The Big Ask - Planning and Climate Change

Friends of the Earth is campaigning at all levels of Government to try and ensure that planning policy plays its part in tackling climate change.

• Local
• Regional
• National
• Wales
• Northern Ireland
• More information?

Local

Between now and Summer 2006 all English local authorities are re-writing their local plans. Welsh authorities will soon be doing the same. At present only a handful of councils have policies in their planning documents that require new developments to have high energy efficiency standards and embedded renewable energy production. And yet the potential is enormous. Does your council have progressive policies? Now is the time to ask.

Find out more information and advice on what you can do here:
Action Guide 5 - Getting climate change targets into your local development frameworks (PDF)

We have written to each Local Authority in England on this issue, and sent this briefing:
How to tackle climate change at the local level: the role of local development frameworks in reducing the emissions of new developments (PDF)

Discuss this issue online
Councils are all reviewing their policies at different times, and some are more progressive than others. It would be really useful to hear any feedback on how you get on with your council, or questions about the briefing, so that we can develop and improve the information that we provide for others.
Please use the climate discussion forum to post your thoughts.

Regional

Friends of the Earth is also getting involved in the consultation of each English region's updated Regional Spatial Strategy. To find out what is happening in your region, please contact your Regional Campaigns Co-ordinator.

Would you like to know more about what we are asking for at a regional level? If so then please feel free to read our briefing on the issue (although, be warned, its quite a dense read!) here:

Tackling Climate Change in England's Regions (PDF)

National

Friends of the Earth has initiatied a coalition - hosted by the Town and Country Planning Association - which involves the following organisations: Royal Town Planning Institute, Local Government Association, Planning magazine, Renewable Power Association, The British Photovoltaic Association, Bill Dunster architects, Croydon Council, Green Alliance, CURE University of Manchester, UK Climate Impacts Programme and WWF.

The coalition aims to raise the profile of climate change in the planning context so that the prevention of climate change is considered a 'first amongst equals' in planning considerations. The coalition is calling for a cross-departmental statement from government emphasising the value of preventing climate change through planning.

Wales

We have produced two sets of briefings for Wales. The first looks at the role of local planning policy in tackling climate change and is available here:

English language version
Tackling climate change at the local level - the role of local development plans in reducing the emissions of new developments in Wales

Welsh language version
Mynd i'r afael â newid hinsawdd ar y lefel leol - rôl cynlluniau datblygu lleol mewn lleihau allyriadau datblygiadau newydd yng Nghymru

The second set of briefings are aimed at Assembly Members and outline the main issues on climate change and planning:

English language version
Climate Change and Planning in Wales

Welsh language version
Newid hinsawdd a chynllunio

Northern Ireland

We plan to produce a Northern Ireland briefing on climate change and planning in the first half of 2006.

More information?

Please contact Alex Phillips (by email or by phone 020 7566 1673) Climate Campaign Assistant.

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