Undergoing reconstruction in light of the introduction of the NPPF and Neighbourhood Planning.
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Anderson K and Bows A (2011) Beyond ‘dangerous’ climate change: emissions scenarios for a new world. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. From the abstract: ‘The analysis suggests that despite high-level statements to the contrary, there is now little to no chance of maintaining the global mean surface temperature at or below 2◦C. Moreover, the impacts associated with 2◦C have been revised upwards, sufficiently so that 2◦C now more appropriately represents the threshold between ‘dangerous’ and ‘extremely dangerous’ climate change.’ And from the conclusions: ‘Nevertheless, and despite the evident logic for
revising the 2◦C threshold, there is little political appetite and limited academic
support for such a revision. In stark contrast, many academics and wider policy
advisers undertake their analyses of mitigation with relatively high probabilities
of exceeding 2◦C and consequently risk entering a prolonged period of what
can now reasonably be described as extremely dangerous climate change. Put
bluntly, while the rhetoric of policy is to reduce emissions in line with avoiding dangerous climate change, most policy advice is to accept a high probability of extremely dangerous climate change rather than propose radical and immediate emission reductions.’ Highly authoritative discussion of the lag between science and policy which implicitly raises the most serious questions possible about governance and leadership across the globe.
Committee on Climate Change (CCC) Established by the 2008 Climate Change Act, the CCC advises the UK government on setting and meeting climate targets and preparing for climate change.
Royal Town Planning Institute Climate Change Compendium: RTPI Links
ECONOMICS
New Economics Foundation — changing the economic model from GDP to ‘real economic well-being’ and testing more appropriate measures of the latter, such as the National Accounts of Well-being and Happy Planet Index.
ENERGY AND ENERGY SECURITY (‘PEAK OIL’)
Less is More — Energy Security After Oil A significant new (February 2012) report by David Olivier and Andy Simmonds (both local heroes) for the AECB (Association of Energy Conscious Builders — ‘a network of individuals and companies with a common aim of promoting sustainable building’)
Zero Carbon Britain 2030 ‘a positive realistic policy framework to eliminate emissions from fossil fuels within 20 years’ from the Centre for Alternative Technology.
Report for Bristol City Council on how the council should respond to Peak Oil
ENVIRONMENT
UK National Ecosystem Assessment has the strapline ‘Understanding nature’s value to society’ and is described as ‘the first analysis of the UK’s natural environment in terms of the benefits it provides to society and continuing economic prosperity.’ A major development in the thorny issue of taking nature into account.
Measuring and reporting environmental impacts (Defra guidance)
FOOD SECURITY
GOVERNMENT
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Department of Energy and Climate Change
HEREFORDSHIRE
LOCALISM
ONE PLANET
Latest:
People and the planet report from the Royal Society published 26th April 2012. The latest statement of the need to address the combined effect of population and consumption on a finite planet. The key recommendations are familiar and welcome, if increasingly urgent: lift the poorest out of poverty, reduce consumption, re-think economics to get beyond the perverse effects of GDP. Their carbon scenarios are illuminating.
NASA’s Earth Observatory for inspiration as well as information.
The Hard Rain Project including their latest, in preparation for Rio + 20, ‘Whole Earth? Aligning Human Systems and Natural Systems.’ Another very inspirational site, docmenting problems and solutions in beautiful photos and succinct stories. The site also hosts ‘No compromise’ essays by leading environmental thinkers, including Attenborough, Elkington, Porrit and Smit.
Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
See also our separate resource page on One Planet Living.
PARTICIPATION
PLANNING
National Planning Policy Framework
Neighbourhood Planning
Royal Town Planning Institute briefings
Local development frameworks – what they are and how they are prepared (277KB pdf)
Local development frameworks – why, when and how to get involved (176KB pdf)
Further briefings in the RTPI and Planning Aid Planning Pack, Guide to the Planning System
Town & Country Planning Association
These are packed with information about ways to make new developments more sustainable. Loads of good practice (c.2009) examples. The Housing worksheet is probably the best place to start.
