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Climate Change

We work with regional partners to raise awareness of the impacts of climate change and promote the economic, social and environmental benefits of adapting to climate change.

Road to Copenhagen

In December 2009, Denmark will host a major United Nations conference in Copenhagen. At this conference, a meaningful global agreement must be reached to tackle climate change for when the current Kyoto Protocol - governing reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases - expires in 2012. 

Climate change is a global threat, and Copenhagen represents our best opportunity yet to tackle it effectively. The UK Government is aiming to reach an ambitious agreement at Copenhagen, supported  by effective domestic action.  For more information visit click on the internet link below. 

The Climate Change Act 2008

This act has:

  • Set legally binding targets for greenhouse gas emissions through action in the UK and abroad of at least 80% by 2050, and reductions in CO2 emissions of at least 26% by 2020, against a 1990 baseline.
  • Established a carbon budgeting system which caps emissions over five year periods, with three budgets set at a time, to set out the trajectory to 2050.  The first three carbon budgets will run from 2008-12, 2013-17 and 2018-22. 
  • Required the Government to report to Parliament its policies and proposals to meet the budgets.
  • Established an independent expert body; the Committee on Climate Change to advise Government on the level of carbon budgets and where cost effective savinbgs could be made.  The committee will submit annual reports to Parliament on the UK's progress towards targets and budgets to which the UK Government must respond. 

East Midlands Climate Change Programme of Action
The East Midlands Programme of Action on Climate Change was launched by Hilary Benn, Defra Secretary of State, on a visit to the region on 9 February 2009.  Endorsed by Phil Hope, the Regional Minister, the document is a joint statement of public commitment by GOEM, East Midlands Regional Assembly, East Midlands Development Agency and the Environment Agency, in association with the Regional Climate Change Partnership.  

Climate change video
The Government Office for the East Midlands and regional stakeholders have developed a video on climate change in conjunction with east midlands development agency (emda) and the East Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA). Find out how you can make a difference to climate change by watching the video.

Adapting to Climate Change
The Adaptation Policy Framework was launched on 24 July 2008. An 
Adapting to Climate Change website has been set up by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to provide further information about the Framework, an ongoing source of regularly updated information, and a focal point for anyone interested in climate change adaptation.

'ACT ON CO2' Campaign
Defra's 'ACT ON CO2' campaign aims raise awareness of the link between individuals' everyday behaviour and climate change. Its key message is that carbon emissions cause climate change and 40 per cent of emissions in the UK come directly from individual behaviour.

GOEM's
"Acting on CO2 in the East Midlands (adaptation) - spring 2009 and (mitigation) - spring 2008" booklets help raise regional awareness of climate change and highlight activity underway to  address the causes and consequences of a changing climate. The booklets are enhanced by support from the Regional Minister, and recognise the contribution that the East Midlands can make to achieving the national targets, as well as supporting Defra’s national 'Act on CO2' campaign.   

For more information on the 'ACT ON CO2' campaign, and to use Defra's CO2 calculator to calculate your carbon footprint, please visit
www.direct.goc.uk/ActOnCO2   

Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change
The Nottingham Declaration is a voluntary statement of commitment that any local authority can make to its own community. The East Midlands was the first region to achieve 100 per cent sign-up by local authorities to the Nottingham Declaration on climate change and three regional politicians were recruited as ambassadors to help achieve this aim. All NHS organisations in the region have also signed up.

More information: 
www.est.org.uk   

Local Climate Impacts Profiles

UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) has developed tools to help organisations adapt.  These include the Local Climate Impacts Profile (LCLIP), a resource that Local Authorities can compile so that they better understand their exposure to weather and climate. It is based on media coverage of a locality’s vulnerability to severe weather events and how these events affected a local community as well as the authority’s assets and capacity to deliver services.   The East Midlands was the first region to carry out simultaneous LCLIPs in all 9 city and county councils, and is now rolling out the programme to include district councils and other public sector bodies. 

Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs)

Defra and CLG have jointly contributed £4m to fund a climate change best practice programme (primarily aimed at mitigation) to be deliver through the RIEPs.  The East Midlands RIEP has established a steering group to shape its 27 month £260k programme of support for local authorities on the reduction of CO2 emissions and adaptation to climate change (NIs 185, 186 and 188).

The East Midlands Climate Change Partnership

Has evolved from an existing regional climate change steering group and is developing mitigation and adaptation implementation groups with a local authorities support group convened by the RIEP.   The Partnership’s work programme includes supporting the roll out of the regional LCLIP project, work on climate change and the historic environment, and coordinating and communicating the finding of current adaptation research projects.

 

Related documents

Internet links

Contact information

The Rural Development Team
Government Office for the East Midlands
The Belgrave Centre
Stanley Place
Talbot Street
Nottingham
NG1 5GG
tel: 0115 971 4728
email: goem.rural@goem.gsi.gov.uk


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