PAPER B
Purpose : For Decision
REPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE
Date : 17
DECEMBER 2002
Proforma : PREPARING
FOR THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR AGENDA 21 AND COUNTRYSIDE MATTERS
IMPLEMENTATION
DATE :
6 JANUARY 2003
1.
To
approve the signing of the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change and to
support an Action Plan to assist in mitigating against climate change impacts
on the Isle of Wight.
BACKGROUND
2.
At
the meeting of the Executive held on 12 February 2002 progress towards
implementing policies to mitigate the impacts of climate change was
welcomed. The Executive also supported
the Council’s membership of the South-East Climate Change Partnership as well
as the aims and objectives of the Nottingham Declaration on climate
change. It was agreed that a Summary
Action Plan, highlighting the Council’s progress to date and key objectives in
terms of addressing climate change impacts should be prepared by the end of
this year.
3.
Climate
change is now recognised as the most pressing environmental problem of the 21st
Century and the impacts arising are expected to lead to serious consequences in
the UK and more specifically for the Isle of Wight. These include increased risks of drought, flooding, storms and
rising sea levels which will impact on life, property and infrastructure on the
Island.
4.
Despite
efforts by both the government and the European Union to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, the international scientific community now recognises that even if
global targets for emission reductions are achieved, these will be insufficient
to prevent climate changes from taking place for at least the next eighty
years.
5.
The
meeting of the Executive recognised, therefore, that it is vital to start
preparing for climate change impacts now as part of a risk reduction strategy
for the Isle of Wight whilst at the same time supporting long term aims and
objectives for improving the global environment through such initiatives as the
South-East Climate Change Partnership and the Nottingham Declaration (see
below). The Council has acknowledged
previously the crucial importance of tackling such challenging issues to secure
an improved quality of life for both Island residents present and in the
future.
6.
A Worsening Situation – What is happening to climate on the Isle of
Wight
The full range of UKCIP02
scenarios indicate that the Isle of Wight will experience :
a.
Temperature
increases of between 1-1.50C by 2020 and 2-30C by 2050;
by 2080 the temperature may rise to between 2.5 and 4.50C.
b.
Winter
rainfall will increase for all periods.
2080 increases may range from 20-30%.
On the contrary rainfall will decrease in summer by 20% in the 2020s and
by up to 50% in the 2080s.
c.
Summers
will become drier. Spring and autumn
may become slightly drier. Each degree
of annual warming causes a lengthening of the thermal growing season of about
three weeks in southern areas.
d.
Sea
level rise of as much as 79cm is expected by 2080 (this takes account also of
settlement of the land in south-east England).
e.
Wind
variation – the most significant variation is predicted in winter when most
severe winds occur as a result of increased depressions crossing the UK. These
predictions have a high degree of uncertainty but this factor could result in
changes in the pattern of current carrying sediment around the coast and where
sediment transport pathways are marginal this could result in a reversing of
flows.
f.
Average
soil moisture in summer will decrease with the largest reductions of up to 40%
on the clay soils in southern England including the Isle of Wight.
7.
Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change
Probably the most severe
impacts of climate change on the Isle of Wight will be around the
coastline. In recent years Island
residents have seen the effects of coastal erosion and particularly increased
and intense rainfall on coastal landslide systems. The Isle of Wight Centre for the Coastal Environment within the
Council’s Directorate of Corporate and Environment Services has been at the
forefront in attempting to understand and address these problems through a
range of initiatives under the headings of : research, information exchange,
dissemination of information and implementation of good practice. The key issues and progress under each of
these headings are as follows :
a.
Research
§
EU
LIFE Environment Bid ‘Responding to the Impacts of Climate Change’ (Response)
has been submitted for financial support by the LIFE Programme in the current
round. A decision is expected from the
European Commission in the early summer.
·
The
coordination of a major research project in 2002, funded by Biffaward, assessing the Ecological Footprint of the
Isle of Wight. This established that the Island’s population is currently using
a bio-productive land area of 2.5 greater than that available. The research has
underpinned awareness raising amongst the community and has led to major
initiatives promoting efficient resource management on the Island. It was
awarded the Research & Development Award in the Biffa National
Environmental Awards 2001 and was named as overall winner in all categories
·
EU ALTENER
funding supporting the development of a Renewable Energy Strategy for the Isle
of Wight. This process commenced in 2001 and has resulted in a Background Analysis
report of the renewable resources available on the Isle of Wight and a Cost
Benefit Analysis of the technological options. The Strategy has identified a
target of achieving 10% of electricity generation from renewable sources by the
year 2010. The Council adopted the Strategy in December 2002.
b.
Information Exchange
§
The
best possible coastal information is obtained by the Council’s involvement
within the Regional Coastal Groups of England and Wales; the Coastal Manager is
Chairman of the national group.
§
Presentations
on a European scale to organisations including Arc Manche and the Conference of
Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe.
The Coastal Manager made a presentation to the CPMR General Assembly in
September 2002.
§
Climate
change summit, Winchester. A Hampshire
and Isle of Wight ‘Climate Change Summit’ was held in Winchester on 18
October. The meeting was attended by
the Leader of the Council and the Coastal Manager and proved to be a thought
provoking day following excellent presentations by leaders in the field. A video on ‘Climate Change in Hampshire and
the Isle of Wight’ was launched at the meeting (and will also be shown at this
meeting).
c.
Dissemination of Information
§
SCOPAC
(Standing Conference on Problems Associated with the Coastline) held an annual
conference entitled ‘Preparing for the Impacts of Climate Change’ in September
2001. The conference provided an
opportunity to launch the Halcrow report (see above) and to disseminate the
findings to a wide range of coastal users.
§
The
International Conference on ‘Instability – Planning and Management’ held at
Ventnor on the Isle of Wight in May 2002 included a number of papers which
related to climate, erosion and landslides.
All the papers are recorded in the Proceedings volume published by
Thomas Telford.
§
The
Isle of Wight Centre for the Coastal Environment led a three year £867,000
study of ‘Coastal Change, Climate and Instability’ which received financial
support from the EU LIFE Environment Programme. Results of this are disseminated through displays and a video at
the Isle of Wight Coastal Visitors’ Centre.
§
The
Coastal Manager is currently preparing a ‘Non-technical Guide to Coastal
Defence’ which explains issues relating to climate change to a non-technical
audience. This eighty page publication
which is receiving financial support from SCOPAC will be available in the
spring.
§
Around the
Island Roadshows reaching 1,700 members of the community in developing the
Agenda 21 Strategy. This work was awarded the National Green Apple Award for
environmental best practice.
§
The community
involvement and participation process which led to the development of the
Renewable Energy Strategy has been identified as best practice in the SEERA
Strategy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, September 2002
d.
Implementation of good practice
§
Coast
protection structures are designed to take account of the predicted impacts of
climate change. This relates to a sea
level rise anticipated at 6mm per annum.
Over the design life of a coast protection structure therefore an
additional 300mm is added onto the height of the structure; the latest advice
from DEFRA on design of coastal defence structures is adhered to.
§
Implementation
of sustainable coastal defence policies is achieved through the Isle of Wight
Coast Shoreline Management Plan and a range of coastal defence strategy studies
which provide an opportunity for detailed investigation of preferred coastal
defence policy options. The SMP process
and the production of strategy studies allows an integrated approach to this
problem working with the Environment Agency and English Nature as well as other
key officers from across the Council (including Planning and Countryside).
§
Implementation
of sustainable drainage systems. Where
existing drainage is insufficient or in vulnerable areas every effort is made
to mitigate the effects of additional predicted rainfall through the
implementation of sustainable drainage policies.
§
The Local
Transport Plan has stringent targets on reducing car use and promoting public
transport walking and cycling
§
The Council’s
electricity supplies are 100% from renewable sources
§
The
subsidised sale of low energy light bulbs across the island achieving a saving
of 79 tonnes of carbon per annum
§ The development and implementation of the Green Island Awards – a scheme aimed at improving environmental performance in small and medium size businesses particularly those involved in tourism
e.
The Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change
The Nottingham Declaration,
which was circulated at the meeting of the Executive on 12 February, sets out
issues relating to climate change under three headings. The first of these recognises the fact that
the Council acknowledges evidence of continuing and mounting climate change and
that the effects on the Isle of Wight’s economy, society and environment could
be far reaching.
The second category welcomes
the progress that has been achieved to date and the opportunities that may be
provided for local authorities to play a leading role in climate change
mitigation.
The final section commits the
Council to working with central government to contribute, at a local level, to
the delivery of the UK Climate Change Programme as well as preparing a plan to
assist local communities in addressing the causes and effects of climate
change. Through the Agenda 21 Officer
every effort is being made to encourage a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
both by the Council itself and also by all sectors of the local community. The Nottingham Declaration also requires us
to work with other key providers such as the Health Authority and local
businesses to assess and find ways of adapting to climate change. Finally, the Council commits to providing
opportunities for the development of renewable energy strategies and to monitor
progress towards these objectives.
As outlined above, very
significant progress has been made by the Council through a range of
initiatives towards addressing climate change issues. In fact the Isle of Wight is probably doing as much if not more
than most local authorities to try and understand the problems it faces which
are all the more important taking account of the vulnerability of our physical
location adjacent to the English Channel.
It is recommended that the attached Summary Plan of key areas of
existing and ongoing activity be ratified as the Council’s initial Forward Plan
with respect to climate change mitigation.
8.
The Isle of
Wight has a comprehensive coastal management policy which provides informal
support to the Isle of Wight Unitary Development Plan. The coastal defence strategy studies provide
a detailed justification for implementing these policies and set out the most
effective approach taking account of all coastal defence options. Coastal defence policy which contributes to
the Council’s strategic aims and objectives is being developed through
consensus involving all the key agencies and stakeholders through a well-established
participation and consultation programme.
FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPLICATIONS
9.
The
Executive will be aware of the very severe financial implications already
impacting upon the Council’s budget in relation to landslides, cliff falls and
other coastal hazards. These include
damage to property and infrastructure, effects on public highways and damage to
underground services, effects on coastal footpaths and beach accesses and the
costs related to investigations and monitoring. A substantial cost, in particular, has been remediation works
along the cliffline in Sandown Bay. It
is recognised that these costs could increase significantly in line with the
predicted impacts of climate change.
Rising sea levels are likely also to have a severe effect on the
low-lying parts of the coast in terms of flooding and the need for public
protection.
10.
The
Isle of Wight subscribes to the South-East of England Climate Change
Partnership. Currently the £1,000 per
annum subscription is paid from the coastal management budget. As the services provided by the Partnership
are increasing the subscription will also rise and the Coastal Manager is
negotiating a special rate for the Isle of Wight taking account of our input to
the Organisation particularly through research. Clearly climate change covers a broad range of topics, (and not
just coastal management) and a fair methodology for allocating the subscription
to the South-East Climate Change Partnership will be provided across relevant
Council departments.
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
11.
The
Isle of Wight Council is a Coast Protection Authority and has powers to carry
out such works under the Coast Protection Act 1949. The Council has powers under the Local Government Act 1972 to
carry out any such works necessary to safeguard the wellbeing of people within
its Authority area.
OPTIONS
12.
a. To sign the Nottingham Declaration on
climate change (attached as Appendix
1) and to support the Summary Action Plan for delivering climate change
research and mitigation / remediation measures.
b. Not to
support the proposal at this stage.
13.
It
is recommended that, because of the diverse range of issues included within the
topic of climate change, the Environment and Transport Select Committee be
invited to scrutinise progress on these initiatives during the next financial year.
14.
The
commissioning of coastal defence plans, strategy studies and schemes by the
Council following national guidance provided by DEFRA aim to “reduce the risks
to people, property and the natural environment through the development of
technically sound, economically justifiable and environmentally sustainable
coastal policies”. This is the
objective which underpins the Isle of Wight Council’s key policies. In essence the aim is to reduce risks to
Island residents by providing the most technically sound and environmentally
sensitive solutions.
|
RECOMMENDATIONS 15.
The Nottingham Declaration on climate change be signed by the
Council. 16.
The initial Summary Action Plan be developed into a more comprehensive
policy statement and Action Plan drawing in the full range of Council
activities. 17.
Climate change initiatives to be progressed as far as possible taking
advantage of networks, information exchange and through government and EU
funding programmes. 18.
To welcome progress made to date on the range of climate change
mitigation measures. |
BACKGROUND PAPERS
19.
‘Hampshire
and Isle of Wight Climate Change Summit’ – Proceedings of the meeting held on
Friday 18 October 2002, Winchester, Hants.
20.
‘Preparing
for the Impacts of Climate Change’ – Halcrow / SCOPAC, 2001.
21.
‘A
Strategy for Flood and Coastal Defence in England and Wales’ – MAFF, 1993.
22.
‘Isle
of Wight Coast Shoreline Management Plan’ – Halcrow / Isle of Wight Centre for
the Coastal Environment, March 1997.
23.
‘High-Level
Targets for Flood and Coastal Defence Operating Authorities’ – DEFRA, 2000.
24.
‘South-East
Climate change Partnership – Achievements, 2001 / 2002’ – SECCP, Guildford,
Surrey, 2002.
Contact Point : Robin McInnes;
e-mail : [email protected];
tel : 01983 857220.
|
M J A FISHER Strategic Director Corporate and Environment Services |
B LAWSON Portfolio Holder for Agenda
21 and Countryside Matters |