RISING TO THE CHALLENGE A Climate Change Action Plan for England’s Northwest 2010-2012 1409_CCAP_annual_report_NEW_MARGINS_15INSIDE.indd 1 9/2/10 10:59:46 CONTENTS Foreword 3 The Challenge 4 Vision and Objectives 6 Policy Context 8 Priorities for Action 11 Clean and Secure Energy 12 Smarter Use of Carbon 14 Opportunities for Growth 16 A Well Adapting Region 18 Catalysing Action 20 Measuring Progress 22 Delivering the Northwest Climate Change Action Plan 26 Glossary 27 2 1409_CCAP_annual_report_NEW_MARGINS_15INSIDE.indd 2 9/2/10 10:59:47 FOREWORD Our transition to a low carbon economy and a well region is seeking to be the first to deploy tidal energy; adapting region will be one of the defining issues of Cheshire has one of largest networks of low carbon the century, it will transform our everyday lives and communities in the country; Manchester city region how we do business. The science has delivered the is taking a national lead on low carbon in the built certainty on the need for action, and the Climate environment; Cumbria is developing the Energy Change Act has delivered the scale of action required. Coast; Lancashire is leading on adapting to the impacts of climate change; and every Northwest The Northwest has made significant progress since council has committed to tough climate change the publication of the first Climate Change Action and energy targets. Plan. Businesses, communities and individuals are all taking action to reduce emissions and assess We are also realising the opportunity to deliver the the risks of future climate change. Our carbon new products and services required to make the emissions are now declining as new approaches low carbon transition at home and abroad, building to low carbon energy generation, consumption, on our industrial heritage and strength in innovation buildings and travel start to take hold. to deliver a new low carbon industrial revolution. ‘Rising to the Challenge – A Climate Change Action This Action Plan continues the work to rise to the Plan for England’s Northwest’, first published in challenge of achieving sustainable growth within 2006, was a groundbreaking plan outlining the a carbon reduction of 80% by 2050. No region is approach to the challenges and opportunities in better equipped to deliver the innovation required our transition to a low carbon, well adapted region. for the global transition. The objective of this revised Climate Change Action Plan is not to replace, but to strengthen, in light of The challenge we face is significant and the actions progress made to date and developments at national contained within this plan do not constitute the and international level. The plan will be reviewed totality of activity across the region on climate once the region’s strategic priorities are confirmed change. This plan aims to highlight the key areas of through the development of the Regional Strategy. opportunity and focus. Meeting this challenge will require innovation and acceleration of activity within Our mission since 2006 to become ‘the leading all sectors of our economy, most important will be region on climate change’ continues to be delivered. how the public sector can provide the strong signals The region has been designated as the national required to release the energy and leadership of lead on nuclear power generation; Liverpool city businesses across the region. A brief summary of progress on the plan to date is contained within the sections below and further information is available at www.climatechangenorthwest.co.uk Robert Hough Liz Meek Sir Richard Leese Tony Dean Chairman Regional Director Chair Regional Director Northwest Regional Government Office 4NW Environment Agency Development Agency for the North West Northwest Region 3 1409_CCAP_annual_report_NEW_MARGINS_15INSIDE.indd 3 9/2/10 10:59:48 THE CHALLENGE FOUR KEY ISSUES: Our Carbon Trajectory Unavoidable Climate Change Although regional carbon emissions have declined Past emissions mean that some climate change since 1990, the underlying trend is for a growth effects are inevitable and already visible in the in emissions related to population growth and Northwest. The impact of this unavoidable climate the increased use of industrial, domestic and change includes warmer drier summers, milder transportation fuels. Keeping emission reductions wetter winters, rising sea levels and stormier weather. on track to deliver our fair share of national In the region’s urban areas, higher temperatures targets will require an acceleration of innovation and increased exposure to flood risk are beginning and resourcefulness akin to the pace of change to have direct consequences for spatial decision- experienced during the Northwest’s first industrial making, health, logistics and the management of age, affecting energy generation, homes and industry, people and property. Water shortages could have transport, farming, land use and waste. The region direct impacts on the security of food, agriculture will also need to have regard to the carbon budgets and utility sectors. Wetter weather during the within the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan, ensuring spring and winter periods, alongside rising sea that future delivery of the Climate Change Action levels, could give rise to more frequent, large-scale Plan contributes to the objectives of the forthcoming storm surges. Overseas, threats to the resilience Regional Strategy. It is key that we achieve carbon of international supply chains upon which the reduction as quickly as possible, reducing the Northwest relies may continue to grow. cumulative effect of carbon in the atmosphere and reducing the severity of climate impacts. Impacts on Growth Secure and Affordable Energy Supplies Although regional businesses have begun to explore the new opportunities that climate change The success of the Northwest’s transition to a low presents, the impacts to growth of not taking action carbon economy and future growth depends upon are significant. The Stern Review identified climate continued access to secure and affordable energy change as the biggest market failure ever known supplies. The region is now a net importer of gas and demonstrated that cost-effective, early action and oil and, as our energy demand grows, so too can prevent its worse excesses. Translated to a will our exposure to global energy price fluctuations Northwest context this could amount to a cumulative and supply constraints. Our transition to a low opportunity cost in excess of £70bn, making a rapid carbon economy, which reduces the amount transition to a low carbon economy an imperative of carbon required for economic activity and for sustainable growth. Responses to these diversifies our energy supply, will be a key factor opportunities and impacts will also need to reflect in reducing these risks. the diversity of economic activity across the region, through being embedded within Local and Multi- Area Agreements. REDUCTIONS 600 BY 2050 – 80% Illustrative national carbon reductions to meet the UK Climate Change Act (Committee on Climate Change, 2008) CO² emissions by sector 500 (Millions of Metric Tonnes) Transport 400 Services 300 Residential Industry 200 Hydrogen Electricity 100 Agriculture Land Use & Other 0 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 4 1409_CCAP_annual_report_NEW_MARGINS_15INSIDE.indd 4 9/2/10 10:59:48 CHANGING PRECIPITATION* The impact of changing precipitaion levels in the Northwest in 2080 Summer precipitation Decrease of 10% and 20% Decrease of 20% and 30% Winter precipitation Increase of between 0 and 10% Increase of between 10% and 20% Increase of between 20% and 30% 2080 decreased summer precipitation 2080 increased winter precipitation — Reduced stream flow and water quality — Increased winter flooding — Increased drought — Increased subsidence — Subsidence — Risks to urban drainage — Decreased crop yields — Severe transport disruption — Serious water stress — Risks to critical infrastructure -21% +16% CHANGING TEMPERATURE AND SEA LEVELS* 2080 increased summer temperatures 2080 relative sea levels — Increased heat stress — Liverpool The impact of changing — Infrastructure risks +32cm temperature and sea levels — Risks to biodiversity — Blackpool in the Northwest in 2080 — Heat related deaths +30cm — Risk to food security — Barrow-in-Furness +30cm +3.7ºC +30 to 32cm * Reference: Based on the ‘Central Estimate, Medium Emissions’ scenario (UK Climate Projections 2009), which equates to scenario ‘A1B’ of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (i.e. an average global warming of 2 degrees Celsius by 2080). The illustrated impacts assume no adaptation planning or interventions in the period preceding. 5 1409_CCAP_annual_report_NEW_MARGINS_15INSIDE.indd 5 9/2/10 10:59:48 VISION A low carbon and well adapting Northwest by 2020. OBJECTIVES Reduce greenhouse gas emissions Adapt to unavoidable climate change Capitalise on opportunities for economic growth 6 1409_CCAP_annual_report_NEW_MARGINS_15INSIDE.indd 6 9/2/10 10:59:48 OUTCOMES BY 2020 Transport Energy Efficiency and Demand We will be on the way towards a low carbon We have reduced overall carbon emissions by at transport system. The emissions from our new least a third since 1990. There is acceptance of vehicles have almost halved through innovative the environmental and economic benefits of energy technologies and sustainable fuels, and we are efficiency and sustainable consumption practices developing the infrastructure needed for ultra low across businesses, public sector and communities. carbon vehicles