate change in their community. The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 31st January 2012. To help ensure that the East Midlands benefits from this new opportunity, Climate East Midlands and its partners may be able to assist local communities in working up their ideas. A meeting for potential applicants was held on 16th January, hosted by Browne Jacobson LLP in Nottingham and heard about 7 draft proposals from around the East Midlands. The presentations and discussion drew out some key learning points of some benefit to all concerned. Contact Mike Peverill at Climate East Midlands if you would like any help or advice on an application, on 07854 284 588. Full details of the programme and application process are here: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_communities_living_sustainably?tab=1®ioncode=-uk 2011-11-30T13:51:38+00:00 http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/building-business-resilience/ http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/building-business-resilience/#When:16:02:24Z Climate East Midlands has extended its survey to find out how resilient businesses in the East Midlands are to extreme weather, to give more businesses a chance to take part. The survey will now be live until 31st January 2012. The survey is part of a project to support businesses across the Midlands to become more resilient. A resilient business is one that is able to bounce back after an extreme event and also proactively takes advantage of opportunities e.g. to save money through avoided costs, or to make money through new products, services and markets. The survey findings will be used to develop free support for businesses in the East Midlands. Climate East Midlands has launched a survey to find out how resilient businesses in the East Midlands are to extreme weather. An ABI study revealed that 80% of businesses that do not have an emergency plan in place do not recover from a major incident such as a flood, even where insurance is in place to cover financial losses. This survey is part of a project to help SMEs in the Midlands become more resilient, as it will provide data from which we can develop free support for SMEs. To do this we need to know: if / how your business has been affected by extreme weather in the past whether your business is taking any action to become more resilient in the future whether you are considering the business opportunities that climate change will bring Why complete the survey? if requested, you will receive the overall results and details of any follow-up support it will help you to identify where you are against current good practice we will use the survey findings to develop free support for SMEs in the Midlands, and to share examples of good practice. To access the survey, please click on the link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QMF9Q8G It will take no longer than 10 minutes to complete. The survey has been extended to give more businesses the chance to take part, and will now be live until 31st January 2012.   This project has been funded by the Environment Agency (Midlands Region) and is being delivered by Climate East Midlands and Sustainability West Midlands. More detail is available in the Projects section.   Further information for businesses Climate East Midlands has published a guide for businesses called "Weathering the storm: saving and making money in a changing climate". The guide is mainly aimed at SMEs, but contains information that will be relevant to many other kinds of organisations. The guide is very accessible and assumes no prior knowledge. Download it from our Resources section. We have collected many useful resources for businesses into one place in our Adaptation Resource, including publications and tools. Have a browse here.   If you have any queries, please contact alex.hopkinson@emcouncils.gov.uk 2011-11-08T16:02:24+00:00 http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/new-opportunities-to-cut-costs-and-carbon/ http://www.climate-em.org.uk/news/item/new-opportunities-to-cut-costs-and-carbon/#When:07:44:26Z This autumn’s programme of training events is becoming ever more chock a block with opportunities for councils to cut their own carbon emissions, with a new series of technology specific workshops starting in November. Also coming up is a programme of masterclasses for planners in the next phase of the Decentralised Energy programme. Working in conjunction with the Carbon Trust, Climate East Midlands is pleased to confirm the details of a series of 'Collaborative Implementation Support' workshops designed to help councils with the implementation of their carbon management plans. These are about reducing emissions from the council's own estate and operations and start with a detailed look at lighting upgrades and controls. Part of the solution to tackling carbon emissions from the local area is through exploiting decentralised and renewable energy opportunities through the planning system, when new developments are being proposed. A forthcoming series of masterclasses for planners will help them to work out how best to incorporate appropriate policies into Local Development Frameworks and apply them to new planning applications.  Details of all forthcoming workshops and masterclases are on our Events page.   2011-10-20T07:44:26+00:00