To return to the opening RTPI in Scotland Annual Conference 2008 web-page view here 

Report from Veronica Burbridge, National Director of RTPI in Scotland, continues ...

Session 2 

The session explored ways in which we can work towards a zero carbon economy and achieve energy efficient settlements. It considered planning’s response to issues of settlements and building design, energy consumption and waste disposal, and the role of forestry and green networks in mitigation and adaptation strategies.

John Stocks of the Carbon Trust explained the role of the Trust in advising on carbon accounting in relation to building design and operation. It is important to consider direct and indirect impacts including heating, lighting, power, staff travel and transport, waste streams, client travel, and embedded carbon in buildings. The SNH headquarters building in Inverness exhibited features of a low carbon building and the work of Fife Council was used to illustrate the emerging practice in ‘green’ councils in Scotland. It was important that ways of achieving low carbon buildings were incorporated very early in the planning stage.  This could even be at outline planning permission stage when issues such as ceiling heights were being discussed, as these could influence factors such as day-lighting and passive ventilation: other factors such as orientation, insulation and ground source heat pumps also require a holistic approach at a very early stage of planning and development.

View John Stock's presentation here

John Ferguson of SEPA addressed the zero waste challenge: why we needed to give greater attention to energy form waste; the technological developments which are now beginning to make it possible; and the opportunity presented by the efficient recovery of energy from waste. These are major challenges for society and for planning.  For instance, planners needs to ensure that new thermal treatment plants: are in the right place and designed to maximise recovery of heat and power; are part of an integrated network of waste management facilities; and take residual waste only after efforts have been made to extract recyclable and compostable materials. SEPA advocates: the banning of landfill waste biomass from commercial and industrial sources, requiring its segregation by producers to produce a clean, efficient waste stream for fuel or composting; the development of appropriate scale technology solutions for maximum energy recovery, electricity and/or heat; innovation in heat use – space heating, eco-industrial parks, food production; the encouragement of co-firing with grown biomass sources; and clear explanation and education for the public. It is vital that planning address locational aspects of these new developments.

View John Ferguson's presentation here

Simon Hodge from Forestry Commission Scotland presented on the Right Tree in the Right Place, and explored the many contributions to be made by woodland and forestry to efforts to combat climate change. These included acting as a carbon store, renewable fuel, water and soil protection, air conditioning, and wildlife habitats. He outlined the Forestry Commission’s approach and the new policies to encourage sustainable forest management, minimise deforestation and woodland removal, the conservation of forest carbon stocks and the management of urban tree stocks. The policy response should address efforts to create more woodlands (to 25% land cover), to increase the use and recycling of wood, and to use woodland and forestry to help ecological adaptation and societal adaptation to climate change.

View Simon Hodge's presentation here

Session 3

This session explored new approaches to data collection, new ways of monitoring and assessing progress, and mitigation and adaptation tools for policy evaluation at strategic and local levels. 

John Fox, Environmental Consultant with the Halcrow Group Ltd, considered How Climate Change could be Factored into the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Process. This built on experience from Halcrow’s work in undertaking SEAs for: the Scottish Government on the Scottish Climate Change Bill, the Scottish Soils Framework and the Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture; the City of Edinburgh Council on the North Edinburgh Transport Action Plan; and Highland Council on the A96 Corridor Development Masterplan. From John’s presentation it is clear that a more successful local vision for a plan may be achieved when SEA is involved from the beginning and would be a key factor in Main Issues Reports.

View John Fox's presentation here

Vanessa Kind, Programme Manager on Climate Change for the Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER) discussed Local Climate Impact Profiles: an Emerging Climate Change Tool for Local Authorities, and drew attention to new approaches to data collection and the current experience of raising awareness in Edinburgh, South Lanarkshire, Perth and Kinross and Highland Councils.  She pointed to the benefits and contributions of this developing toolkit which can be used alongside other resources, such as Flood Risk Maps, in developing scenarios and identifying weather-related issues and adaptation actions in response to weather events.

Session 4 

The session explored actions at the community level through the work of the Climate Challenge Fund with contributions from:

• Becky Smith on behalf of Jon Rathjen, Team Leader, Sustainable Places, Greener Scotland Directorate, Scottish Government
• Shelagh Young, Sustainable Development Commission Scotland
• Fran Loots, Comrie Development Trust
• Rachel Nunn, Going Carbon Neutral Scotland. 

The Challenge Fund had received 140 expressions of interest for a range of possible projects from sustainable transport initiatives, through local food production to renewable energy and waste projects. These projects illustrated that the will to act is out there, that communities are keen to become involved, and that there is a need for local authorities to work with communities to fulfil this potential.

View John Rathjen's presentation here
View Fran Loots' presentation here

Janet O’Neill, RTPI President for 2008, drew the proceedings to a close, referring to her recent visit to China and the need to address both local and global impacts, and the overall importance of education in achieving results.

To return to the opening RTPI in Scotland Annual Conference 2008 web-page view here 

Author:

James Henderson

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

18-Mar-09

Categories:

Nations & Regions 

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