Climate Change Compendium signposts to key web sites, guidance, research and case studies giving practice advice and supporting information on climate change.

On the 14th July 2010 the UK Government has launched a Google earth map showing what could happen to the world should average global temperatures rise by 4 degree Celsius.

DECC Minister of State Greg Barker attended the launch event, where the Foreign Office unveiled their interactive map, developed in collaboration with the British Council, Met Office Hadley Centre and Google.

Climate Change PPS

A revised draft Climate Change Planning Policy Statement (PPS) and the draft Natural and Healthy Environment PPS were published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) on 9 March 2010 for consultation.

The intent of the Climate Change PPS is to set out a planning framework for:

• driving progress against the UK’s targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions;
• using more renewable and low carbon energy; and
• planning for the effect of climate change.

The draft PPS combines and updates the policy set out in the existing PPS1 supplement and PPS22 Renewable Energy into a consolidated supplement to PPS1 Planning for Sustainable Development.

The document does not, however, assemble all national planning policy relevant or applicable to climate change. It should be read alongside other national policy including the overarching National Policy Statement for Energy, the National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy Infrastructure and the Marine Policy Statement.

New legislation and policy relating to climate change has prompted CLG to update its planning framework including (but not limited to):

• The Climate Change Act 2008
• EU Directive 2009/28/EC
• The Low Carbon Transition Plan
• The Renewable Energy Strategy
• The Household Energy Management Strategy
• Proposed definition of Zero Carbon Homes
• Climate Change Projections 2009 update
• The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009
• The Energy Act 2008
• The Planning Act 2008

The Government see planning as a tool for responding to their ambitions to tackle climate change. The RTPI recognise and advocate planning as a significant mechanism for achieving this through its ability to influence the location, scale, mix and character of development.

The draft PPS sets out how the Government envisage the role of planning, in providing for the new homes, jobs and infrastructure needed by communities, should help shape places to achieve lower carbon emissions and greater resilience to the impacts on climate change. The planning system sets out the overall framework for development. This is intended to help secure progress against the UK’s emissions targets, both by direct influence on energy use and emissions through, for instance, encouraging energy efficiency, and through bringing together and encouraging actions from others.

Details of practice guidance for this draft PPS will be developed following a review of the existing companion guide for PPS22 and the online practice guide for the climate change PPS. Once this review is completed, a new practice guidance will be developed that reflects the outcomes of the consultation process on the draft PPS. It is intended that the new practice guidance will be developed with the help of the Planning Advisory Service and the user community.

CLG intend to publish the final version later in 2010.

The RTPI responded to the draft PPS in June. A copy of the RTPI Response is available to download.

Coastal Change

Defra published Adapting to Coastal Change: Developing a Policy Framework on 30th March 2010, which takes forward some of the ideas on supporting community adaptation to coastal change that was consulted in 2009. 

This sets out ideas and guidance on how communities can plan for change as well as looking at what managing change might mean for business, local infrastructure and our historic and natural environment. It is the first stage in an evolving framework of policy and guidance on supporting communities adapt to coastal change. 

This policy framework is closely linked with CLG’s new Planning Policy Statement 25 Supplement: Development and Coastal Change, which was published on 9th March 2010.  This gives new planning powers to coastal communities to help their local economy and tourist industry. See our consultation response here.

Guidance relating to Community Adaptation Planning and Engagement (CAPE) on the coast has also been published, which provides a framework and roadmap for local authorities and other bodies (responsible for planning and delivering services to coastal communities) on how they might engage and work with their communities to develop a plan for adapting to coastal change as described in the Coastal Change Policy. Communities and voluntary bodies may also find it useful as it provides an indication of the opportunities for involvement and influence.

The Environment Agency and Defra websites provide further resources relating to coastal change.

Related Policy Items:

• PPS1 Supplement: Planning for a Low Carbon Future in a Changing Climate
• RTPI 7 Commitments to Climate Change
• Climate Change Compendium
• Marine Plan Areas. (Feb 2010)
• Energy National Policy Statements (Feb 2010)
• EU Emissions Trading Scheme Charging Scheme Northern Ireland Feb 2010)
• Proposed Changes to Householder, Non-Householder and Microgeneration Permitted Development Rights. (Jan 2010)
• Proposed Amendments to PPS25: Development and Flood Risk (Nov 2009)
• Development & Coastal Change PPS (Oct 2009)
• Coastal Change Policy. (Sept 2009)
• Draft Flood & Water Management Bill (July 2009)
• Consultation on the Form and Content of new Climate Change Agreements UK (June 2009)
• Heat & Energy Saving Strategy Consultation (May 2009)
• Community Energy Savings Programme Consultation (May 2009)
• Consultation on the term 'carbon neutral': its definition and recommendations for good practice (May 2009)
• Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) Consultation (April 2009)
• Draft Low Carbon Industry Strategy (April 2009)
• Definition of Zero carbon Homes and Non-Domestic Buildings consultation. (March 2009)
• Climate Change Bill (June 2007)
• Planning for Climate Change (March 2007)
• PPS1 Annex: Climate Change (March 2007) 

Author:

Rebecca Coates

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

07-Oct-10

Categories:

Planning / Planning Resources, Policy, Practice 

Sections:

News & Media , The RTPI , What Planning Does

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