Council looks at tackling local global warming

WEST Somerset district councillors are to consider tackling climate change, which has been identified as one of the greatest global threats.
The council’s cabinet members are meeting on Tuesday, May 1, to look at signing-up to the Nottingham Declaration, which will commit the authority to combating climate change within the district.
Environmental health manager Ian Timms said: “The Nottingham Declaration is a voluntary pledge which councils can take to address issues of climate change.
“We are already trying to tackle greenhouse gas emissions through our development of energy efficient low-carbon homes in Carhampton and the use of alternative technologies in the new office development in Williton.
“By signing up to the Nottingham Declaration, we are demonstrating to the community our ongoing commitment to tackling climate change on a local level.
“By working together to adapt to the effects of, and mitigate the causes of, climate change we can make a considerable local contribution to this global problem.”
If approved, the leader of the council, Councillor Christine Lawrence, and the council’s chief executive, Tim Howes, will sign the declaration on the district’s behalf.
The council will then work with partners such as Forum 21 and the West Somerset Strategic Partnership and others to:

• Establish baselines for the activities relating to climate change to assist in highlighting opportunities and targets for action


• Develop aims and objectives that will be subject to regular review


• Produce targets with SMART actions


• Produce a draft strategy to encompass all of these items for consideration by policy development

Mr Timms said:“We need to prepare for drier summers and wetter winters.
“West Somerset has a lengthy coastline which already has areas identified as a flood risk.
“The cabinet will contemplate all aspects of climate change, and its possible effect on our district, when considering signing up to the declaration.”Photo submitted.

Pledge to tackle global warming in Somerset

THE 'Nottingham Declaration', a voluntary pledge which commits to actively tackling climate change and reducing carbon emissions, is being signed on behalf of Somerset County Council today, Wednesday, February 21.
The leader of the council, Councillor Cathy Bakewell, is syumbolically signing the document at a meeting of the full council, an act which she says puts Somerset at the forefront of efforts to tackle the causes and consequences of climate change in the county.
At the same time, the council is revealing predictions of the significant impacts of global warming and sea level rises in Somerset.
Applying data from climate and flooding experts, it is predicted that:

• The chances of a severe tidal flooding event, large enough to overwhelm current defences and threaten the M5 and railway links through Somerset, could increase from 200/1 in any given year to 17/1 by 2060
  
• The threat posed to 32,500 properties across 2,394 square miles of the county currently vulnerable to flooding from a combination of coastal and river events could rise markedly
  
• Average July temperatures will have risen by four degrees Celsius in Somerset by 2080 if emissions remain high, with more damaging extremes of temperature and prolonged drought
  
• By 2080, there could be a net sea level rise of 3.1 inches per year in the South West if emissions remain high

The authority is also announcing a stakeholder and public consultation for a ‘Climate Change Adaptation Strategy’ (SCCAS) which is now in preparation, and which sets targets for the council to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its service areas and encourage and help partners to do the same.
Together, they will form a countywide approach to protecting infrastructure and services from climate change and reducing emissions, co-ordinated by the council.
The authority already has a range of award-winning projects and initiatives to reduce emissions and promote renewable energy, including the Somerset biofuels project, a ‘Watts On’ energy efficiency campaign within County Hall, and biomass heating schemes.
There are more to come this year, including the landmark ‘Rising to the Challenge’ climate change communications project and the rolling out of the pioneering Somerset Wind Energy Initiative.
As well as supporting the Environment Agency in its prioritising of flood defence works, the council will develop a countywide response through a water management partnership.
This will involve all stakeholders, regional and national agencies in developing a co-ordinated approach to combat future rising flood risk challenge.
Councillor Bakewell said: “Global warming will seriously affect Somerset. Our announcements today put into place initiatives to tackle the causes and consequences of climate change in Somerset. We must lead the way and help others to follow.”

• Our illustration above shows areas of Somerset, highlighted in mauve, at risk of tidal flooding, which include Minehead, Dunster Marsh, and areas near Blue Anchor and Watchet. Image submitted.