Climate change is now recognised as the most serious environmental problem the world faces and is the underlying cause of the increasing incidence of severe weather. Some change has already occurred because of the build up of greenhouse gases, but the effects of further change maybe avoided if steps are taken to cut our emissions. The UK’s legally binding target is to cut emissions to 12% below 1990 levels, but the Government and the Assembly believe that there is scope to go further, by cutting CO2 emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020.
The UK’s Climate Change programme sets out how the UK will meet these challenging targets. It notes that local authorities are critical to the implementation of the climate change agenda. Local authorities provide vision and leadership to communities, most notably through their community strategies and the power to promote social, economic and environmental well being.
In April 2006 all 22 unitary authorities, the three National Park Authorities and the Fire and Rescue Authorities signed the Welsh Commitment to Address Climate Change (click here to view commitment document). This commitment was developed with the Welsh Assembly Government. It commits the individual authorities to work to adapt to the effects of climate change and to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Wales is the only country in the European Union where all local authorities have signed a public commitment to address climate change.
Carbon Neutral Welsh Communities
As an extension to the Environmental Champions project, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) asked Levett-Therivel to write a discussion paper on ‘what carbon neutral would mean and break that down into three areas - for Local Authorities on their own, for Local Service Boards and then for entire communities in areas’.
The views expressed in this paper are those of the author and as such do not necessarily reflect the position of the WLGA.
For more information contact: Craig Mitchell