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Measuring progress: Sustainable development indicators 2010
Measuring progress: Sustainable development indicators 2010, published by Defra at the end of July, brings together an extensive range of economic, social and environmental indicators to provide a statistical overview of the country's progress on sustainable development. The publication aims to make indicators easily accessible to a wide audience and to enable everyone to judge where change, for better or worse, is occurring and where the challenges are. It should be a useful reference to experts and to those less familiar with the concept of sustainable development or indicators.
    The report covers a wide range of topics of everyday concern such as health, housing, jobs, crime, education, and our environment, all of which may affect whether we can live more sustainably in the future. It includes measures of wellbeing, how people rate their lives and how satisfied they are with aspects that may affect them.
    Several measures show improvement. These include renewable electricity, emissions of air pollutants and manufacturing emissions, fossil fuels used for electricity generation, waste and land recycling, agricultural emissions and land stewardship, crime, fear of crime, mortality rates, road accidents, rough sleepers and homeless households.
    Those measures showing deterioration since 2003 are specifically:
  • aviation emissions of greenhouse gases
  • shipping emissions of greenhouse gases
  • carbon dioxide emissions from road freight
  • carbon dioxide emissions from the service sector
  • energy supply (consumption exceeding UK production)
  • farmland bird populations
  • community participation
  • range of life expectancy between local authorities
  • walking and cycling
  • households living in fuel poverty
    Also showing deterioration but not included in the summaries is the background measure on carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation.
    Click on link for further information: http://sd.defra.gov.uk/2010/07/measuring-progress-sustainable-development-indicators-2010/.
August 2010

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GOSW to close
Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles announced on 22 July 2010 the Government's intention in principle to abolish the remaining eight Government Offices (including the Government Office for the South West), subject to using the Spending Review to resolve consequential issues. The final decisions will be made at the end of the Spending Review in the autumn.
    The Government Offices were created 16 years ago in 1994 by the previous Conservative administration. Their role has been to integrate Departmental policies for communication and influence at the regional and the local level, working with local areas and partners to help explain and deliver national policies of Government whilst providing local knowledge to help policy making and the development of support programmes in Whitehall. By bringing 13 Government Departments together under one Regional Director, the Government Offices have been able to join up the policies of those Departments into a more coherent approach for regions and localities. The Government Office network has also played an important role in responding to national or sub-regional emergencies such major flooding incidents, for example the devastating floods of July 2007.
    The statement from Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles on 22 July was as follows:
    "The Government Offices are not a legal entity. They act on behalf of 13 Government Departments and are staffed by Civil Servants from these Departments. Communities and Local Government is the biggest contributor to Government Offices providing 41 per cent and 33 per cent of funds and staff respectively in 2010/11. The Home Office; Departments for Education; Business, Innovation and Skills; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Transport are also employers of Government Office staff."
    "We are making good progress with our programme of radical reform to reduce the burden of bureaucracy on local authorities and businesses, including removing the inflated local government performance regime and doing away with the unnecessary regional tier. Consequently many of the functions Government Offices undertook are no longer necessary. By announcing our intention in principle now, we will further progress our programme of reform, allow staff, councils and departments to take account of this, and make an earlier start in the Spending Review on securing savings for the public purse."
    "I believe that the original intentions behind the establishment of the Government Offices for the Regions (to join up different Departmental teams outside London into a 'one stop shop') have been lost. Such functions are no longer necessary in an internet age and given the Coalition Government's commitment to genuine decentralisation and devolution of power."
    "There are, however, some Government Office functions, such as arrangements for resilience and civil contingencies, which will need to continue. The Spending Review process will be used to test which activities currently carried out by the Government Offices should continue, and to decide the most cost-effective on-going arrangements."
    "The Spending Review will also consider arrangements for the redeployment or release of Government Office staff, and for sharing as appropriate the savings, costs, assets and liabilities arising from the decision."
    "We should be clear: the Government Offices are not voices of the region in Whitehall. They have become agents of Whitehall to intervene and interfere in localities, and are a fundamental part of the 'command and control' apparatus of England's over-centralised state."
    The shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary John Denham said: "The decision leaves English regions without any way of coordinating economic development, major infrastructure projects and the effective co-ordination of public services for local people."
    Note:
    Steps have been taken by the managing editor of www.oursouthwest.com to secure the website for the benefit of partner organisations in the region whose web pages are hosted on this website. www.oursouthwest.com will be run on a voluntary basis in the future and its content will be reviewed and rationalised over the coming weeks and months.
    The editorial team would like to thank all those who have visited www.oursouthwest.com and made such positive comments and remarks about the usefulness of this resource in driving forward the sustainability and climate change agenda in the South West and beyond.
July 2010

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UK has driest first six months of any year since 1929
As June ended with below average rainfall, 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.
    Eleanor Burke, Climate Extremes Scientist with the Met Office, said understanding how droughts will affect the UK in the future is vital for plans to adapt to climate change. She said: "Severe droughts such as the one seen in 1976 have a big impact — causing water shortages; health risks; fire hazards; crop failure, and subsidence. Understanding how the frequency of these events will change is therefore very important to planning for the future."
    At this stage there is no probability attached to each of the scenarios, so they are all assumed to be equally likely. It is hoped future research will be able to assess how likely each outcome is to give better guidance to decision-makers on how they need to plan and adapt for future impacts of climate change.
July 2010

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Budget 2010 and the low-carbon economy
The following are extracts concerning the move to a low carbon economy and other energy and waste related issues from Budget 2010 published by the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne on 22 June 2010:
    1.75 Climate change is one of the most serious threats that the world faces. The Prime Minister has pledged to make this the greenest government ever, including reducing the Government’s own emissions by 10 per cent between mid-May 2010 and mid-May 2011.
    1.76 The Government is committed to playing its part in moving to a low carbon economy. The transition will change the shape of industry, growth and jobs. As part of this, the UK needs £200 billion of investment to 2020 to provide secure low-carbon energy. This will require reform of the energy market and action to attract additional private sector funding.
    1.77 Alongside wider market reforms, the Government will assess how the energy tax framework can provide the right incentives for investment. In the autumn, the Government will publish proposals to reform the climate change levy in order to provide more certainty and support to the carbon price. Subject to consultation, the Government intends to bring forward relevant legislation in Finance Bill 2011.
    1.78 The Government is also determined to address other barriers to investment in the low-carbon economy. Following the Spending Review, the Government will put forward detailed proposals on the creation of a Green Investment Bank to help the UK meet the low-carbon investment challenge. The Government is considering a wide range of options for the scope and structure of the Green Investment Bank. The options will be evaluated for effectiveness, fiscal affordability and transparency.
    1.79 The Government will establish a Green Deal for households through legislation in the Energy Security and Green Economy Bill, to help individuals invest in home energy efficiency improvements that can pay for themselves from the savings in energy bills. These improvements provide substantial and cost-effective carbon reductions but the initial cost can be significant, especially for low-income households. The Government will also continue to work on green financial products to provide individuals with opportunities to invest in the infrastructure necessary to support the green economy.
    1.123 The Government will explore changes to the aviation tax system, including switching from a per-passenger to a per-plane duty, which could encourage fuller planes. Major changes will be subject to public consultation.
    2.100 The Chancellor has asked the Office for Budget Responsibility to undertake an assessment over the summer of the effect of oil price fluctuations on the public finances. Informed by this assessment, the Government will examine options for the design of a fair fuel stabiliser.
    2.101 Reflecting the coalition commitment to investigate measures to help with fuel costs in remote rural areas, the Government is considering the case for introducing a fuel duty discount in remote rural areas. This includes possible pilot schemes in Scotland.
    2.127 The Government intends to include nitrous oxide gases from nitric acid production in the EU Emission Trading System from 2011.
    2.128 The standard rate of landfill tax will increase by £8 per tonne each year from 1 April 2011 until at least 2014. There will be a floor under the standard rate at £80 per tonne, so that the rate will not fall below £80 per tonne from April 2014 until at least 2020.
    2.129 New qualifying criteria for lower rated wastes will be legislated in the Finance Bill introduced in the autumn, to come into effect on 1 April 2011. (March 2010 Budget)
    2.130 The rate of aggregates levy will increase from £2.00 per tonne to £2.10 per tonne on 1 April 2011. (March 2010 Budget)
    2.132 From 1 April 2011, the discount from the climate change levy obtained by participating in a climate change agreement will be reduced from 80 to 65 per cent. (2009 Pre-Budget Report)
    2.133 The rates of climate change levy will be raised in line with inflation on 1 April 2011. (March 2010 Budget)
    2.134 Under plans the Government has inherited, fuel duty is scheduled to rise by one pence per litre above indexation in April 2014.
    2.135 The Government will reform company tax so that it continues to provide an incentive to purchase the lowest emitting vehicles on the market. From April 2011, the basic threshold for the 15 per cent band of company car tax will be reduced by 5 grams of carbon dioxide emitted per kilometre (g CO2 per km), so that this band applies to cars emitting between 121 and 129g CO2 per km. The percentage of list price subject to tax will continue to increase by one percentage point with every 5g CO2 per km increase in emissions, to a maximum of 35 per cent. The cap on car list prices used to calculate the taxable benefit arising from company cars will also be abolished on this date, as will discounts for early uptake Euro 4-standard diesel cars, higher-emitting hybrid cars and alternative fuel company cars. (Budget 2009)
    2.136 From April 2012, the 10 per cent band for cars emitting 120g CO2 per km or less will be removed, and the system of bands will be extended so that they increase by one percentage point with every 5g CO2 per km increase in emissions, from 10 per cent. This 10 per cent band will apply to cars that emit 99g of CO2 per km or less. (2009 Pre-Budget Report)
    2.137 Legislation will be in the Finance Bill introduced in the autumn for an enhanced capital allowance for zero-carbon goods vehicles. This will apply to vehicles purchased from April 2010, and will be in place for five years. (March 2010 Budget)
    2.138 From April 2011, exceptional rates of vehicle excise duty will be introduced for certain heavy goods vehicles, to ensure consistency with EU regulations. The number and value of exceptional rates will be announced after the necessary exchange rate data becomes available in October. Legislation will be in the Finance Bill introduced in the autumn. (March 2010 Budget)
    For HM Treasury website click here: HM Treasury - Budget 2010.
June 2010

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Review of waste policy announced
Speaking at Futuresource, Excel Centre on the subject of ‘Waste – new thinking for a new economy’ on 15th June 2010, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Caroline Spelman explained the new Government's approach to waste in the years ahead and announced a review of waste policy.
    She said "Waste is one of the biggest economic and environmental challenges we face. At every part of the waste hierarchy we want and need to do more. We will also have to do it differently and we all know why. We are a nation which has inherited the biggest peacetime deficit ever. Continuing with current approaches at the current pace is something we cannot afford – either environmentally or economically. We need a new approach to waste – one which works for the new economy. We need an approach which recognises its cost to business, to households, to local and central Government, and the environment alike. We cannot keep putting recyclable and biodegradable material into landfill. It threatens the environment and wastes what are incredibly valuable natural resources."
    "We are not in the business of threatening people with penalties and fines. In fact, one of our first announcements was to reject the very concept of bin taxes. Our approach is based on encouraging incentives which work for taxpayers, businesses and the local environment alike."
    "I am pleased to take this opportunity to announce that today we are starting a review of all existing waste policies. This will be a fundamental review to ensure all Government policies and interventions are the right ones to meet the challenges I’ve been discussing. We will be seeking extensive input from both Government Departments, such as CLG, BIS and DECC, and our partners outside government, including the waste management industry, local authorities and many of you here today."
    "Our review will look at every aspect of waste policy and waste management delivery in England, including household and business waste and recycling services. Its aim will be to maximise the contribution waste prevention and management in England can make to the green economy, including the impact on the finances of households and businesses alike, on the vast potential for job creation and on green industries themselves. The results of the review will be used to ensure that we are ready and able to deliver on our ambitions for a zero waste economy. We will be asking for evidence from industry, business, environmental experts and local government in the coming weeks. Our aim is to produce preliminary findings by next Spring."
June 2010

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Push for 30% cut in EU greenhouse gas emissions by 2020
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne will attend his first meeting of EU Environment Ministers on 11 June in Luxembourg.
    Speaking ahead of the meeting, he said: "I'll be using my first meeting of EU environment ministers to make clear the new UK Government’s support for ambitious European action on climate change, including a 30% cut in EU emissions. The Commission’s recent analysis provides a welcome starting point as we discuss how to implement a higher target. We believe a move to 30% is achievable, right for the climate and right for our economies as Europe focuses on a sustainable economic recovery. We can put Europe ahead of the game by taking new low carbon economic opportunities. Europe must take a lead in securing an international climate agreement though we can’t just click our fingers and hope the rest of the world will follow. We've got to make real emission cuts at home, and work constructively with all other nations in achieving that ambitious deal."
    The European Commission’s recent communication on the move to 30% by 2020 (on 1990 levels) can be found here: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/future_action_com.htm.
June 2010

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Major South West venue signs up to 'Greener Events'
The 4000 square metre University of the West of England Exhibition and Conference Centre (ECC), launched in December 2009, has signed up to the nationally recognised 'Greener Events' guide on www.oursouthwest.com.
    Working closely with the nationally recognised 'Greener Events' guide is a priority for the team at UWE's ECC. They are working hard to make positive changes against short timescales in order to fulfil a commitment to the UWE Sustainable Strategy 2008-2012. UWE has consistently been in the top ten universities of the People and Planet Green league awards for the last three years.
    The 'Greener Events' guide has proved to be an effective management tool for helping venues and event managers raise their environmental standards whilst reducing waste, CO2 emissions and costs; over 8,500 UK events have used the guide to help reduce environmental impacts.
May 2010

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Adapting to Climate Change Week (7 June – 11 June 2010)
Climate SouthWest has run an annual Adaptation Week since 2006. As in previous years, the 2010 Adapting to Climate Change Week will follow on from World Environment Day on Saturday 5th June – the theme of which is: "Biodiversity: Connecting with Nature", to coincide with 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. For details of events being held during Climate SouthWest's Adaptation week visit Climate South West's events page from this link: www.oursouthwest.com/climate/events.htm.
May 2010

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New Government, new Secretary of State at Defra
Caroline Spelman MP has been appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by Prime Minister, David Cameron. Mrs Spelman is Member of Parliament for Meriden.
    Caroline Spelman said: "I am delighted to have been appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The department is responsible for many of the things that are vital to our quality of life - the food we eat, the air we breathe and how we manage the land we live on and the seas that surround our shores. I will work across government and beyond to respond to the challenges of increasing food production, adapting to climate change, protecting our natural environment and ensuring we live sustainably."
    The full list of Cabinet appointments made by the Prime Minister in forming the new Conservative - Liberal Democrat coalition administration can be found on the Cabinet Office website: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
May 2010

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State of the South West 2010
The ‘State of the South West 2010’ was launched on 31 March 2010. The State of the South West is a key element of the evidence base for the South West region. ‘State of the South West 2010’ is available online via the SW Observatory website at www.swo.org.uk/sotsw2010.
    The report details the key themes and trends from throughout the South West and the sub-regions. These themes include population and migration, economy, labour market, skills and learning, transport, housing, environment (including biodiversity, climate change, air quality, waste etc), public health and social and welfare.
April 2010

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Planting Ideas...for a better Green Infrastructure
Sustainability South West and Natural England are holding two masterclasses for ‘Planting Ideas for a better Green Infrastructure’ on 23 April and 10 May 2010. The master classes are an opportunity for all those engaged with the investment and delivery of green infrastructure (GI) across the South West to further explore and share the multi functional benefits that GI provides. These master classes are suitable for specialists, academics and managers in business, social and environmental sectors, including housing, land management, planning, community development, sustainable development, education and tourism. Also for those directly involved with economic regeneration, to highlight the enhanced economic and health benefits and increased sustainability that GI can provide. The master classes take place on (you are welcome to attend one or both):
   · 23 April - Urban Food… how Green Infrastructure can ‘step up to the plate’ (Brunel’s boardoom, Bristol)
   · 10 May - Natural Economy… unlocking the economic value of the natural environment in the South West region (Riverside Centre, Exeter)
    For more information and to book a place, please visit www.sustainabilitysouthwest.org.uk/news/green_infrastructure_master_class_series_-_urban_food_and_natural_economy/.
April 2010

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Material resource efficiency - new single delivery programme
From April 2010 Defra is bringing together a range of environmental business support programmes for material resource efficiency under one delivery body, 'Waste and Resources Action Programme' (WRAP).
    The existing organisations which will come under WRAP are: National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP), Envirowise, Centre for Re-use and Remanufacturing, Construction Resources and Waste Platform, and the BREW Centre for Local Authorities and Action Sustainability.
    This enhanced single programme of work will come into full effect from April 2010 and will focus on the following areas:
   · Resource efficient design & Waste Minimisation
   · Business Resource Efficiency
   · Developing & sustaining markets for recycled & reusable materials
    & products
   · Diverting waste from Landfill.
All existing websites, helpline numbers and direct support will be merged into one support programme and website: www.wrap.org.uk. The new single helpline number is 0808 100 2040.
    The new single body model will enable businesses and industry to benefit from an increased and integrated sharing of information and expertise, and a coordinated set of activities and messages to customers. As well as the economic benefits the single body realises in terms of reduced running costs, the single body model also provides Defra with greater strategic flexibility and focus in the way it approaches resource efficiency, enabling an increased emphasis on eliminating waste at source whilst continuing to encourage recycling and reuse wherever possible.
March 2010

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£2.6 million flood protection grants for homes announced
The second round of a £5.5 million grant scheme to help households better protect their homes against flooding was announced on 11 March 2010 by Environment Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies. The Property Level Flood Protection Grant Scheme is part of the Government’s response to Sir Michael Pitt’s review of the 2007 floods. In this the second phase, £2.6 million will be allocated to 34 schemes in areas at high risk of flooding, enabling 532 households to benefit from practical flood protection solutions such as air bricks covers, storm porches, door guards and flood boards.
    In the first round of funding, £3 million was made available to 25 local authorities to protect up to 593 properties across England. In this second round, South West local authorities awarded grants are: West Devon Borough Council, North Devon Council, Bath and North East Somerset Council, Teignbridge District Council, and Bournemouth Borough Council.
    The Government's response to the Pitt review into the 2007 floods can be found at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/flooding/risk/floodreview2007.htm.
March 2010

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Help for communities to grow their own food
Plans to bring under-used and uncared for land back into use so that local communities and keen would-be fruit and vegetable growers have somewhere to get digging, were announced on 3 March 2010 by Communities Secretary John Denham and Environment Secretary Hilary Benn.
    There is a huge interest in 'growing your own' with people wanting to get more in touch with where their food comes from, as well as staying active and spending more time outdoors. About 300,000 gardeners in England already have allotments, but demand still outstrips supply and the Government is therefore announcing new ways of meeting people's desire to dig in.
    The Government’s plans include:
  • Working with the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens to set up a new national community land bank which will act as a broker between land-holders and community groups who want somewhere to grow food. The Federation is in discussion with a number of local councils to pilot the scheme – including Brighton and Bristol. Local private and public sector landowners, which could include councils, NHS and private developers, will work with the Federation to identify possible sites and link them up with community groups looking for land. The scheme will offer support and advice to landowners and tenants over the purchase, sale or leasing of land.
  • Supporting proposals put forward by Brighton and Hove, Waltham Forest, Birmingham and Sheffield council under the Sustainable Communities Act. These include ensuring food doesn’t go to waste by clarifying that there are no legal restrictions on gardeners selling genuine surplus produce to local markets and shops, making better use of existing powers around allotments and introducing new lease arrangements that will make it easier for people to take control of abandoned land.
  • Making it easier for local residents and organisations to set up growing spaces on land that is currently unused or waiting development including stalled building sites or sites waiting for planning permission. The Government has commissioned the Development Trusts Association to prepare standardised mean-while 'leases' so that organisation can access land while its waiting to be used – while giving the landlord and tenants legal assurances. The idea has been inspired by meanwhile leases for empty shops which has enabled local residents and organisations to temporarily use vacant properties on the high street.
  • New good practice guidance to help local councils reduce the length of time someone has to wait before getting an allotment plot. The guidance, “A Place To Grow”(see link below), published by the Local Government Association, gives practical advice on making the most of existing statutory allotment sites including reducing plot sizes and managing waiting lists. It also includes advice on providing new allotments sites and what temporary options are available for people who are waiting for a plot to become available.
    Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "It doesn’t matter if you have a large garden or if you live on the 20th floor – we can all have a slice of ‘The Good Life’. Community food growing is a great way for people to get involved in the joys and trials of food production – and that is why we want to help more people grow their own and take it home."
    A place to grow can be found at: www.lga.gov.uk/lga/publications/publication-home.do.
March 2010

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Regional Sustainable Development Indicators published by Defra
The latest set of regional sustainable development indicators were published on 25 February 2010 to help provide an overview of economic, social and environmental issues in each region. The 46 regional indicators are available on the UK Government sustainable development website to enable comparisons to be made between regions and with progress nationally.
    Almost all of the data used to compile the indicators have been previously published. However, in particular a new updated regional version of an indicator on environmental equality is being published for the first time. This shows that in each region, areas with higher levels of deprivation are more likely to have multiple environmental conditions that are the least favourable in relative terms.
    The South West had the highest proportion of householders satisfied with the characteristics of the area in which they live and the joint highest proportion of sites classified as being of good local environmental quality. The proportion of river lengths with good water quality (biological and chemical quality) was amongst the best of the regions. The proportion of women in employment (aged between 16 – 59) and female life expectancy were highest of the regions. Mortality rates from circulatory disease and cancer were the lowest of the regions. Infant mortality rates was joint lowest. Vehicle related theft was lower than the national average. The proportion of children travelling to school in private motor vehicles was joint highest.
February 2010

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Two South West Communities are low carbon winners
Two communities from the South West are celebrating after winning up to £500,000 each to help install new green technologies such as solar panels, hydro turbines and energy saving insulation. The grant money, announced on 4 February through the Government’s Low Carbon Community Challenge, will be spent on a range of green measures which will cut carbon, save money on energy bills, and could even see some communities make cash from generating their own energy supported by the Government’s new clean energy scheme.
    In total, 22 communities will benefit from the £10million Low Carbon Community Challenge grant fund. The aim of the fund is to inform government of what works at a community level to cut emissions. The first ten winners were announced on 21st December last year. The South West winners are:
  • Exmoor National Park in Somerset and Devon where The LCCC funding will be used to help fund renewable energy projects such as wood pellet heating and solar installations in six communities that have been participating in community sustainable energy planning. One of those communities (Lynton and Lynmouth) is planning to install a community owned hydropower turbine that will generate an income for the community and the fund will help in raising awareness of the scheme amongst potential investors.
  • Ladock and Grampound Road in mid-Cornwall Plan to upgrade homes, schools, community halls and businesses with a combination of energy efficiency measures and microgeneration technology. They will monitor their progress through smart meters to assess the impacts of behaviour change and renewable energy technologies. Any income from clean energy will be fed back into a community fund for further low carbon investment. The project will also see the plantation of a nut grove carbon sequestration project and the installation of an electric vehicle charging point.
    Further information on the Low Carbon Community Challenge (LCCC) can be found on DECC's website from this link: LCCC - DECC.
February 2010

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Lundy Island is England's first marine conservation zone
The waters around Lundy Island, off the coast of Devon, became England’s first Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) under the Marine and Coastal Access Act on 12 January 2010.
    The new network of Marine Conservation Zones in our waters will protect England’s marine species and habitats, from the common to the rare and to the threatened. Four regional projects have started working with local groups and businesses to identify further areas that will be designated as Marine Conservation Zones.
    Defra's Minister for the Marine Environment, Huw Irranca-Davies, said: "With the new Marine Conservation Zone around Lundy Island we have taken the first step in creating a network of marine protected areas. We can’t always see what is happening to the wildlife and habitats under our seas, but they need just the same protection as those on land and this world-first in legislation will provide that. The four MCZ projects around England’s coastline are working with local interest groups to identify what other areas should be given this protection and I encourage all those that use the sea for work or recreation to get involved with their local project team."
    Lundy Island is just over three miles long and half a mile wide and the surrounding waters are home to varied wildlife including a high population of seals, lobsters and a number of different species of coral. The waters around Lundy were a marine nature reserve, until their change of status to an MCZ. Specific conservation objectives for the island will now be developed which will be open for consultation. Local byelaws will remain in place to protect the island’s wildlife.
    Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee are the bodies responsible for advising ministers on the delivery of Marine Conservation Zones.
    Further information can be found on Natural England's website from this link: England’s first Marine Conservation Zone (Natural England).
January 2010

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Consumers can help secure Britain’s food future
Ensuring food security is just as important to Britain’s future as energy supply, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Hilary Benn told delegates at the Oxford Farming Conference on 5th January as he unveiled the Government’s food strategy, Food 2030. The Food Strategy sets out the challenges facing Britain in maintaining a secure food supply at a time of rapid population growth and climate change, and following the big price increases seen in 2008 following droughts and the rise in the price of oil.
    Mr Benn said that people power can help bring about a revolution in the way food is produced and sold, and that food businesses, including supermarkets and food manufacturers, would follow consumer demand for food that is local, healthy and has been produced with a smaller environmental footprint – just as consumers have pushed the rapid expansion of Fairtrade products and free range eggs over the last decade.
    "A decade ago, only 16 per cent of eggs produced in the UK were free range. In the last ten years that’s more than doubled to just under 40 per cent. Waitrose, M&S and the Co-op now sell only free range or organic eggs. And with the UK 80 per cent self-sufficient in free-range eggs this is a great example of how our farmers have responded to what consumers want, to the benefit of both." He also said that government and food businesses needed to support consumers by providing more accurate information about the origin and nutritional content of the food they buy.
    The food strategy sets out goals for 2030, and the changes that need to be made to achieve them, including:
  • Farmers producing efficiently, sustainably and safely to high standards of animal welfare, with food production supporting our rural communities and contributing to UK and global food security.
  • Farmers and fishermen producing more with fewer resources and fewer carbon emissions, with investment in the right skills.
  • An innovative, competitive, skilled and resilient food sector, supported by first class scientific research and development, with sustainable supply chains.
  • Informed consumers able to choose and afford healthy food, supported by better labelling and information.
  • Government support for partnerships, funding of research, regulating where necessary and cutting red tape where possible, leading by example through public food procurement, and campaigning for change in Europe and globally.
    The Government’s food strategy, Food 2030, can be found at: www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/food/strategy/.
January 2010

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Green announcements in the Pre-Budget Report
The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Pre-Budget Report made on 9 December 2009 provides a further £400 million to support business investment in low-carbon growth and help households reduce energy costs. Combined with policies announced since September 2008, this could support over £15 billion of additional public and private investment in the low-carbon and energy sectors over the next three years. The Pre-Budget Report announces:
  • additional support for offshore wind projects accredited from April 2010 to March 2014 via the Renewables Obligation - the temporary increase in Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) for offshore wind will be amended so that all projects accredited between April 2010 and March 2014 will qualify for 2 ROCs, supporting at least an additional £400 million of investment. It also announces that technical change to improve the certainty of the ROC price will be brought forward to 2011;
  • doubling to four the UK’s commitment to fund carbon capture and storage demonstration projects via contributions from electricity suppliers phased over the period 2014 to 2018;
  • establishing Infrastructure UK to leverage further investment in low-carbon projects including by: investing €100 million (£90M) in a European Investment Bank-led fund to deploy up to €1.5 billion of equity and €5 billion of debt in low-carbon infrastructure; and considering the case for a low-carbon investment institution;
  • £120 million for low-carbon industries in the UK, including new manufacturing and testing facilities for offshore wind, and support to improve energy use in the chemicals industry;
  • £200 million to improve energy efficiency and tackle fuel poverty by: offering £400 for up to 125,000 households to upgrade their old boilers to the latest efficient models with a greener boiler incentive (available to those who buy a new efficient boiler or renewable heat unit to replace a working G rated boiler); and providing extra resources for Warm Front to help 75,000 of the most vulnerable households with heating and insulation;
  • confirming that the income received by those who generate small-scale renewable electricity for their home through the clean energy cash-back scheme, worth on average £900 in 2010, will be tax free;
  • helping one million more vulnerable households with discounts on their energy bills by increasing support provided by energy companies from £150 million to £300 million by 2013-14;
  • increasing support for low-carbon vehicles through exempting electric cars from company car tax from 2010, introducing a 100 per cent first-year allowance for electric vans, and investing a further £30 million on low-carbon transport projects.
    Link to: Pre-Budget Report microsite.
December 2009

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Act on Copenhagen
With the historic climate change conference COP15 (15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) opening in Copenhagen on 7 December, you can follow developments hour by hour on the Act on Copenhagen website www.actoncopenhagen.decc.gov.uk. You can register on that website for regular updates throughout the negotiations.
    Act on Copenhagen is the online voice of the UK Government on Copenhagen, and will aim to cover as much as possible of what the UK delegation is doing in Copenhagen, as well as other activities relevant to the conference, through a choice of 5 stories every day. If you would rather get a snapshot of the day, then you should visit www.decc.gov.uk, where you will see all main stories with links to further developments.
    The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Copenhagen) website is at http://unfccc.int.
December 2009

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New Greener Home Working advice
Whether you are running a business from home, planning to start a new home-based business, or just working from home on occasions, Business Link and the Energy Saving Trust have produced online tips, tools and guides that can help you take steps towards a greener home office. Their short videos show you quick and easy ways to reduce your running costs and create a greener office. For "steps to a cost efficient and greener home office" click on this link: Greener Home Working online videos & advice.
November 2009

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Government sets strategic low carbon direction for overhaul of energy system
Faster and fairer planning decisions on new energy infrastructure were brought a step closer this month as Energy and Climate Secretary Ed Miliband laid before Parliament draft texts setting out the national need for a low carbon secure energy mix. He also set out a new policy for the transition to clean coal. The draft National Policy Statements (NPSs) published today are a crucial part of reforms that will remove unnecessary planning delays facing large energy proposals. They will be the basis on which individual planning decisions are made from March 2010 by the new Infrastructure Planning Commission.
    To meet our low carbon energy challenge, and due to the intermittency of wind, we will need significantly more generating capacity in the longer term. One third of that larger future generating capacity must be consented and built over the next 15 years to 2025. While there are already proposals to build more energy infrastructure, more is needed to bring about the shift to a low carbon future. The NPSs include clear direction towards a massive expansion in renewables, a new nuclear programme based around ten sites assessed as potentially suitable for new build (including Hinkley Point and Oldbury in the South West) and a programme to demonstrate clean coal technology.
    Six National Policy Statements (NPSs) have been published - one overarching and one for each of the following areas: fossil fuels, nuclear, renewables, transmission networks and oil and gas pipelines – alongside the Government’s final Framework for the Development of Clean Coal. For clean coal, with immediate effect, to gain development consent all new coal generating plant will have to show that they will demonstrate the full Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) chain (capture, transport and storage) from the outset on at least 300 MW net of their total output. A programme of up to four commercial-scale CCS demonstrations, including both pre-combustion and post-combustion capture technologies, will be funded by a new CCS Incentive. Legislation to introduce this has been proposed for the forthcoming Parliamentary session.
    The full announcement can be found on the DECC website from this link: DECC Press Release 9.11.09.
November 2009

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New campaign to encourage less waste and more recycling
A new campaign, part of the Government’s Act On CO2 campaign, looks at everything from food waste to furniture recycling and encourages consumers to 'Remember. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle'. A new website offering tips and advice to consumers on making better use of the things we all too often put straight in the bin or take to the dump, has also been launched at www.direct.gov.uk/waste.
    Research published recently by Defra showed that an additional 500,000 tonnes of household waste could be saved from landfill by doing more to reuse it or find another home for it. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "I set out recently what the Government will do to help the country on its path to becoming a zero waste nation. Making better use of everything around us will really help us to tackle the impact our waste has on climate change, and save us money too. That’s why our campaign is encouraging everyone to rethink what they might think of as ‘waste’ and ‘recycling’ – we can all do things like put our old sofa on Freecycle rather than taking it to the dump, or recycle our old mobile if we get a new one."
October 2009

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More home grown fruit and vegetables
A new Task Force to help England to grow and eat more fruit and vegetables and improve the nation's health has been launched by Defra. Comprising growers, retailers, consumers and agricultural researchers, the Fruit and Vegetables Task Force will develop an action plan to increase the production and consumption of fruit and vegetables in this country.
    According to Defra, in 2008 domestic production of fruit and vegetables was 37% of demand. The UK produces 11% of the fresh fruit we consume, which has increased in the last five years, and 58% of fresh vegetables, down from 63% five years ago. Compared to five years ago, more of the apples we eat are grown in the UK, and nearly 13% more strawberries eaten in Britain are grown here. However, the proportion of pears and plums consumed that were grown here have declined. Most cabbages and carrots eaten in the UK are also grown here, but UK production of tomatoes has declined over the last decade, meaning a greater proportion of the tomatoes we consume are imported.
    Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Hilary Benn said that the new group needed to look at ways to get people growing their own fruit and vegetables, as well as ways to support England’s commercial growers – and to get people choosing local fruit and veg, particularly when it's in season. For Defra's web page on sustainable, secure and healthy food click here: Defra - Food.
October 2009

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New guidelines for business to help measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
New guidance to measure and tackle greenhouse gas emissions for businesses and organisations has been published by Defra and DECC. The guidance has been published alongside advice on what it means to be carbon neutral.
    The guidance is part of the Government response to the Climate Change Act 2008 and has been produced by Defra and DECC. Organisations using this voluntary guidance will not be required to submit reports or make data available to government. Reporting on emissions is voluntary. The guidance covers all 6 Kyoto greenhouse gases. Organisations can measure and report on all emissions that they are responsible for – both direct emissions and indirect emissions.
    The guidance is based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, which is the internationally recognised standard for corporate accounting and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the World Resources Institute/World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The guidance can be found at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/reporting/index.htm.
    DECC held a consultation in early 2009 on a definition of carbon neutrality and recommendations on good practice. Based on the consultation document and the responses received, the Government has adopted the following definition: "Carbon neutral means that – through a transparent process of calculating emissions, reducing those emissions and offsetting residual emissions – net carbon emissions equal zero". The summary of the responses to the consultation and guidance on carbon neutrality is now available from this link: Carbon Neutrality - DECC.
October 2009

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Energy Saving Week
19 - 25 October is the Energy Saving Trust's Energy Saving Week. This year’s theme is waste and they’re helping people across the UK, stop wasting their time, money and energy. Click here for details on the Energy Saving Week website. Short on time? Check out some quick and easy ways to stop wasting energy with the Energy Saving Clock. Some ideas only take one minute! Click here for Energy Saving Clock (external site).
October 2009

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ENVEC 2009 - conference papers now available
Over 200 delegates attended ENVEC 2009, the region's main climate change conference for 2009 held in Weston-super-Mare on 8th October. Conference presentations were from: Forum for the Future - How can the economic recovery be green?; EDF Energy - Keeping the lights on for business in a low carbon economy; and The Energy Saving Trust - Emission impossible? – the path to cutting the UK’s CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050. Expert briefing sessions were provided by UKCIP, EDF Energy and the Environment Agency.
    Conference papers can be found on the ENVEC website: www.oursouthwest.com/envec. ENVEC was supported by GOSW, EDF Energy, the Energy Saving Trust, the Environment Agency and SWCCIP.
October 2009

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Further Sustainability Appraisal of Regional Spatial Strategy
The Government has given the go-ahead to a further appraisal of whether proposals for the Regional Spatial Strategy for South West England (SW RSS) are the most sustainable way forward for the Region. Since the Regional Assembly submitted the draft RSS to the Government in June 2006, it has been the subject of extensive public debate and consultation. The Government had expected to issue the final version at the end of June 2009.
    In May, the High Court issued a judgment that the Sustainability Appraisal of the East of England RSS (EoE RSS) had failed to test reasonable alternatives to two of its proposals, and has remitted those proposals to the Government to reconsider them. In the light of this judgment, the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Government Office for the South West have looked again at the Sustainability Appraisal of the SW RSS, and whether they have tested reasonable alternatives to modifications introduced following the Examination in Public (EiP).
    The Government wishes to be satisfied that the Sustainability Appraisal of last year’s Proposed Changes to the SW RSS tested reasonable alternatives to those Areas of Search for strategic housing, business and other development which were added or amended following consideration of the EiP Panel's report.
    It has therefore decided to carry out a new Sustainability Appraisal, to ensure that alternatives to these elements of the proposals are properly tested and represent the most sustainable way forward for the Region. The new Appraisal is expected to take until early in the New Year. The Government has similarly decided to conduct further Sustainability Appraisal of the EoE RSS.
    In the light of the Appraisal’s findings, the Government will then decide what action to take to complete the SW Strategy to provide the clarity and certainty about the future framework for growth in the region which all partners are keen to see. Further information can be found on GOSW's website.
September 2009

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ENVEC 2009 - making sustainability happen in a changing climate
ENVEC 2009, the region's main climate change conference for 2009 takes place in Weston-super-Mare on 8th October. Supported by GOSW, EDF Energy, the Energy Saving Trust, the Environment Agency and SWCCIP, ENVEC will feature the new climate change projections, UKCP09, in the expert briefing sessions. Other conference and expert briefing topics will be: How can the economic recovery be green?; Keeping the lights on for business in a low carbon economy; Emission impossible? – the path to cutting the UK’s CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050; Carbon Reduction Commitment – the monitoring phase; and Business continuity in a changing climate – would your business stay afloat?
    Full details can be found on the ENVEC website at: www.oursouthwest.com/envec.
September 2009

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