For additional climate change news visit:
Climate SouthWest - News
See also the news pages for:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
&
Department of Energy and Climate Change
Leadership Development Programme - flexible to meet YOUR needs
The South West and South of England based philharding.net network of independent management experts and advisers has launched a new Leadership Development Programme to provide a more flexible menu of support for leaders in the private and public sectors.
Chief Executive Officers, Directors, and Managers at all levels can benefit from a wide and holistic range of specialist expertise – much of which is the highest standard available in the UK and world-wide.
By offering a flexible programme, the team at philharding.net can help you improve your organisation's performance through coaching, team-building workshops, away-days, action learning programmes and/or conference/seminar presentations that suit your needs.
For details on what they can offer, visit: philharding.net - Leadership Development Programme.
February 2012
South West is UK's first "Marine Energy Park"
The South West was named as the UK’s first Marine Energy Park on 23 January, firmly placing the region on the international map for leadership in marine renewable energy.
Climate Change Minister Greg Barker made the announcement on a visit to Bristol where he met with key members of the new initiative. The South West Marine Energy Park will stretch from Bristol through to Cornwall and as far as the Isles of Scilly. It will create a collaborative partnership in the region between national and local government, Local Enterprise Partnerships, the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter and industry including Cornwall's famous Wave Hub. The aim of the partnership will be to speed up the progress of marine power development.
Energy from the waves or tides has the potential to generate up to 27GW of power in the UK alone by 2050, equivalent to the power generated from 8 coal-fired power stations, as well as helping to reduce emissions to fight climate change.
The South West Marine Energy Park prospectus launched by Greg Barker has been commissioned by Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council and is produced by Regen SW. A copy of the prospectus can be downloaded on the Cornwall County Council website: Cornwall CC - Green Economy.
In the past seven years £100 million has been invested in the South West marine energy industry creating world leading research and demonstration facilities. Such investment has supported the development of the largest consented area for marine technologies in the world at Cornwall's Wave Hub, the Fab-Test nursery site at Falmouth, the new marine science building at Plymouth and globally-leading research facilities at Exeter University and the National Composites Centre at Bristol.
January 2012
Water for life: a new approach to water management
Defra’s recent water white paper, 'Water for Life', describes a vision for future water management that addresses the natural environment, water's role in the green economy and the necessity of affordable water for everyone.
Water presents significant future challenges: we face growing threats of water shortages and environmental damage as climate change brings more frequent severe weather events, and population growth requires increased food production.
The white paper sets out reforms to ensure a resilient water sector, maintaining water supplies and the sewerage infrastructure for people, agriculture and business. The Environment Agency warns that water shortages will be common if the current system is not overhauled.
Defra states that we must all value water as a precious and limited resource, and play a part in the realisation of this vision. Water companies must become more efficient and customer focused to ensure affordable bills. Rivers, streams and lakes must be protected from pollution and unsustainable abstraction.
The white paper reaffirms Defra’s new catchment approach to dealing with water quality and wider environmental issues, giving communities and interested parties a bigger say on water issues in their catchment. 70 catchment pilots will be supported across the country by Defra and the Environment Agency, with a focus on 25 to be evaluated in early 2013.
The Government says it will also make its own contribution to a campaign to save water and protect the environment, working with water companies, regulators and customers to pass consistent messages and raise awareness of the connection between our water use and the quality of our rivers and the ecosystems they support, and to deliver lasting change in the way water is used.
Other key reforms described in the white paper include the extension of competition in the water sector by increasing choice for businesses and the public sector and by making the market more attractive to new entrants, dealing with the legacy of over-abstraction from rivers, removing barriers to trading of abstraction licences and bulk water suppliers to allow a more flexible supply system, encouraging water companies to introduce social tariffs for vulnerable customers, and introducing a reformed water abstraction regime in the long-term.
The 'Water for Life' white paper can be found on the Defra website from this link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/water/legislation/whitepaper/.
January 2012
Plans to protect the UK power supply from the impacts of climate change published
Energy companies' plans to protect the UK power supply from the impacts of climate change were published by Defra on 10th December.
Flooding of sub stations, difficulties in keeping power stations cool in hotter summers and damage to overhead wires and underground cables in periods of drought were amongst the key threats that energy firms found climate change could pose to their business.
The reports, requested by Defra, show that the energy sector is making good progress in planning for these risks – such as £112million of projected investment to improve flood defences at vulnerable sites agreed with Ofgem – but more work will be needed over the coming years to protect existing infrastructure assets and ensure new projects are designed to cope with conditions that will be very different to what they are today.
The Climate Change Act 2008 introduced a new power for the Environment Secretary to direct companies with functions of a public nature such as water and energy utilities to prepare climate change adaptation reports on how they are assessing and acting on the risks and opportunities from a changing climate. Reports from transport and water companies were published earlier this year.
The adaptation reports from different utilities including the energy companies can be found on Defra's website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climate/sectors/reporting-authorities/reporting-authorities-reports/.
December 2011
Why grazing cows is so much better than keeping them in sheds
A new on-line film "The More We Graze it..." made on a farms in the South West of England shows that it actually makes more economic sense to feed cows on pasture than on "industrial feed" in sheds; the production price of milk per litre is lower and the quality better.
Feeding our dairy cows on pasture is a much more sustainable food production option as the land benefits from the cow dung and the cows are happier too! The cows need minimal veterinary intervention and the minerals they get from the pasture provides better milk and beef for us! This film is a "must see" if you care about our healthy rural communities, healthy cows and healthier, better quality food. Our climate is suitable for growing grass - a great natural resource our dairy farmers have.
With the need to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels for food production due to peak oil and the rising price of petroleum products, quite apart from the CO2 emissions associated with fossil fuel use, this film makes a very strong case for returning to more traditional and sustainable food production methods.
You can view the film on this website: http://www.pasturepromise.tv/video/read/id/1.
November 2011
The greener events guide and the London 2012 Olympics
The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has announced (on 2nd November) that it has become the first Games Organising Committee to be certified to the British Standard 8901: Specification for a Sustainability Management Systems for Events.
BS 8901(2009) was inspired by the London 2012 bid and has been developed specifically for the events industry with a purpose of helping event organisers, venues and suppliers to operate in a more sustainable manner. The Greener Events Guide on this website, produced and developed by a small team led by Phil Harding of philharding.net is a referenced document in BS8901(2009). Phil was a member of the BSI Technical Group that developed BS8901(2009).
November 2011
Sustainability Management System (SuMS) to help organisations improve their CSR performance
The proven and acclaimed Sustainability Management System (SuMS) developed by philharding.net is now available for organisations and businesses in the UK and overseas. SuMS helps organisations to efficiently manage multiple management systems along with corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
SuMS is written in plain English and uses clear flow diagrams throughout. It presents a logical and effective approach that is slim and adaptable, able to harness and integrate one or multiple management systems such as ISO14001, ISO9001, OHSAS18001, ISO27001, BS8903 etc.
Additionally, SuMS has proven to be highly effective within complex and multi-site organisations, allowing staff to rapidly understand procedures and processes reducing non-conformance and the need for lengthy training.
SuMS will help organisations and businesses to:
- save money by absorbing sustainability into their processes and strategies;
- reduce risks related to: Compliance; Reputation; Procurement; Legal matters; Investments and change programmes.
- identify new ways of managing cost;
- reduce replication of management system activity (especially with more than one standard, site and manager etc.);
- increase supply chain resilience; and to
- gain a competitive advantage and enhance marketing potential.
For further information visit this link: Sustainability Management System (SuMS) (external site).
October 2011
Latest sustainable procurement training (BS8903)
BMT Isis and its partners are running a series of 'Introduction to BS8903' training courses. BS8903 Principles and Framework for Procuring Sustainably is the first British Standard to be developed for sustainable procurement. The course is delivered by technical committee members, Mark Hedges or Graham Randles, who were instrumental in the development of the standard.
The standard and course has been designed for the private and public sectors. Attendees will gain an appreciation of the standard, sustainable procurement practices and how to realise significant benefits including:
- Understand the business case for leading your organisation toward early adoption of this important new standard;
- Receive a clear interpretation and summary from members of the Standard's Technical Committee and first hand advice on how to embed the standard within your organisation;
- Network with similar organisations seeking to learn and share about embedding sustainability into the way they work;
- Examine (through scenario based interactive workshops) how sustainable procurement can provide your organisation with competitive advantage;
- Improve the efficiency of your procurement practices and processes;
- Evaluation of your current strategy's effectiveness;
- Robust management of resource efficiency in your supply chain.
The one day course is a mixture of interactive presentations and workshop sessions.
The following dates are available:
London, 27th October 2011
Bath, 24th November 2011
Southampton, 24th January 2012
Price: £295 with discounts for multiple bookings.
For training details, including in-house delivery, contact BMT Isis at training@bmt-isis.com or call 01225 473571.
October 2011
Popular free management guide reaches 200,000 milestone!
The highly popular managing change guide "Resource Efficiency and Corporate Responsibility - managing change" on www.oursouthwest.com has been downloading at well over 100 copies a day so far during 2011 and has this month passed the milestone of 200,000 copies issued in printed and electronic formats!
The first edition was launched in 2004 and, to keep up with demand, was subsequently re-printed in hard copy a further three times (finally as a paperback). Over the past seven and a half years many plaudits have been received from around the world. The guide continues to provide useful guidance on a better, more employee friendly approach to handling the management of change with particular emphasis on corporate culture towards the environment. The slightly humorous approach on identifying worst practice has been particularly well received and the 'change management matrix' has been used and copied by several business schools and other management guides.
Following closure of the Government Office for the South West earlier this year it is no longer possible to obtain copies of the paperback version of the guide unless you are attending an event where one of the authors (Phil Harding and John Pooley) are giving a presentation based on the guide (just a few copies left) but it is available to download in pdf and word formats from this link: managing change guide. Printed copies are also available to attendees of the Cotswold Energy & Environmental Management Group meetings in Cirencester.
Need to get yourself or others motivated? To coincide with the 200,000 copies milestone, one of the authors, Phil Harding, has published a Kindle e-book on motivation that is available for purchase (for less than the price of a up of coffee) from this link (UK): "Motivate me, motivate you" or if you're outside the UK from this link: www.amazon.com.
September 2011
Environmental Trade Show UK (ETS UK) - coming to Bristol soon!
Bookings are now being taken for Environmental Trade Show UK (ETS UK), a major international environmental trade show and conference taking place at the UWE Exhibition & Conference Centre on 13th October, sponsored by the Environmental Technology iNet. The largest event of its kind in the South West, it will bring together the best in environmental and low carbon goods and services. With as many as 250 exhibitors and 2,000 visitors expected, it is the perfect opportunity to showcase the best and brightest businesses and technologies.
Attendees to ETS UK will be able to:
- Discover innovative technologies & services
- Learn how to develop your business
- Network with the industry's leading green thinkers
- Generate business for your organisation
- Uncover job opportunities at the Job Shop
- Take part in lively debate at the Investors Forum
Further information about ETS UK is at www.environmentaltradeshow.co.uk or from Amy Robinson at Low Carbon South West on 0117 945 8730.
August 2011
New woodland code to encourage tree planting for carbon capture
A new Woodland Carbon Code has been launched by the Forestry Commission to provide a consistent national approach as well as clarity and transparency to potential investors interested in financing tree planting for carbon capture.
Planting new forests and woodland helps to counteract the greenhouse gas emissions caused by burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas. As trees grow they capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and store the carbon as wood and organic matter, whilst releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere. The Forestry Commission states that commercial interest in investing in tree planting for carbon capture in this way is increasing, but until now there have been neither standards against which to measure the carbon capture claims, nor a mechanism to report the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
To comply with the Code, woodland projects must be responsibly and sustainably managed to national standards, use set methods for estimating the carbon that will be captured, be independently certified, and meet transparent criteria and standards. Project providers must register with the Forestry Commission, stating the exact location and long-term objectives of their projects. Once approved, projects will appear in a national, on-line register.
The UK's woodland absorbs about 2 per cent of our annual emissions of greenhouse gases, but with increased planting, they have the potential to soak up much more and further help to mitigate climate change.
Information on the Woodland Carbon Code is available at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/carboncode.
Trees also have an important role in helping reduce the effects of extreme weather arising from climate change, such as flash flooding and heat waves, by attenuating the effects of heavy rainfall and providing shading. Climate SouthWest has worked with the Forestry Commission to produce a number of guidance documents for woodland owners which can be found from Climate SouthWest's tools page.
August 2011
Challenges to the UK from international climate change
The consequences for the UK of climate change occurring in other parts of the world could be as important as climate change directly affecting these shores, according to a Foresight report, published this month by the Government Office for Science.
The 'International Dimensions of Climate Change' report was launched at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) by FCO Minister for Climate Change Henry Bellingham. This important new report shows that the UK could be vulnerable to adverse impacts from climate change abroad. More attention therefore needs to be given to how the effects of climate change in other countries may have domestic impacts here.
The report has identified a wide range of risks to the UK from climate change impacts in other parts of the world, which may have implications for:
- Foreign policy and security.
International instability could increase as a consequence of climate change, either directly through extreme weather events and water system stresses, or indirectly as social and political systems in vulnerable parts of the world come under increasing strain. Also, the UK has a moral, political and legal obligation to support certain regions that are particularly at risk from the effects of climate change, such as small island states which include many of the UK Overseas Territories. - Resources and infrastructure.
Climate change could affect the overseas resources and infrastructure on which the UK depends. The impacts could arise from global temperature change, water stresses, sea level rise and extreme weather events. A wide range of potential threats are identified including disruption to essential infrastructure serving global markets and energy supplies, as well as the potential impact of extreme weather events on communications networks and data centres. - Financial sector and business.
The report argues that the financial sector and business more generally may fail to properly evaluate and take into account changes in the balance of risks associated with climate change overseas. UK firms managed worldwide assets of £1.2 trillion in 2008, and the failure to accurately assess their level of exposure to climate change effects may result in these assets being insufficiently insured or protected. The UK's financial exposure to overseas climate change impacts may increase if international business and financial policy frameworks do not appropriately account for climate change, and institutions are exposed to additional risks and uncertainties as a result.
Other UK areas that could be affected from climate change impacts abroad include: health and the UK's role on the global stage.
The report demonstrates how the UK is closely interconnected with the global economy, and has an important role in addressing risks internationally. It points to opportunities in business, finance and global leadership, for example: opportunities for key sectors of the UK economy, either where there are recognised strengths in engineering, in insurance and in climate forecasting or where new opportunities are generated because of the need to reduce emissions or adapt to climate change. They include a wide range of green technologies, particularly in the energy sector, such as carbon capture and storage, and new forms of financing for the green economy. The global environmental and low-carbon market was estimated to be £3.2 trillion in 2008/09 with a predicted 4% growth rate to 2013/14, with the UK forecast to achieve up to 3.9% growth in these areas by 2016.
Professor Sir John Beddington, the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser and the project's director said: "Our world is getting warmer, and the UK's extensive international economic, political and cultural ties mean that the UK is at increasing risk from impacts of climate change overseas. The UK must not respond by becoming insular but instead broaden its international reach to tackle climate change. This report is designed to help Government consider how these impacts will be felt here in the UK so we can better prepare and adapt for the future."
The full report can be downloaded at http://www.bis.gov.uk/foresight.
July 2011
Electricity market reform plans unveiled
With a quarter of the UK's generating capacity shutting down over the next ten years as old coal and nuclear power stations close, more than £110bn in investment is needed to build the equivalent of 20 large power stations and upgrade the grid, according to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) as it launched the Electricity Market Reform White Paper on 12 July 2011.
In the longer term, by 2050, electricity demand is set to double, as we shift more transport and heating onto the electricity grid. Business as usual cannot be an option if the UK is to maintain a secure and reliable electricity supply system.
The Electricity Market Reform White Paper sets out key measures to attract investment, reduce the impact on consumer bills, and create a secure mix of electricity sources including gas, new nuclear, renewables and carbon capture and storage. The Renewables Roadmap published alongside the White Paper outlines a plan of action to accelerate renewable energy deployment - to meet the target of 15% of all energy by 2020 - while driving down costs.
Key elements of the reform package include:
- the announcement in Budget 2011 that the Government would put in place a Carbon Price Floor to reduce investor uncertainty, putting a fair price on carbon and providing a stronger incentive to invest in low-carbon generation now (around £16 per tonne of carbon dioxide in 2013 and move to a target price of £30 per tonne in 2020);
- the introduction of new long-term contracts (Feed-in Tariff with Contracts for Difference) to provide stable financial incentives to invest in all forms of low-carbon electricity generation. A contract for difference approach has been chosen over a less cost-effective premium feed-in-tariff - DECC will consult further on its proposals;
- an Emissions Performance Standard (EPS) set at 450g CO2/kWh to reinforce the requirement that no new coal-fired power stations are built without CCS, but also to ensure necessary investment in gas can take place;
- investment of up to £30M to support innovation in the production of components over the next four years;
- Government has asked a new industry-led task force to reduce the costs of offshore wind to £100/MWh by 2020. That level of cost reduction should unlock the full potential of the UK's offshore resources, making it possible to deliver up to 18GW by 2020 and open up the 30 - 40GW of low carbon generation that will be necessary in the 2020s to keep the UK on track to deliver the 4th Carbon Budget; and
- a Capacity Mechanism, including demand response as well as generation, which is needed to ensure future security of electricity supply. DECC are seeking further views on the type of mechanism required.
The electricity market reform package will, according to Ministers, minimise the impact on bills by insulating the UK from volatile fossil fuel prices and providing investors with the certainty they need to raise capital more cheaply. DECC estimates that with the market left as it is now, domestic electricity bills will be around £200 higher in 2030 compared with today's average annual household bill (about £500). The market reform packages limit this increase to £160, i.e. £40 lower than it would otherwise be.
The Renewables Roadmap sets out an action plan to accelerate the UK's deployment and use of renewable energy, and put us on the path to achieve our 2020 target, while driving down the cost of renewable energy over time. It identifies the eight technologies that have either the greatest potential to help the UK meet the 2020 target in a cost-effective and sustainable way, or offer great potential for the decades that follow. These technologies are:
onshore wind
offshore wind
marine energy
biomass electricity
biomass heat
ground source heat pumps
air source heat pumps
renewable transport
Energy from wind, biomass and heat pumps are the leading contributors, including offshore wind - where the UK has abundant natural resource and is already the world's largest market. The remaining energy necessary to meet the 2020 target will come from technologies such as hydropower, solar PV, and deep geothermal heat and power.
The Government intends for legislation to reach the statute book by the end of the next session (by spring 2013) so that the first low-carbon projects can be supported under its provisions around 2014. Further information can be found on DECC's website from this link: EMR White paper (DECC).
July 2011
UK's population growing faster than ever...
The UK population increased in 2010 than at any time in almost half a century, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. By mid-2010 the estimated resident population was 62,262,000, an increase of 470,000 (0.8%) on the previous year.
The growth rate is the highest since the "baby boom" era of the 1960s. The annual number of births in the UK is now at its highest level since 1991, with 797,000 during the year to mid-2010. The growth in the difference between the numbers of births and deaths is the main reason behind this, accounting for 52% of the growth.
The Office for National Statistics highlights two factors as significant; the rising fertility among UK-born women and more inward migration of women of childbearing age. The UK's population increased by 3.1 million people in the 9 years from 2001 to 2010.
This unsustainable growth will be of concern for many in the UK with its ever shrinking land resource and availability of affordable housing, our desire to reduce CO2 emissions and the rate of resource depletion, rising travel congestion and the need to import more food from overseas as climate change impacts further reduce the planet's ability to feed its growing population. Some relevant quotes to ponder:
"Can you think of anything that can get better if we crowd more people into our cities, our towns, into our state our nation or on this earth?" - Dr Albert Bartlett, former Professor of Physics, University of Colorado
" ...we owe it to the rest of the planet to stabilise our own population. Producing lots of extra Brits, whether through higher birth rates or immigration, is a selfish strategy both economically and environmentally. Not only will it increase overcrowding and congestion and put huge extra strain on resources and habitats in the UK; because British consumers have such a heavy global footprint, it will intensify our impact on the Earth's ecosystems" - David Nicholson-Lord, research associate, Optimum Population Trust
"I have no doubt that the fundamental problem the planet faces is the enormous increase in the human population" - Sir David Attenborough
"There is a clear connection between population growth and virtually every challenge facing our planet" - Population Connection
"Having one less child is the biggest contribution anyone can make to leaving a habitable planet" - Prof John Guilleband, Optimum Population Trust
"Against a background of peak oil and rising oil prices which will make food production and its transportation increasingly costly, relying on other nations to feed us by not halting then reversing our rising population is a dangerous strategy" - Phil Harding (interview in 2007 with The Observer Magazine).
Some useful links to other websites:
Office for National Statistics - population news release
Population Matters - working name of the Optimum Population Trust
BBC News website story 'UK population sees biggest increase in half a century'
Quotes Corner, philharding.net - sustainability quotes page where population quotes can be found.
July 2011
Aiming for a zero waste economy
The Coalition Government carried out a fundamental review of waste policy and waste management delivery in England during 2010 with the aim of meeting the Coalition Agreement commitment to "work towards a zero waste economy and encourage councils to pay people to recycle and reduce littering" and "measures to promote a huge increase in energy from waste through anaerobic digestion".
The results of the review were published on 14 June 2011. The Government's waste review set out the following priorities:
- Consult in 2012 on introducing a landfill restriction on wood waste, review the case for introducing landfill bans on other materials, such as metals, textiles and all biodegradable waste. The Government will work with industry to drive innovation in reuse and recycling in these products before the start of any bans;
- Accelerate recycling and reducing waste creation in the first place by providing incentives for householders, recycling-on-the-go schemes, better services for businesses and voluntary responsibility deals focussing on the hospitality industry, paper, direct mail, textiles, and construction waste;
- Scrap unfair bin fines and taxes while bringing in powers to deal with repeat fly-tipping offenders and genuine nuisance neighbours;
- Crack down on illegal fly-tippers who persistently and recklessly pollute the environment and countryside. We will introduce appropriate powers to seize vehicles, and look at penalties that might include offenders clearing up items they have dumped; and
- Consult on increased recycling targets to 2017 for plastic, steel, aluminium and glass. Targets will be consulted on and agreed in time for the 2012 Budget.
Driving innovation in the £11 billion waste and recycling sector, which employs up to 150,000 people, is expected by the Government to push growth by 3 to 4 percent over the next few years.
Waste going to landfill has nearly halved by 2011 since 2000, with household recycling rates now at 40 per cent and business rates at more than 50 per cent. The Government will publish a follow-up zero-waste action plan on waste prevention in December 2013, to check progress and address further developments under any new EU regulations.
The Anaerobic Digestion* strategy and action plan was also published on 14 June 2011. It seeks to enable a thriving industry to grow in England over the next few years, delivering new green jobs as well as new green energy.
For future reference, the information in this news item is also published on this website's Low Waste South West page. Further information about the Government's plans for waste can be found from this link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2011/06/14/pb13540-waste-review/. The Anaerobic Digestion* strategy and action plan can be found on the DECC website from this link: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/gb_anaerobic/gb_anaerobic.aspx.
*Explanatory Footnote. Anaerobic Digestion is a natural process in which microorganisms break down organic matter, in the absence of oxygen, into biogas (a mixture of carbon dioxide and methane) and digestate (a nitrogen-rich fertiliser). The biogas can be used directly in engines for Combined Heat and Power (CHP), burned to produce heat, or can be cleaned and used in the same way as natural gas or as a vehicle fuel. The digestate can be used as a renewable fertiliser or soil conditioner. This process has been widely applied in the UK for the treatment of sewage sludge for over 100 years. (DECC, 2011)
June 2011
35 years championing low carbon solutions and good environmental practice!
June 2011 marks a remarkable milestone, the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the Energy & Environmental Management Group movement in the South West.
The first Energy Management Group to be established in the United Kingdom was the Avon & Somerset Energy Management Group formed in early 1976. This was the year Jim Callaghan became Prime Minister (replacing Harold Wilson), the cod war between Britain and Iceland ended, the Government took emergency powers to cope with a serious summer drought (!) and Jimmy Carter was elected 39th US President (serving from 1977 to 1981). Energy Management Groups were set up across the UK in 1976 with seed-corn funding from the then Department of Energy as the UK emerged from the energy crises of the early 1970s. Energy Management Groups in the South West became "Energy & Environmental Management Groups" during 1995/96 to reflect the wider interest and requirements of their members.
The SW EEMGs are almost certainly the longest running environmental network in the UK. With over 1,000 members the groups are independent non-profit making bodies that enable the development and exchange of ideas, technologies and techniques and the provision of professional training for the benefit of their members and partner organisations in the region. Membership is drawn from industry, commerce and the public sector.
The groups have survived the recessions of 1980-82 and 1990-92, the international financial crisis since 2007/8 and wide fluctuations in energy prices over the past 35 years. With rising energy and raw material prices alongside increasing concerns about climate change and sustainable consumption and production, the role of the Groups in raising the resource efficiency skills of managers has never been more relevant to industry, commerce and the public sector than it is today.
It is worth noting that the long running success of the SW EEMG movement is due to the dedication and personal commitment of the Chairmen & Secretaries of the Groups and the Committee members that work with them. New committee members are required on a continuous basis to help secure this important movement for the region's future competitiveness and to maintain the momentum of reducing carbon emissions and other environmental impacts. If you would like to join up and help the groups deliver such a useful and fulfilling role over the next crucial few years, do contact your local group (see links below).
Full information about the SW EEMG movement is at: www.oursouthwest.com/eemg. The four South West groups are:
(Author: Phil Harding, Managing Editor, www.oursouthwest.com)
June 2011
South West business with eco-improvement concept is 'take one step' finalist
Over 5,000 businesses registered for the Barclays 'Take One Small Step' competition, and, after these were whittled down to a shortlist of just 27, OxiAqua Ltd from Devon is one of the three businesses in the South West region which have made it through to the final stages. The 'Take One Small Step' Competition aims to help entrepreneurs across Great Britain turn their ideas into a reality.
Nitrate pollution from agriculture is a major problem impacting on water-courses and natural environments, with significant costs associated with clean-up. OxiAqua Ltd from Exmouth in Devon have developed a process to reclaim the value of the nutrients held within farmyard slurries for diversified use on the farm, or as a resource to be turned into a commercial product and sold to the hydroponics industry for high yield, high value or medicinal crops. Over the last 2 years they have developed a number of advanced processes to strip away harmful chemical and bacterial components, leaving a safe, nutrient-rich liquid.
Nick Flynn of OxiAqua Ltd said "Pollution, Food Scarcity and Hunger, are major concerns, and winning £50,000 to invest into the business will enable us to take that vital next step towards success."
Supporters have until 9:00am on 27th June to vote for OxiAqua Ltd on the Barclays Take One Small Step website: https://www.takeonesmallstep.co.uk/Entry/Detail/3451. The winners will be announced on 22nd July.
June 2011
'The Natural Choice' is first White Paper on the natural environment for 20 years
Proposals in 'The Natural Choice', the Government's first White Paper on the natural environment in 20 years published by Defra on 7th June, set out a detailed programme of action to repair damage done to the environment in the past, and urges everyone to get involved in helping nature to flourish at all levels - from neighbourhoods to national parks. These are directly linked to the groundbreaking research in the National Ecosystem Assessment published on 2nd June that showed the strong economic arguments for safeguarding and enhancing the natural environment.
Key measures in the White Paper include:
- New Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs), transforming rural and urban areas and providing bigger, connected sites for wildlife to live in and adapt to climate change. With a £7.5 million fund for 12 initial NIAs to demonstrate just what can be done.
- Biodiversity offsetting - new way for developers to ensure we don't lose wildlife sites and make them better by making and improving other sites.
- New Local Nature Partnerships to strengthen joined-up action across local agencies and organisations, with £1 million available this year.
- Phasing out peat - working with the horticulture industry to phase out peat use, which will help to protect and restore our peatlands, which are valuable carbon sinks, habitats and part of our ecological network.
- Green Areas Designation allowing local communities to give protection to areas that are important to them for recreation, the view or their importance for wildlife.
- Better urban green spaces for the benefit of cities and towns. Support for parks, gardens, and tree planting which benefit people and nature alike.
- New environmental volunteering initiative "Muck in 4 Life" to improve places in towns and countryside for people and nature to enjoy.
- An annual statement of green accounts for UK Plc - showing where our economy has withdrawn from the value of nature's bank balance, and where we have invested in it. Defra state that this will help measure green growth alongside GDP.
'The Natural Choice' can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/natural/whitepaper/.
June 2011
Up to £10,000 for consumers with Green Deal
The Green Deal, due to start in 2012, is the UK government's flagship energy saving plan to transform the country's homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run. From next year, people will be able to access up to £10,000 upfront to pay for energy efficiency work, repaying the costs through savings on energy bills. Similar support will be available through the Green Deal for businesses and there will be extra help for vulnerable people or those living in homes which need more work than Green Deal finance alone will pay for.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) launched on 2 June a document 'Consumer Protection in the Green Deal' that spells out its plans to set up a new Green Deal Code - to protect customers at all stages of the Green Deal from initial assessment to installation. There will also be a new Green Deal advice line to provide impartial advice and referral to accredited Green Deal assessors, installers and providers as well as providing a route for any complaints.
UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) has also been appointed as the independent body that will ensure both assessors and installers keep to robust standards in order to participate in the Green Deal.
More information about the Green Deal is available from DECC's website.
June 2011
Nature worth billions to UK economy
Research, funded by Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), has revealed in a major new independent report, the UK National Ecosystem Assessment (UK NEA), that nature is worth billions of pounds to the UK economy. The report strengthens the arguments for protecting and enhancing the environment (as if this was necessary!) and, according to Defra, will be used by the government to direct policy in future.
Whilst before now people may have thought that caring for the environment resulted in additional financial costs, the UK NEA shows that there are real economic reasons for looking after nature. The NEA also shows that the health benefits, well being and the enjoyment of nature itself have not always been fully appreciated or valued. Examples from the assessment include:
- Pollinators are worth £430million per year to British agriculture;
- The benefits that inland wetlands bring to water quality are worth up to £1.5billion per year to the UK;
- The health benefits of living with a view of a green space are worth up to £300 per person per year.
Welcoming publication of the report, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said "The natural world is vital to our existence, providing us with essentials such as food, water and clean air, but also other cultural and health benefits not always fully appreciated because we get them for free. The UK National Ecosystem Assessment is a vital step forward in our ability to understand the true value of nature and how to sustain the benefits it gives us. I want our children to be the first generation to leave the natural environment in a better state than it was left to them. In 50 years time I want them to be able to look back and see how much the value of nature has grown, not diminished. The findings of this assessment have played a big part in shaping our forthcoming Natural Environment White Paper that will help us revitalise our towns and countryside."
Professor Bob Watson, Chief Scientist at Defra and the co-chairman of UK NEA, said "There is an urgent need to better manage our ecosystems and the natural resources they provide us with. But until now there has been no clear way of valuing the full range of benefits they provide beyond what we can buy and sell. The UK NEA introduces groundbreaking approaches to measure the value of these services and how they will be affected in future if we do not make the right choices now. The NEA shows that we need a more integrated approach to ecosystem management, involving Government, the private sector, voluntary groups and the public working together to protect the services nature provides."
The UK NEA has brought together more than 500 experts in ecology, economics and social sciences. Copies of the UK NEA synthesis report and the full technical findings are available from this link: http://uknea.unep-wcmc.org.
June 2011
Green economics for a safer, more secure future
Can the combination of the economic crisis, extreme weather events, natural disasters, and rising world food prices finally convince the majority of governments that a different kind of economic model is necessary?
According to the OECD, governments are now recognising that innovation, investing in renewable energy, and improved efficiency in the use of energy and materials is the economic approach essential for protecting the environment whilst enabling a sustainable economic recovery.
On 25 May the OECD launched its green growth strategy that seeks to provide a practical framework for governments in developed and developing countries to boost economic growth and protect the environment. The strategy makes two distinct points:
- Green growth means fostering economic growth and development while ensuring that natural assets continue to provide the resources and environmental services on which our well-being relies. To do this it must catalyse investment and innovation which will underpin sustained growth and give rise to new economic opportunities.
- A return to 'business as usual' would be unwise and ultimately unsustainable, involving risks that could impose human costs and constraints on economic growth and development. It could result in increased water scarcity, resource bottlenecks, air and water pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss which would be irreversible; thus the need for strategies to achieve greener growth.
Alongside recognition of the need for a sustainable economic model, there are growing concerns about food security and rising food prices that have doubled since 1990 and are forecast to double again by 2030. These concerns were further highlighted by Oxfam's report 'Growing a Better Future' published on 31 May warning that rising food prices were having a devastating effect on the world's poorest. Food security will be made worse by the combination of continuing unrestrained growth in the world's human population (to over 9 billion by 2050) and reduced food production arising from climate change impacts.
Mr Angel Gurria, OECD Secretary-General, in launching the OECD green growth strategy summed up the solutions to the challenges we face:
"We need to make growth greener, to make our economic and environmental policies more compatible and even mutually-reinforcing. This is not just a matter of new technologies or new sources of renewable, safe energy. It is about how we all behave every day of our lives, what we eat, what we drink, what we recycle, re-use, repair, how we produce and how we consume"
Angel Gurria's quote and other similar quotes can be found at philharding.net/quotes-corner.
Related links (external): OECD - Green Growth strategy and Oxfam - Growing a Better Future report
June 2011
Celebrating Sustainable City Living, 10 - 19 June, Bristol
Good Living Week has been established by Bristol's Green Capital Partnership and Forum for the Future to provide a focus for sustainable local living and the positive approach that we need to face the future with optimism and forethought, inspiring change and leading by example.
Good living can mean many different things to different people - for the team behind Good Living Week, good living is about living within environmental limits. It's about good business, not big business. It's about well-being rather than fast cars and money. The organisers have brought together some of the already established events, such as the Festival of Nature and Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride, and added other opportunities for businesses and residents to participate in activities and discussions. The Good Living Week runs from 10 - 19 June.
Further details can be found at http://goodlivingweek.com.
May 2011
2011 Environmental Trade Show UK (ETS UK) to be staged in Bristol
Bristol is to stage a major international environmental trade show later this year on 13th October. Organised by Low Carbon South West, the 2011 Environmental Trade Show UK (ETS UK) will be the largest event of its kind in the South West and takes place at the UWE exhibition & conference centre.
This important event will provide a major platform for UK organisations to showcase their knowledge, skills and innovations that lie at the heart of the country's growing environmental sector. The launch of the trade show follows the Coalition Government's announcement to commit the UK to legally binding carbon emission cuts over two decades that reinforces the importance of this sector in future of the UK economy.
ETS UK, which is sponsored by leading organisations such as Environmental Technologies iNet, Britannia Construction, Lyons Davidson, and Bristol City Council will be combined with a one day conference and workshops. The exhibition, which is expected to include around 250 stands and attract 1,000 people, will include a technology demonstrator area and a number of themed zones including zones on Sustainable Transport, International Trade and Renewable Energy.
Further information about ETS UK is at www.environmentaltradeshow.co.uk or from Amy Robinson at Low Carbon South West on 0117 945 8730.
May 2011
Climate Resilient Infrastructure
Defra's Secretary of State, Caroline Spelman, launched on 9th May "Climate Resilient Infrastructure: Preparing for a Changing Climate", a cross-Government report which outlines the challenges to the transport, energy, water and ICT infrastructure sectors to adapting to climate change. The report sets out what action needs to be taken by infrastructure owners and operators, regulators, insurers and Government. The report has been produced as a commitment from the Government's National Infrastructure Plan.
Actions identified in the report to prepare infrastructure for a changing climate include:
- Owners and operators of infrastructure should include measures to improve climate resilience in the maintenance schedules for their assets, and ensure climate impacts are considered in the design of new infrastructure;
- Potential infrastructure investors should demand more information from companies on the climate risks to their assets and measures taken to reduce them as part of their 'due diligence' processes;
- Professional bodies should consider if their members have the right skills to help prepare infrastructure for climate change; and
- Engineers should look to develop new materials, techniques and designs to improve the resilience of infrastructure projects to severe weather.
Launching the report, Caroline Spelman said: "Our economy is built on effective transport and communications networks and reliable energy and water supplies. But the economy cannot grow if there are repeated power failures, or goods cannot be transported because roads are flooded and railways have buckled, or if intense rainfall or high temperatures disrupt Wi-Fi signals." She also said: "Infrastructure assets often have lives of at least 50-100 years so they need to be designed to function long into the future when the climate is projected to be very different. This presents great opportunities for British businesses to develop new technologies and processes in engineering, planning and consultancy, ICT-based technologies, renewable energy, investment, and insurance."
The report can be found on Defra's website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climate/sectors/infrastructure-companies/.
May 2011
William and Kate help lead the way for greener weddings
The national (and international) enthusiasm for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton and the couple's wishes to source many aspects of their wedding arrangements as sustainably as possible, serves as a useful reminder that weddings can be the happiest and most important day of a couple's life without having to literally "cost the earth" in terms of environmental damage. Obviously state occasions such as royal weddings do have a large environmental impact but nevertheless steps can be taken to minimise the worst effects of events, large or small.
Wedding guests have been asked by Prince William and Kate Middleton to donate money to charity rather than buying them gifts. Westminster Abbey, decorated with seasonal flowers, shrubs and trees, mainly sourced from royal estates, includes an avenue of trees lining the aisle and leading to the altar based around growing rather than cut plants. These support the couple's desire to source the decorations as sustainably as is practicable.
Whilst aimed at conferences and seminars, the nationally recognised "Greener Events" guide on www.oursouthwest.com has a useful one-page checklist that can help wedding couples plan a "low carbon" reception for their special day with minimal environmental impact. Choosing a reception venue with a sound environmental policy and located as close as possible to the wedding itself is the starting point. The guide's checklist can be used to discuss with the venue management a range of measures to keep the environmental footprint as light as possible.
From the use of locally sourced organic seasonal food and drink, minimising energy waste (e.g. avoiding wasteful unnecessary lighting), and seeking the recycling of all waste produced, to encouraging car sharing amongst guests and offsetting unavoidable carbon emissions, there are many small steps that can be taken to help keep the day memorable for all the right reasons. The "Greener Events" guide is available from this link: greener events guide.
A final thought. Don't get too hung-up about the environmental impact of your wedding. If your guests weren't attending your wedding they would be doing something else on the day that could be just as environmentally damaging - or even more so. By making the effort to reduce impacts for your wedding day you will help reinforce the message with your guests that we all have a responsibility to care for the environment - even when celebrating the important milestones in our lives! You can put thought rather than lots of money into your wedding...
April 2011
New Love Where You Live campaign
Keep Britain Tidy's celebrity ambassador TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp and some of the big brand companies whose products end up as litter, together with voluntary groups, have joined forces to launch a new campaign, 'Love Where You Live'. As part of the charity's ongoing drive to make England a green and pleasant land in which to live, Keep Britain Tidy is now working with businesses, including McDonalds, Greggs, Wrigley and Imperial Tobacco, along with central and local government and the voluntary sector, on Love Where You Live. In more than half of the places surveyed by Keep Britain Tidy it was fast-food packaging that topped the list of branded litter.
Keep Britain Tidy's chief executive Phil Barton said: 'Love Where You Live is a unique campaign. It is about everyone, from individuals and community groups to local authorities and multi-national corporations, working together to transform our country. We need to make a change so that this country is no longer a place where it is, seemingly, acceptable for some to throw litter. It is time for us to start taking some pride in our country and for everyone to love where they live. It is not someone else's responsibility - it is everyone's responsibility. Some companies are taking action, supported by Keep Britain Tidy, to tackle litter and are committed to educating their customers. It would be nice to see other fast food and confectionery manufacturers, along with cigarette manufacturers, take the issue as seriously and become involved in Love Where You Live.'
Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said: 'Love Where You Live is about society taking collective responsibility for the litter that blights our communities and countryside and annoys so many of us. Campaigns like this are so important to get the message out there that's it's not ok to just chuck your litter to the ground or out the car window. It's a message that we need to keep repeating to make people who trash our countryside and towns think twice.'
Links: The Keep Britian Tidy website is at http://www.keepbritaintidy.org and the official 'Love where you live' website is at: http://lovewhereyoulive.org.
April 2011
Budget 2011 and the environment
The Chancellor of the Exchequer made his Budget Statement to the House of Commons on 23 March 2011. The following are extracts relating to the environment:-
1.110 The Government is committed to being the greenest Government ever. A simple, efficient and cost effective policy framework will meet environmental objectives while supporting growth and maintaining a sound fiscal position. Market-based solutions to price carbon are at the heart of this approach, achieving objectives at the lowest possible cost.
1.111 The Government will increase the proportion of tax revenue accounted for by environmental taxes. Tax policy will be developed in the context of wider Government levers (such as voluntary agreements and regulation)
and overlap of policy instruments will be avoided. Government announces that:
- following consultation, a carbon price floor for electricity generation will be introduced from 1 April 2013. The carbon price floor will start at around £16 per
tonne of carbon dioxide and follow a linear path to £30 per tonne in 2020 to drive investment in the low-carbon power sector. The carbon price support rates for 2013-14 will be equivalent to £4.94 per tonne of carbon dioxide.
- Climate Change Agreements (CCAs) will be extended to 2023. The climate change levy discount on electricity for CCA participants will be increased from 65 to 80
per cent from April 2013 to continue to support energy intensive businesses exposed to international competition. A consultation on proposals to simplify the agreements will be published by summer 2011; and
- it remains committed to providing public funding for four Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) demonstration plants. However, consistent with its objectives for
tax simplification, it will not proceed with the CCS levy. It will instead fund its commitments to CCS demonstrations from general taxation.
1.112 The Government is committed to ensuring that the Green Investment Bank (GIB) has the resources to help the UK to move towards a low-carbon economy. The Government announces that the initial capitalisation of the GIB will be £3 billion and that the GIB will begin operation in 2012-13, a year earlier than previously anticipated. Government investment alongside private finance should mean that there is in the region of an additional £18 billion of investment in green infrastructure by 2014-15 as a result of the GIB. The Spending Review allocated £1 billion for the GIB and the Government is aiming for the remaining £2 billion to be funded from the sale of assets. This will include the £775 million net proceeds already received from the sale of High Speed I, ensuring that funding is in place to allow GIB investments from 2012-13. The Government will enable the GIB to have borrowing powers from 2015-16 and once the target for debt to be falling as a percentage of GDP has been met.
1.113 The Government is committed to the success of the Green Deal and will act to encourage and incentivise take-up so that the Green Deal will appeal to households, businesses and prospective providers alike, before it is introduced in 2012.
For HM Treasury website click here: HM Treasury - Budget 2011.
March 2011
Research investigating how public spending cuts affect environmental activity in the South West
Everyone is aware of the recent headlines announcing cuts in funding from central government for all kinds of agencies. But what is the actual impact on the capacity of the South West region to continue to deliver activity which protects and conserves the environment?
The RSPB regional office is in the early stages of a piece of work to gauge this impact across the public, private and Third Sector. The work is being led by Mark Robins, Policy Officer at the RSPB, with the support of Clare Brewster and Ralph Mackridge. They are in the early stages of contacting organisations and the main message at this stage from the RSPB is 'we may need your help'. The aim is to contact a wide range of organisations across all sectors that have direct involvement with Landscape Management, Nature Conservation, Resource Management, and Climate Change.
Anyone interested in the survey should contact Clare (Claire.brewster@rspb.org.uk) or Ralph (Ralph.Mackridge@rspb.org.uk) for further information.
March 2011
How would you meet our energy demands and reduce carbon emissions by 2050?
A new online simulation, My2050, went live on 3rd March 2011 to give people the chance to take the big decisions about the UK's energy future. Whether you want to build more nuclear power stations, move everyone to electric cars, or put solar panels on every roof, the choice is yours as long as you can hit the 2050 target to reduce carbon emissions by 80 per cent while keeping the lights on.
Launched by Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne, he said: "There's no silver bullet solution to the UK's energy future. This project is all about getting to grips with the hard choices and trade-offs which need to be made, choices which will affect our homes, communities and the way we travel. We can't afford to leave it till tomorrow - so get involved today."
You can try out the My2050 online simulation from this link: http://www.decc.gov.uk/my2050.
March 2011
Archive: Summaries of selected older news stories
A selection of past stories featured on www.oursouthwest.com from 2010 will be retained here for historial interest/reference. Most stories have been summarised and links to external websites removed.
2010 gives UK driest first six months of any year since 1929
Official figures show that January to June had average rainfall of 356.8 mm, making this period the second driest for 100 years. 1929 had the driest first six months of a year, when 275.7 mm of rain was recorded. The drier conditions have been caused by a lack of Atlantic weather systems, which usually cross the UK bringing bands of rain, especially to western regions. The drier conditions have already led to pressure on water resources in some areas.
A recent (May 2010) Met Office study on how climate change could affect the frequency of extreme droughts in the UK found a range of possibilities - the majority of them showing such droughts will become more common. The study looked at how frequently extreme droughts could happen in the UK by 2100. To put the droughts in context, conditions seen in 1976 were used as a benchmark - a year which saw one of the worst droughts on record.
The Met Office climate model was used to run a number of simulations and these were then studied to determine how frequently 1976-style droughts could occur. There were 11 slightly different versions of the model, producing a range of results. At the lower end, extreme droughts would continue to be as rare as they are today - happening every 50 to 100 years. In the majority of other outcomes from the model, however, 1976-style droughts were more frequent. At the higher end, extreme droughts could happen once every decade - making them about 10 times more frequent than today.
July 2010
News
Leadership Development Programme - flexible to meet YOUR needs
South West is UK's first "Marine Energy Park"
Water for life: a new approach to water management
Older News
Plans to protect the UK power supply from the impacts of climate change published
Why grazing cows is so much better than keeping them in sheds
The greener events guide and the London 2012 Olympics
Sustainability Management System (SuMS) to help organisations improve their CSR performance
Latest sustainable procurement training (BS8903)
Popular free management guide reaches 200,000 milestone!
Environmental Trade Show UK (ETS UK) - coming to Bristol soon!
New woodland code to encourage tree planting for carbon capture
Challenges to the UK from international climate change
Electricity market reform plans unveiled
UK's population growing faster than ever...
Aiming for a zero waste economy
35 years championing low carbon solutions and good environmental practice!
South West business with eco-improvement concept is 'take one step' finalist
'The Natural Choice' is first White Paper on the natural environment for 20 years
Up to £10,000 for consumers with Green Deal
Nature worth billions to UK economy
Green economics for a safer, more secure future
Good Living Week: Celebrating Sustainable City Living, 10 - 19 June, Bristol
2011 Environmental Trade Show UK (ETS UK) to be staged in Bristol
Climate Resilient Infrastructure
William and Kate help lead the way for greener weddings
New Love Where You Live campaign
Budget 2011 and the environment
Research investigating how public spending cuts affect environmental activity in the South West
How would you meet our energy demands and reduce carbon emissions by 2050?
Archive: Summaries of selected older news stories
2010 gives UK driest first six months of any year since 1929
Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, the www.oursouthwest.com editorial team accepts no liability for the accuracy of the news items displayed.
