The Spatial Dimensions of Climate Change

Photo: George Morrison, Glasgow City Council, considers adaption to increased heavy rainfall and flooding from Climate Change -  © Charles Strang

The National Director Veronica Burbridge reports on the 2008 conference ...

The RTPI in Scotland’s annual conference Spatial Dimensions of Climate Change was held on 13 November and was kindly sponsored by Biggart Baillie LLP, the Carbon Trust, Macdonald and Company, Natural Scotland, RPS and SEPA.  

Eighty delegates gathered at the Royal Society Edinburgh for an absorbing day led by key policy-makers, practitioners and community representatives. Four interlinked sessions set out the evidence and the issues, and the problems and the practicalities which we need to address at national, regional, and local levels, and which have important implications for all of us, from a professional as well as a personal point of view.

There was a sense of urgency to the occasion: all presentations emphasised the need to act now and to recognise that whatever we do, change is on its way. There were clear messages that policies and plans must address both adaptation and mitigation and that spatial planning needs to be at the centre of actions at all levels. 

We were delighted that Janet O’Neill, RTPI President, was able to attend the conference. Janet had just returned from the Global Planners Network Congress in China and spoke of the recent UN Habitat report State of the World’s Cities, with its recognition of the paramount importance of addressing climate change, and the importance of innovative approaches to urban planning in responding to this priority.

The Conference Programme

Against the background of a new Climate Change Bill and the proposed Climate Change Adaptation Framework the conference explored how we place adaptation and mitigation at the heart of spatial planning. It examined the role of spatial planning in creating, protecting and managing energy efficient communities; in reducing emissions and the impacts of climate change; and in supporting actions at national, strategic, local and community levels.

The conference provided the opportunity for practitioners and stakeholders to: share ideas and inspiration about mitigation and adaptation solutions; hear about recent policy developments; and consider the implications for planners, their statutory partners, developers, politicians and communities.

Four related sessions explored the role of strategic and local spatial planning in achieving a zero carbon economy; examined ways in which we can achieve energy efficient communities; discussed new approaches to flooding and water management; and presented innovative mechanisms for community contributions to actions on climate change.

View conference programme and brochure here

Introduction and Session 1: 

• climate change: the policy context and key issues for planners

Directors report and copies of some of the presentations ... view here

Sessions 2, 3 and 4: 

• zero carbon economy
• monitoring and assessing progress
• communities and the Climate Challenge Fund

Directors report and copies of some of the presentations ... view here

Return to RTPI in Scotland public home-page

Author:

James Henderson

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

18-Mar-09

Categories:

Nations & Regions 

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