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 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:
- 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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