England’s RDAs have welcomed the news that the UK has become the first country in the world to enshrine stringent CO2 reduction targets in law, but have said that the hard work lies ahead.
Richard Ellis, chair of East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and lead chair for England’s regional development agencies on climate change said:
"Today is to be welcomed, but the hard work begins here.
"With the Royal Assent of the Climate Change Bill the UK has set a challenging but necessary target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. This will play a major role in shifting the country to an economy based on low-carbon, sustainable economic growth. However we now need renewed efforts to mitigate against the effects of climate change and seize the economic opportunities available.
"Regional development agencies have a major role to play in assisting the UK meet its targets and this is reflected in their corporate plans and all the regional economic strategies, drafted by RDAs but which are agreed by regional partners and stakeholders.
"Through strategic leadership, partnership working and targeted investment RDAs have already made a significant contribution to tackling climate change. Via this continued contribution, by leading on the development of the new regional strategies, RDAs can put low-carbon economic growth at the heart of everything they do, which will be vital going forward."
To fit with the passing of the Climate Change Bill, RDAs are launching a range of case studies demonstrating the work of regional development agencies on climate change issues and these are now available on the www.englandsrdas.com website.
By receiving Royal Assent, the Climate Change Bill, which commits the UK to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, passes its final milestone and becomes enshrined in UK law. This makes the UK the first country in the world to have a legally binding long-term framework to cut greenhouse gas emissions and help adapt to climate change. While the granting of Royal Assent is merely a formality, it is a necessary final step before the new CO2 targets come into effect.
Richard Ellis added:
"Today is a time to recognise and harness the economic opportunities that come from leading the way in developing new technologies and techniques that can help us tackle climate change. The global market for environmental goods and services is expected to grow by more than 30 per cent to £436 billion by 2010. The partnerships between RDAs and businesses are there to ensure that we harness this and focus on carbon reduction; drive innovation by providing the right support; create access to sustainable energy markets; and attract global investment in related sectors into the regions.
"Here in the East of England, global climate change poses a very real threat, which is why, as a region, we have been committed to achieving the 80 per cent by 2050 CO2 reduction target for some time. We have also been investing in innovative projects in order to take a leading role on the fight against climate change."
Speaking in his current role as Chair of Chairs for the regional development agency (RDA) network, Dr Bryan Jackson, chairman of East Midlands Development Agency (emda) added: "The challenge of responding to climate change is one that the RDAs are taking very seriously and we welcome the passing of this Bill which highlights Government’s commitment to legislate on an issue of such high importance.
"The RDAs are already working closely with local partners and the business community in our regions to take practical steps to reduce our carbon footprint and assess all options and strategies for adapting to the risks and capitalising on the opportunities that will arise through climate change.
"The East Midlands hosts the national Energy Technologies Institute, a £1 billion public private partnership, which is playing a major role in technology developments internationally in support of the UK's climate change goals going forward."
Activity which SEEDA is involved in
SEEDA is working at all levels, including with the energy sector, to deliver low-carbon energy solutions for the South East – fully recognising the ‘double dividend’ benefits of business growth and carbon reduction. For example, SEEDA has worked closely with Vestas, the world’s leading supplier of wind power, to secure a new global Research & Development Centre for the development of ‘next generation’ wind turbine blades on the Isle of Wight. The Centre, which will be operational from 2010, will have a critical role in helping to meet the UK’s aspirations for major growth in offshore wind to 2020; it will provide some 150 new jobs and help to secure Vestas existing presence (already employing 600) on the island.
The Greater South East RDAs (SEEDA, EEDA & LDA) have helped fund a report commissioned by the Three Regions Climate Change Group called 'Your home in a changing climate: retrofitting existing homes for climate change impacts, a report for policy makers'. The Report shows that it is possible and cost effective to increase the resilience of the existing housing stock. It shows that small changes can have a big impact and gives practical examples, showing the costs, financial savings and environmental benefits. The Report, aimed at policy makers, housing professionals and householders, is available here
All RDA case studies are available from the RDA website.
Notes to editors:
"Tackling Climate Change in the Regions" (July 2007) sets out the role of RDAs, examples of climate change activity and RDA commitments. Click here to download the full document
Briefing note
The climate change bill received royal assent last night (26th November) and brought into law the world's first legally binding targets for a nation to cut its greenhouse gas emissions.
The UK Government is now committed to cutting emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050. Progress towards this target will be monitored by a new independent climate change committee, which is expected to recommend the first three five-year "budgets" on Monday 1st December.
The committee will not be able to hold ministers to account if they miss the targets, but will make an annual report to parliament on progress towards the budgets. Other countries have announced similar or deeper emissions cuts, but none have committed them selves by law.
Key Features
The press notice sets out many of the key areas of relevant RDA climate change activity. In addition:
An extract of the targets from SEEDA’s Corporate Plan:
Regional Outcomes during Corporate Plan period
Growth in CO2 emissions halted and plans in place to reduce by 20% from 2003 baseline by 2016 [pro rata target would be 8% reduction in CO2 emissions from 8.9 to 8.2 tonnes per capita per annum, 19m to 17.5m tonnes in total]
760MW renewable energy installed by 2010, around 7% of regional electricity supply [pro rata target would be1170MW capacity to deliver 10% supply]
SEEDA is meeting its Energy White Paper commitments and going beyond them by committing to a 30% reduction in our own emissions and working with our regional partners to develop a common position of joint target reduction. This will include measuring the success of our programmes up-front, for example by recording carbon reductions from our business and community behaviour change on SEE-Stats.
In addition, there is cross RDA carbon accounting group (coordinated by EEDA as part of the lead role) working to develop a common carbon accounting model. Dialogue is also underway with the Carbon Trust to share their carbon accounting work with the RDAs. It is hoped that a common methodology can be in place from April 2009 but this is subject to consultation and testing.
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