Climate Change is probably single largest global challenge faced by us all. To do it's part., the RTPI has recently launched Planning to Live with Climate Change - Our 7 Commitments, which are: 

1 Promote behavioural change
2 Adapt existing places
3 Work towards responsive legislation and policies
4 Improve current practice
5 Celebrate best practice
6 Compile a compendium of best practice
7 Develop climate change education and skills.

To help achieve these aims, the RTPI Networks have established a cross-Network Climate Change Advisory Group. With fellow members from across the Networks, the Champions will press widely for change and adaptation. 

Individual champions have equally important roles within their own Network, exploring and providing good practice examples and articles to feature on the website and in the media and generally promoting discussion amongst Network Members.

Key issues...Transport & Climate Change Transport accounts for around a quarter of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions from the UK (source: DFT website).

To combat this there is a need to:

• increase the fuel efficiency of vehicles and technology policy
• encourage a move towards more environmentally friendly forms of transport
• including transport in emissions trading schemes
• reduce the fossil carbon content of transport fuel

Government targets

Since April 2005, DfT has been working with other Government Departments towards the Government’s objectives of avoiding dangerous climate change.

The Climate Change Act (November 2008) established binding emissions targets and 5-yearly carbon budgets in legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050.

In April 2009 the Government announced the level of the first three carbon budgets for the periods 2008-12, 2013-17 and 2018-22, representing respectively over a 22%, 28% and 34% reduction in greenhouse gases compared to 1990 levels.

The carbon budgets represent an increase over our previous commitment under the Kyoto Agreement; to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent by 2008 - 12 over 1990 levels.

In line with the Committee on Climate Change’s advice the Act does not include international aviation and shipping emissions in our targets, but includes them amongst the matters Government has to have regard to when considering the 5-yearly carbon budgets.

Actions that could be taken

• Reducing the carbon content of fuel
• Improving fuel efficiency and technology policy
  
• Encouraging smarter travel choices
  
• Promoting the inclusion of transport in emissions trading schemes
  

Links

Low Carbon Transport: A Greener Future (DfT)

Ultra-low carbon cars: Next steps on delivering the £250 million consumer incentive programme for electric and plug-in hybrid cars (DfT)

How to reduce costs and carbon emissions from business related transport

CLIMATE CHANGE CHAMPION

The Network's climate change champion for transport is James Gleave, Planning and Transport Planner at Central Bedfordshire Council. An article written by James on the topic of planning for climate Change – focus on sustainable transport, which appeared in Planning magazine, is below.

• Planners must understand thinking behind people's transport decisions (Planning Magazine)

More information on climate change and planning can be found here:

RTPI Policy & Practice - Climate Change: click here 

RTPI climate change research papers: click here

Networks and climate change: click here

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Author:

Nicola Gough

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

25-Mar-10

Categories:

 

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