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South West Climate Change Impacts Partnership

SECTORS

Agriculture and Forestry 

Lead contact: John Conway (John.Conway@rac.ac.uk) of the Royal Agricultural College.  

Aim: to raise awareness within the farming community of how to adapt their practices to prepare for the impacts of climate change, including changes in cultivation and harvesting opportunities.

See Agriculture Adaptation Case Study by clicking here: SWCCIP adaptation case studies (word doc).

The Royal Agricultural College has produced (2006) a useful guide on adapting to climate change for farmers. This can be found on the group's archive page.

A practical climate change guide for woodland owners and agents in the South West has been published with SWCCIP's support and involvement and can be found on the Forestry Commission's website by clicking here: practical guide for woodland owners and agents (pdf on external site).

Farming - Wildlife Friendly Farming Guide - updated in November 2006 by the Royal Agricultural College, this unique www.oursouthwest.com + SWCCIP guide gives month by month advice to help farmers protect biodiversity whilst adapting to climate change.

Latest Progress Report
Work led by the Royal Agricultural College, which conducted research assessing farmer attitudes to Climate Change in the South West, has highlighted key messages from the research to the European Commission and member states, as SWCCIP attended a meeting on climate change impacts on agriculture as part of the EU’s preparation for a Green Paper on Climate Change Adaptation. Nearly 1000 farmers were targeted with over 300 replies. Over half the farmers responded that climate change was important or extremely important to their business, over 80% said they had noticed effects of climate change on their own farm, but over half also admitted that their knowledge of how climate change would impact on them was average to poor. Work is ongoing to highlight the challenges and opportunities that climate change poses to the agriculture sector.

During November 2006 the Royal Agricultural College updated the www.oursouthwest.com "Wildlife Friendly Farming Guide" to take account of climate change adaptation measures. See link above.

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Biodiversity

Lead contact: Tony Richardson (tony.richardson@rspb.org.uk) of the RSPB.  

Aim: to "Create flexibility and opportunities for habitats and species in the face of climate change".

Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptations and Mitigations. The Dorset Coast Forum has placed this useful document (January '05) on its website. Click here for direct link: Dorset Coast Forum - Climate Change : Impacts, Adaptations and Mitigations (pdf - external site).

Information on South West Uplands and 2 March '06 seminar. The event report brings together the results of workshops held at the seminar in Exeter on 2 March 2006. The delegates were from a range of organisations as well as individuals all with a role in managing Bodmin Moor, Dartmoor or Exmoor. The workshop topics look at a range of subjects related to climate change such as ‘Land Management – how might priorities and actions need to change?’ The report and delegate list can be found on SWCCIP's archive page. The main findings of Professor Roy Brown between 1970 and 2005 when monitoring bracken, ticks and heather growth on Bodmin, Dartmoor and Exmoor are:
  1. The dramatic increase in bracken rhizome mass
  2. The numbers and rate of infection with disease of nymph and adult ticks
  3. The increase in heather shoot production, which he does not think will last and is a passing trend. However, Prof. Brown singles out the fact that there is light grazing on Bodmin with removal for part or all of the winter recording period and therefore heather growth has accelerated.

Wildlife Friendly Farming Guide - updated in November 2006 by the Royal Agricultural College, this unique www.oursouthwest.com + SWCCIP guide gives month by month advice to help farmers protect biodiversity whilst adapting to climate change.

Latest Progress Report
SWCCIP met with SW Regional Biodiversity Partnership in January 2007 to discuss how best to ensure Nature Map takes account of climate change scenarios. SWCCIP will hold a workshop with experts in the field to continue this process. If you would like more information about this or the work for this sector, please contact Tony Richardson.

Minutes of previous meetings etc on SWCCIP's archive page.

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Business and Utilities

Lead contacts:
Business - Richard Guyatt (richard.guyatt@bondpearce.com) of Bond Pearce LLP.
Utilities - Neil Whiter (nwhiter@southwestwater.co.uk) of South West Water.  

Aim:
(i) to recognise and understand how the markets for goods and service will be influenced by climate change and that the design and delivery of goods and services should meet changing consumer needs and requirements, and
(ii) to ensure the design of infrastructure needed by the utilities incorporates the effects of climate change on supply, demand and headroom.

See Utilities Adaptation Case Study by clicking here: SWCCIP adaptation case studies (word doc).

How important is climate change to small businesses? Axa Insurance undertook a survey of SME customers to gauge their attitudes in August 2006. While 85% of businesses are aware that climate change is a problem for the world, 46% of small businesses think that climate change is blown out of proportion and only 26% think it is a real threat to them. To read more, go to www.axa-insurance.co.uk/businessinsurance/docs/AXA_Climate_Change.pdf (pdf on external site).

To see the Business Sectors adapting to Climate Change publication, click here: Adaptation Tipping Points (pdf on UKCIP website).

'The Potential Costs of Climate Change for the Water Industry'. ICF International and Risk Policy Analysts (RPA) have developed a report for the Environment Agency on the costs of climate change for the water industry in England and Wales. The report, released in January 2007, looks at water quality impacts, storm water management and sea-level rise and the costs from the impacts of climate change on these areas. A copy of this report (pdf) can be found at this link: ICF 2007 climate change report (external site).

Marketing and Climate Change Programme - with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). During 2007/8, CIM in partnership with Horizon SW and SWCCIP held 4 action-learning workshops for their first group of marketers. A mixed range of companies were equipped with ideas of how best to “future-proof” their organisations from the effects of climate change which they turned into actions. The workshops explored topics including: using the UKCIP Business Areas Climate Impact Assessment Tool (BACLIAT); the results of new consumer research (co-commissioned by the project and undertaken by Future Foundations); the science behind climate change, employing climate change communications techniques and much more. Participants have looked at their own organisations, and how climate change might affect their businesses to explore ways in which their businesses may both adapt to the changing climate and /or mitigate their impacts. Knowledge sharing is key to the project and participating companies are already sharing information about their actual experiences of future proofing within smaller ‘buddy groups’. A log of experiences will be developed further by participants to share more widely with marketing practitioners.

Latest Progress Report
SWCCIP aims to hold a seminar for utilities' companies in due course - if you or your company wish to get involved, please contact Neil Whiter.

On 31 January 2008 Phil Harding and Alex Webb presented to the Cotswold Energy & Environmental Management Group in Cirencester on 'The 2007 Gloucestershire Floods - A Wake-Up Call for the Region' and 'Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change'.

On 3 March 2008 SWCCIP, UKCIP and GOSW supported the Gloucestershire Green Business Club's climate change workshop at Gloucestershire University, Cheltenham on business resilience. Speakers were Phil Harding (GOSW & SWCCIP) and Gerry Metcalf (UKCIP).

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Housing and Construction

Lead contact: Lesley Seymour (lesley.seymour@sustainabilitysouthwest.org.uk) of Future Foundations.  

Aim: "To support knowledge transfer between researchers and practitioners to help traverse the gap of knowledge required to enable practical action and the basis of decisions".

See Construction Adaptation Case Study by clicking here: SWCCIP adaptation case studies (word doc).

The UKCIP / Arup / DTI publication "Beating the Heat - keeping UK buildings cool in a warming climate" published in 2005 can be downloaded from the UKCIP website at: www.ukcip.org.uk/resources/publications/downloads.asp?ID=101.

South West Checklist for Developments: A simple tool for Sustainable Buildings.
The South West Checklist for Developments was officially launched on 28th June 2007 where it gained much recognition for its ability to make sustainable design accessible and achievable at the master planning stages of new housing and mixed use developments.
   The Checklist, developed by BRE and Future Foundations, extends beyond the Code for Sustainable Homes and assisted in the delivery of the South West Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). The tool operates on-line where you can set-up projects and work through the eight categories, which include resources, business and climate change and energy, until a final report is achieved on completion. It is free to use and could help with planning applications. Please browse the Checklist at: www.checklistsouthwest.co.uk. All enquiries to: info@checklistsouthwest.co.uk. Detailed FAQ's can be found on the SW Checklist website.

Latest Progress Report

SWCCIP submitted comments on the Code for Sustainable Buildings - to read the SWCCIP's March 2006 submission, click here SWCCIP response (doc).

Copies of the Adaptation Checklist for Development and "Beating the Heat" to key SW contacts to raise the profile of climate change adaptation within the built environment in 2006.

Copies of the guide 2Adapting to climate change: a checklist for development" sent to key organisations in this sector - electronic copies can be downloaded from this web site's archive - click here to view (pdf 519kb): adapting to climate change - a checklist for development.

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Local Government 

Lead contact: currently vacant. Contact SWCCIP if further information required.

Aim: to "Reduce our vulnerability to the impacts of climate change through planning decisions for the built environment and emergency planning”.

See Local Government Adaptation Case Study by clicking here: SWCCIP adaptation case studies (word doc - on SWCCIP's Archive page).

Latest Progress Report

SW Local Authority Climate Change Action Study
You can now find out about what all Local Authorities in the South West are doing to both mitigate and adapt to climate change in a new study developed by SWCCIP. The study provides an overview of climate change action across the entire South West region, referencing climate change related reports, strategies, plans and general action. It has been designed to make finding out about what action South West local authorities are taking to tackle climate change quick and easy. The study is accompanied by a map displaying which local authorities and counties in the region have signed the Nottingham Declaration and/or Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Declaration. Click here to view:

  Climate change action of SW LAs - Report (word doc - version 1.4.08)

  Climate change action of SW LAs - Map (pdf 1.5Mb - version 1.4.08)

    This is the first version of this document – so we would also welcome your comments on its usability and how it can be improved. Should you have any queries about the information displayed about your local authority, please contact us ( contact detailsfor SWCCIP are on the SWCCIP Home Page)

Climate Change and Local Area Agreements
New Local Area Agreements (LAAs) form the heart of the new local performance framework. DCLG and Defra have published (in December 2007) a supporting note "Climate change and sustainability: The crucial role of the new local performance framework" to help local authorities make the most of the new local performance framework. It signposts to key guidance and other documents that have been published recently. Click here to download the document (pdf) from the DCLG website: climate change and sustainability (pdf on external site).
Note 1: For information on the new local performance framework, click here: performance framework (external site).
Note 2: For guidance from DCLG on the new LAAs that will come into affect for 2007/8, click on this link for the appropriate web page on the DCLG website: DCLG - LAAs. See also below for LAA advice from SWCCIP.

The Nottingham Declaration addresses both mitigation and adaptation and its accompanying 'Action Pack' provides the sort of measurable targets required for LAAs, as well as further guidance and information. For further information on adapting to climate change, the UK Climate Impacts Programme www.ukcip.org.uk and the South West Climate Change Impacts Partnership www.oursouthwest.com/climate can offer advice and good practice.

On 16 November 2007 Defra produced guidance to Government Offices on its high-level expectations from the next generation of LAAs. The climate change expectations are as follows:-

   Climate Change Mitigation:- Defra expects every LAA to include an improvement target on climate change mitigation – certainly wherever a Local Authority or LSP is serious about demonstrating environmental leadership and is capable of doing so. Those councils/ LSPs which wish to be seen as leaders on climate change action will wish to include a stretch target on the climate change mitigation community indicator. The climate change mitigation corporate indicator is also acceptable where the council/ LSP is starting from a lower base.
   Climate Change Adaptation:- Under the new local government performance framework, LAs will need to produce a climate change adaptation plan that assesses the risks climate change poses to the local area and sets out the actions to deal with these risks. We expect LAs and LSPs to demonstrate that they have factored climate change adaptation - risks and opportunities – into their LAAs. LAs and their LSPs that wish to demonstrate clear leadership in this area will want to consider including appropriate local indicators in their LAA or move more quickly in putting their adaptation plans in place.

LAA advice from SWCCIP. The key means by which climate change adaptation should be integrated into LAAs, as advised by Defra (guidance to Government Offices 16.11.07), are as follows:-
    • Under the new local government performance framework, local authorities will need to produce a climate change adaptation plan that assesses the risks climate change poses to the local area and sets out the actions to deal with these risks.
    • Local authorities and local strategic partnerships should demonstrate that they have factored climate change adaptation - risks and opportunities – into their LAAs.
    • Local authorities and their local strategic partnerships that wish to demonstrate clear leadership in this area will want to consider including appropriate local indicators in their LAA or move more quickly in putting their adaptation plans in place.
   SWCCIP is able to help local authorities in the South West develop climate change adaptation plans for their LAAs by signposting to the relevant sources of advice, guidance and toolkits. Click here to download the Defra "Planning to Adapt to Climate Change" guidance for this indicator (NI 188): Defra NI188 guidance, April, 2008 (word doc).

Dorset County Council and Bristol City Council are considering undertaking a Local Climate Impacts Profile to understand how council services are affected by historical climate events and how they can learn from such experience to adapt to a future climate. They will share their experience with the Local Government Sector Group via email. For a guide to the Local Climate Impacts Profile go to the Local Government section of SWCCIP's archive page.

LGA Climate Change Report (December 2007). The Local Government Association's Independent Climate Change Commission published a report on 5 December '07. The Commission's report is the first authoritative investigation into how well councils are doing in their duty to help reduce the effects of, and combat, global warming. The report critically evaluates local government's track record on climate change; and makes recommendations for local government, central government and other stakeholders on how the local government response must be improved, through mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Click on this link to see the report on the LGA website: LGA - A climate of change.

The Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change - has your council signed? The race is on! SWCCIP would like every local authority in the South West to sign a public declaration on climate change, such as the Nottingham Declaration. So far over 50% of SW councils have signed. Once a council has signed, there is practical guidance and examples from other councils on how to prepare for the effects of climate change as well as reducing the causes.

Declarations on Climate Change. The following SW Local Authorities have signed up to the following declaration on climate change (as indicated in brackets - see also full SW local authority climate change study report from SWCCIP below):-

1. Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change - from the official list of signatories at www.nottinghamdeclaration.org.uk, correct as at 3.4.08,

2. Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Declaration on Climate Change and Fuel Poverty - declaration at: www.dsen.org.uk/declaration.doc

Bath & North East Somerset Council (1)
Bournemouth Borough Council (1)
Bristol City Council (1)
Caradon District Council (1)
Cheltenham Borough Council (1)
Christchurch Borough Council (1)
Cornwall County Council (1)
Cotswold District Council (1)
Devon County Council (1) (2)
Dorset County Council (1)
East Devon District Council (2)
Exeter City Council (1) (2)
Forest of Dean Council (1)
Gloucester City Council (1)
Gloucestershire County Council (1)
Isles of Scilly Council (1)
Kennet District Council (1)
Kerrier District Council (1)
Mid Devon District Council (2)
North Cornwall DC (1)
North Devon District Council (1) (2)
North Somerset Council (1)
North Wiltshire District Council (1)
Penwith District Council (1)
Plymouth City Council (1) (2)
Poole Borough Council (1)
Purbeck District Council (1)
Restormel Borough Council (1)
Salisbury District Council (1)
Somerset County Council (1)
South Gloucestershire Council (1)
South Hams District Council (2)
South Somerset District Council (1)
Stroud District Council (1)
Swindon Borough Council (1)
Taunton Deane Borough Council (1)
Teignbridge District Council (1) (2)
Tewkesbury Borough Council (1)
Torbay Council (2)
Torridge District Council (1) (2)
West Devon District Council (2)
West Dorset District Council (1)
West Somerset District Council (1)
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council (1)

Note: If your local authority in the South West has published its climate change strategy or signed the Nottingham Declaration let SWCCIP know so that we can add to the list here. SWCCIP urges all SW Local Authorities to make a commitment to tackling climate change. SWCCIP congratulates the SW Regional Assembly on signing a regional version of the Nottingham Declaration in March 2007 to lead the way for local councils in the region to follow suit.

Climate Change and/or Sustainable Energy Strategies published by SW Local Authorities - these can be found on the Low Carbon South West web page.

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Tourism 

Lead contact: Emma Whittlesea (ewhittlesea@swtourism.co.uk) of South West Tourism.

Aim: "To change visitor behaviour, business practice and involve local communities in adapting to climate change now, through awareness raising, informing, advising and promoting real examples".

See Tourism Adaptation Case Studies by clicking here: SWCCIP adaptation case studies (word doc).

Latest Progress Report
SWCCIP, together with the South East Climate Change Partnership (SECCP), has created the first Adaptation Action Pack for Tourism Businesses. This action pack explains to tourism business owners how climate change affects their business, with an accompanying practical checklist to help business owners adapt and prepare. For hard copies of the pack including the checklist and postcard, please contact SWCCIP (see home page for contact details). Electronic versions can be found under the this sector's section of SWCCIP's archive. This Adaptation Action Pack has been funded by SWCCIP, SECCP and Devon County Council.

Minutes of previous meetings etc for this sector on SWCCIP's archive page.

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Click on sectors listed below:-

    Agriculture and Forestry

    Biodiversity

    Business and Utilities

    Housing and Construction

    Local Government

    Tourism

For further information on the sectoral work of SWCCIP and the activities taken forward, please contact the relevant lead contacts. Reports produced by the different sectors can be found on SWCCIP's archive page.

For practical adaptation tools for these and other sectors, see SWCCIP's dedicated adaptation tools page.

South West Climate Change Impacts Partnership

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South West Climate Change Impacts Partnership


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