Towards a Climate Resilient Somerset Somerset’s Climate Emergency Strategy Foreword Climate Change, and its impacts on identify the things we must do now to respond We have some significant challenges ahead, the world we live in, is one of the most to the declared Climate Emergency and the but with these challenges come some real and significant issues facing us all today. further mitigating and adaptive actions we exciting opportunities which we must seize The human effects on Global Warming need to plan for in the medium and longer for the people and businesses of Somerset. are well publicised and pressure is term. However, this is only the beginning of By tackling the climate crisis and by focusing mounting for Governments to act. our journey. We won’t have got everything on clean growth and a ‘green economy’ we right at the outset and we won’t be able to do can create a cleaner, healthier environment As the County Council Member and 4 District everything at once. There are some difficult that both accelerates the transition to Net Council Members with Cabinet responsibilities decisions for us all to make, some complex Zero whilst making Somerset’s communities Cllr. Tom Ronan Cllr. Janet Keen Cllr. Clare Paul Cllr. Peter Pilkington Cllr. Sarah Dyke for Climate Change, it gives us great pleasure issues and challenges to overcome, not least resilient for future generations. Mendip District Sedgemoor Somerset County Somerset West & South Somerset to introduce our response to this call for how this is funded, and we need to prioritise Council District Council Council Taunton Council District Council action - “Towards a Climate Resilient our activities to ensure we make progress We have a beautiful County - an outstanding Somerset”- the Climate Emergency Strategy against our Goals as quickly as is possible. environment with an abundance of natural for Somerset.During 2019, Somerset County resources at our disposal to help us plan for “I don’t think as a human race Council and the 4 District Councils each The Strategy therefore seeks to identify the and mitigate against Climate Change. We that we can be so stupid that declared or recognised a Climate Emergency outcomes we all want to achieve and the need to work with and support our most we can’t face an existential and agreed to work together with partners to steps each organisation, individual community vulnerable communities as they will be threat together and find a produce a Climate Emergency Strategy for the and household needs to commit to, to work impacted the most. A low carbon future will common humanity and whole County of Somerset. The ambition was towards Somerset being carbon neutral by be hugely positive for Somerset providing to produce a Strategy to lead this work for the 2030 and help build our resilience against the a more equitable society who experience solidarity to respond to it. whole County, not just to guide the actions impacts of Climate Change both now and in better health and wellbeing, a thriving ‘green’ Because we do have the and investment decisions of each of the Local the future. Being climate smart with decisions economy and with nature restored. capacity and the means to do Authorities in Somerset. we take now and into the future will help it - if we have the political will.” ensure that the right actions are taken at the Join us in making this happen. Tackling the impacts of Climate Change is right time for the best value. Mary Robinson, not something the Local Authorities can do Former President of Ireland, alone. It requires the commitment of every The Strategy has been developed in October 2019 organisation, business, community and citizen consultation with a range of partners, climate of Somerset and requires, in some cases, action experts and local interest groups and fundamental societal change around the way through engaging with, and listening to, the we live our lives and the choices we make. feedback from our communities, both adults Our Goals are ambitious. We have begun to and young people. TOWARDS A CLIMATE RESILIENT SOMERSET Executive Summary Climate Change, and its impacts on the world The focus of the Strategy The Built Environment - where and how What is Climate Change? So why do we need to act? Challenges to achieving our Goals we live in, is one of the most significant The 5 Local Authorities agreed to work we live and work, the types of homes we The scientific evidence is clear. Concentrations Urgent action is needed now. If we do not act The Local Authorities understand that issues facing us all today. The human effects together to develop a shared Climate live in, our commercial and industrial of harmful greenhouse gases (mainly carbon decisively, the impacts of Climate Change the Goals set are ambitious and will be on Global Warming are well publicised and Emergency Strategy for Somerset built around buildings and what we want for buildings dioxide CO , methane CH4, nitrous oxide N2O, across Somerset will be considerable. Our challenging to deliver. The 5 Local Authorities pressure is mounting for Governments to act. these 3 Goals: in the future 2 ozone O3, chlorofluorocarbons and water coastal communities and the Somerset will lead the way by cutting emissions from In response to the overwhelming evidence, GOAL 1 Our local economy - specifically our vapour) in our atmosphere are increasing Levels are at high risk from coastal flooding their own operations and through building and growing concern from local communities To decarbonise Local Authorities, the Business, Industry and Supply Chains rapidly - carbon dioxide levels are now 40% as sea level rises. Sedgemoor is named resilience into service delivery. We will lobby and residents for urgent, decisive action, wider public sector estates and reduce higher than in pre-industrial times and greater the 3rd most vulnerable area in the UK in a the UK Government for policy changes each of the 5 Somerset Councils has passed our carbon footprint Our Natural Environment - how we can than any time in the past 800,000 years. recent Government report. Significant sea and further funding, and work with other resolutions declaring or recognising a Climate protect it and utilise it to reduce the Human activities, such as burning fossil level rise and extreme weather events will organisations across Somerset to drive Emergency. Each declaration aspires to: GOAL 2 harmful impacts of Climate Change fuels for power generation and heating, are result in flooding, damage to properties, the change. We know that the reach, funding and l contributing significantly to Climate Change, destruction of transport infrastructure and resources of Local Authorities are limited. A Carbon Neutral Somerset by 2030 To work towards making Somerset Our Farming & Food - what, where and releasing millions of tonnes of additional interruption to power and communications l Building our resilience for, or adapting to, a Carbon Neutral County by 2030 how we produce our food and crops, vital greenhouse gases into our atmosphere, networks. Heatwaves and droughts bring If we are to reach our Goals, we will need the impacts of a changing climate to the rural economy of Somerset causing average global temperatures to rise at water shortages and will reduce our water support and ‘buy in’ to our vision from GOAL 3 This Strategy - ‘Towards a Climate Resilient Our Water resources - how they are an alarming rate. quality, posing significant human health risks every organisation, business and resident Somerset’ - is Somerset’s response to the To have a Somerset which is prepared managed to minimise the impacts of to the vulnerable, impacting on agricultural of Somerset. The decisions we each take, Climate Emergency declarations. Led by for, and resilient to, the impacts of flooding and drought on our residents, Somerset’s emissions productivity, causing damage to soils, and the everyday choices we make, will Somerset’s 5 Local Authorities, with support Climate Change reducing biodiversity and habitat, with the loss ultimately have the biggest impact. To deliver buildings and landscapes Although UK carbon emissions have been and guidance from a range of organisations of many native species. It is well understood fundamental and lasting changes, we must reducing since 1990 levels, they are not and individuals with sector expertise, the The management of our Waste & Resources that the economic and health benefits of encourage, empower and enable our residents Work began to understand where Somerset’s reducing quickly enough. The latest carbon Strategy serves as: - how we handle and treat our waste acting on Climate Change outweighs the to take personal decisions that reduce their carbon emissions are generated, identifying 9 emissions data estimates indicate in sectors which have a major impact upon our costs, especially with a future of clean own carbon footprints and help us meet our 1 An evidence base, setting out how our How we Communicate and Engage - with 2018, a total of 3,269 ktCO (kilotonnes of 2 growth, high quality employment in the ‘green’ goals. climate is changing and the challenges ambition to become a carbon neutral County carbon dioxide) were emitted in Somerset Somerset’s citizens to enable us all to make economy, low carbon transport and better and opportunities we face by 2030. These 9 sectors are: from industrial, agricultural, domestic and life choices which reduce our impact on health and wellbeing. Covid 19, clean growth and ’green’ recovery the environment locally, nationally & globally transport-related