Transcript Aberdeenshire Council Response Actions to Climate Change

Policy Background
Roger White
Head of Policy
Aberdeenshire Council – Vision
Serving Aberdeenshire from mountain to sea – the very best of
Scotland
The best area
Helping to create and sustain the best quality of life for all through . . .
• happy, healthy and confident people
• safe, friendly and lively communities
• an enterprising and adaptable economy
• our special environment and diverse culture
The best council
Aiming to provide excellent services for all by . . .
• involving, responding and enabling
• finding new and more efficient ways of doing things
• providing elected leadership for our area
• working with our partners in the North East and beyond
• always looking to the future
Community Plan – Principles
No. 5: Sustainability – we will work to ensure that
our actions are sustainable and meet the needs of
the current generation of Aberdeenshire’s people
without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs
Community Plan – Sustainable
Environment theme
…working together to achieve sustainability by reducing
resource use, protecting our environment, combating
climate change and conserving and enhancing biodiversity
Suggested indicators
• Ecological footprint per person
• Carbon dioxide emissions
• Waste arisings
• Water consumption
• Air quality
• Biodiversity
• Travel
Strategic Plan 2003/2007 – Sustainable
Environment theme: measures for success
• Agree a new sustainability charter
• Set targets to cut use of energy and water, waste we
produce and staff travel by car
• Establish a sustainable development forum
• Provide training for staff in sustainability
• Develop sustainable purchasing strategy
• Establish Aberdeenshire’s environmental “footprint” so we
can aim to…become carbon neutral
• Develop a Travel Plan increased use of sustainable travel
• Reduce, re-use and recycle waste and deliver initiatives
funded from the Strategic Waste Fund
Policy issues
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National commitment/consistency/support
Balancing different political/policy requirements
Aligning and updating plans
Ensuring agreed actions happen, measuring their
impact
Coping with uncertainty
Getting partners on board?
Amount/location of expertise/understanding
Cost and return
Carbon accounting?
The Stern review…
Aberdeenshire Council Response
to Climate Change
Robert Gray
Acting Head of Planning Policy
and Environment
National Background
Documentation
• UK Framework for Sustainable
Development
• Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum
for Environmental Research (SNIFFER)
• Choosing Our Future
Local Background Documentation
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Sustainability Charter
Sustainability Charter Annual Report
Committee Reports
Strategic Plan
Community Plan
Development Plan – NEST/ALP
Reporting Structures
• Report to Committee on the proposed
actions
• Sustainability Working Group
• Community Plan – Themed Forums
The Planning Service Deals With
• The Private Sector
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Land use policy
Regulation
Influence, research and education
Council example
• The Council
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Land use policy
Influence, research and education
Direct project work
Delivery of services e.g. waste management
The Private Sector
• Policies – Structure Plan / Local Plan and Research
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Promotion of sustainable communities
Reduce the need to travel
Policies on energy generation
Policies on design for energy saving e.g. Index 21
• Development Control
– Use of policies to determine applications
– Reporting of sustainability implications in every
Committee Report
Aberdeenshire Council Response
to Climate Change
• Aberdeenshire Council Sustainability Charter
and Annual Report
• North East Global Footprint Project
• Strategic Environmental Assessment
• Local Authority Carbon Management
Programme
• Commitment to sign up to the Climate
Change Declaration
Sustainability Charter and
Annual Report
• Reduction of
– Energy / Water use
– Travel
– Waste
• Raising awareness
• Sustainable Purchasing Policy
• Reducing Global Footprint
• Encouraging Consultation
Aberdeenshire Council Response
Actions to Climate Change
• Aberdeenshire Council Sustainable
Purchasing Policy
– Established November 2005
– Incorporates Best Value
– Whole life cost of procured item
– Use of dedicated suppliers
– Support the use of Fairtrade goods
Aberdeenshire Council Response
Actions to Climate Change
• North East Global Footprint Project
• Areas identified in which change can be
encouraged
– Travel
– Built Environment
– Energy
Aberdeenshire Council Response
Actions to Climate Change
• Local Authority Carbon Management
Programme
– Identify Stakeholders
– Build team
– Write Project Plan
– Set Baselines and Emissions forecast
– Identify and Quantify Options
– Final strategy Implementation Plan
Aberdeenshire Council Response
Actions to Climate Change
• Commitment to sign up to the Climate
Change Declaration
– Report to full council October 2006
– Project initiation
– Partnership working across Scotland
Aberdeenshire Council Response
Actions to Climate Change
• Waste Management
– Fortnightly Residual Waste Collection
– Fortnightly Recyclate Collection
– Promotion and Education Plan
– Gas Management at Landfill
Aberdeenshire Council Response
Reorganisation of Planning & Environmental Services
• Proposed Manager for Sustainability,
Information & Research
• Proposed Team Leader for Sustainability,
Information & Research
Within the team
– Sustainability Co-ordinator
– Global Footprint Officer
– Strategic Environmental Assessment Officer
Transportation & Infrastructure
Ken Morrison – Head of Roads
Predicted changes with Climate
Change
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Increased rainfall
Warmer climate
Rising sea levels
Increase in deep depression storms
Implications for Roads Service?
Increased Rainfall
• Increased threat of landslides
• More Flood Prevention schemes
• More incidents requiring emergency
response
• Changes to design standards (bridges,
drainage etc)
• Development control issues (SUDS)
Implications for Roads Service?
Warmer Climate
• Reduction in winter maintenance
requirements
• Increased level of ground maintenance
• Heat damage to roads (problem in
England this year)
• No skiing? Change in visitor patterns?
Implications for Roads Service?
Rising Sea Levels
• Increase in coastal flooding
• Review of coastal defences
• Use of Coastal Management Plan
Implications for Roads Service?
Increase in deep depression
storms
• Incidents requiring emergency response
• Damage to infrastructure
“Mitigation & Adaption?”
• Established Flood Prevention Section
• Several Flood Prevention
schemes/progressed
• Involved in NESFLAG
• Working with SEPA to develop Flood Warning
Scheme for major works
• Involvement through SCOTS trying to
influence SUDS legislation
• Development of Recycling process at Council
quarries
• Changes proposed to specification to allow
more use of recycled material
• Proactive arrangements with P&ES to review
all Planning Applications
• No significant change to Winter Maintenance,
but reviewed annually
• Green Travel Plan approved and funded