innovative action in uk local authorities
TRANSCRIPT
INNOVATIVE ACTION IN UK LOCAL AUTHORITIES 1UK Case Study
INNOVATIVE ACTION IN UK LOCAL AUTHORITIES
INNOVATIVE ACTION IN UK LOCAL AUTHORITIES 1
With increasing public attention on climate change CDP looks at what innovative climate action looks like in local authorities To date over 200 UK local authorities have announced climate emergencies making measurement and transparency more important than ever As we approach 2020 the year in which global emissions should peak in order to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement 1 we look at the actions in the UK that can achieve this tipping point
Transport is the biggest source of air pollution and GHG emissions in the UK which in turn impacts health and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations2 Leadership on sustainable transport can minimize this risk while maximising a variety of environmental social and financial opportunities
Electric vehicles are key to the UK governmentrsquos ldquoRoad to Zerordquo strategy and this is reflected by the actions of local authorities For example Cambridge City Councilrsquos Air Quality Action Plan shows how a district council can act on air quality and transport In collaboration with the Greater Cambridge Partnership theyrsquore accelerating the transition of the cityrsquos taxi fleet to zero emission capable vehicles by installing more than 20 new rapid chargers by 2020 Each charger can provide 80 charge to a taxi in 30 minutes The council is also placing public charging points in car parks around the city while encouraging their installation in new developments where there is parking provision Their target for a 30 electric or petrol hybrid fleet in Cambridge by 2023 should reduce taxi emissions by 20-30 in turn reducing city-wide NOx emissions by 15-45 To achieve the aim of all licensed vehicles being zero-emission or low-emission capable by 2028 theyrsquore incentivising license fees (100 discount for zero-emission 50 for low-emission vehicles) and extending age limits (15 years and 12 years respectively)3 Cambridgersquos plan shows that even smaller councils can roll out EV policies which can make a real difference to citywide emissions
City centre low emission zones have the potential to reduce transport emissions while promoting more sustainable transport choices Glasgow City Council launched Scotlandrsquos first low emission zone (LEZ) on December 31 2018 Currently in phase one it will be fully
implemented by 2022 when all vehicles entering the zone will have to meet specified exhaust emission standards The Scottish Government has pledged to introduce LEZs into Scotlandrsquos four biggest cities Glasgow Edinburgh Aberdeen and Dundee between 2018 and 20204
The phased approach to low emission zones is a popular and effective mode of implementation also used by Greater Londonrsquos Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) The ULEZ will aim to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) which accounts for half of the emissions from road transport across London As a direct result more than 100000 residents will no longer live in areas exceeding legal air quality limits by 20215 Introduced in April 2019 the regulation will be further strengthened in October 2020 for the heavy vehicle Euro VI standard to apply across the whole of Greater London and again in 2021 to expand the ULEZ for light vehicles across inner London
Innovation on transport is not limited to low emission vehicles Greater Manchesterrsquos ldquoBee Networkrdquo is a proposal for the UKrsquos largest cycling and walking network covering 1800 miles The plan aims to make cycling and walking easier and more attractive giving people an option to get around without a car It further suggests that some other problems felt across the city region as well as the UK at large such as health air quality and congestion can all be addressed by increasing uptake of these choices a point backed up by a recent report by C40 6 Congestion alone costs Greater Manchester pound13 billion annually and 30 of car journeys are less than 1km Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham aims to make ldquobetter places to live and work by giving people a real choice about how they travel In doing so wersquoll make the city region healthier and more prosperousrdquo7
Tackling emissions with new transport solutions
INNOVATIVE ACTION IN UK LOCAL AUTHORITIES 2
Municipal energy companies to increase the power of renewables
The UKrsquos emissions have reduced 43 below 1990 levels in 2017 as a result of successful efforts to decarbonize the grid Municipally owned energy companies have the potential to accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy in the UK while reducing fuel poverty The municipally owned energy companies aim to make a difference to both the supply and demand of energy This is achieved through offering green tariffs of 100 renewable energy as well as initiatives such as providing customers smart meters to give them more control over their energy consumption
Early movers such as Bristol Energy and East Midlands-based Robin Hood Energy have already had market impact and seen results Average tariffs are now pound87 cheaper in the East Midlands and Bristol Energy claims it can save customers an average of pound250 8 a year while reinvesting profits in the local area
Norwich City Council have pursued an innovative model in their partnership with Engie to co-create Roar Power Similar to others in the space Roarrsquos aim is to reduce fuel poverty and carbon emissions reduction Partnering with Engie an established provider who received a CDP lsquoArsquo score on climate change in 2018 means that they can provide a reliable low-cost service to achieve their aims Norwich City Council estimate the project should save 23-3tns of carbon per person in the city while saving consumers money reducing fuel poverty in the city and working to improve the energy efficiency of housing stock
CitizEn Energy a not-for-profit energy provider founded by Southampton City Council provides 100 green electricity They source electricity from solar and wind farms across the UK provided by Robin Hood Energy Southampton are looking to work with other local councils to promote the use of CitizEn Energy to provide gas and electricity to their residents offering a competitively priced local alternative to the rsquobig sixrsquo energy companies By offering competitive tariffs CitizEn also aim to address fuel poverty Crucially any surplus will be reinvested into local energy efficiency and fuel poverty initiatives contributing further financial and carbon savings
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
httpwwwmission2020globalclimate-turning-point
httpswwwenvironmental-protectionorgukpolicy-areasair-qualityair-pollution-and-transport
httpswwwcambridgegovuktaxi-licensing-fees
httpsairqualitynewscom20190103glasgows-lez-comes-into-force
httpswwwlondongovukpress-releasesmayoralultra-low-emission-zone-to-expand
httpswwwc40orgresearchesmckinsey-center-for-business-and-envi-ronment
httpstfgmcompress-releasebeelines
httpswwwbristol-energycoukpositive-energy-bristol
INNOVATIVE ACTION IN UK LOCAL AUTHORITIES 3
Creating opportunity from the lsquogrand challengersquo of housing emissions
The UK government aims to build 300000 new homes a year (1 million new homes by 2020 and another half a million by 2022) The UK Government has also identified halving the use of energy in new buildings by 2023 as one of its ldquoGrand Challengesrdquo 9 Taken together these policies make buildings a crucial sector for the coming years
BCP Council (Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole) have added their first Passivhaus standard properties to their residential stock funded by the council This internationally recognised building standard can reduce energy bills by 9010 Recently Norwich City Council won the prestigious Stirling Prize for Architecture for their own Passivhaus council estate development - Goldsmith Street - with almost 100 ultra-low energy homes11
Whether social or private housing both Bournemouth and Norwich show that UK local authorities can be ambitious on developing low carbon residential buildings
Greater Manchesterrsquos 5-year environment plan identified three key priority areas to reduce energy demand in buildings existing homes commercial buildings and new buildings They have set an ambition for ldquoall new buildings to be net zero carbon by 2028rdquo and ldquoinitiating a fundamental shiftrdquo in whole-house retrofit by 2024 The scale of the challenge is to retrofit 61000 homes per year between now and 2040 It is recognized in the plan that ldquoretrofit of existing residential properties is the most significant issue in achieving our aims for carbon neutralityrdquo
12 due to the up-front costs and potential disruption associated with the measures required While there are challenges in achieving these aims cities are starting to take action where they can
To conclude the actions being taken by local authorities across transport energy and buildings illustrate how local authorities are stepping up to the challenge to help a low-carbon world
9
10
11
12
httpswwwgovukgovernmentpublicationsindustrial-strate-gy-the-grand-challengesmissions
httpwwwpassivhaustrustorgukUserFilesFileWhy20choose20Passivhaus20201320FINALpdf
httpswwwbbccouknewsentertainment-arts-49970607
httpswwwgreatermanchester-cagovukmedia19865-year-plan-branded_3pdf
To start your reporting journey with CDP and gain access to cutting edge insights tools and analysis please contact citiesemeacdpnet To explore CDP data in full access our Open Data Portal at datacdpnet
INNOVATIVE ACTION IN UK LOCAL AUTHORITIES 1
With increasing public attention on climate change CDP looks at what innovative climate action looks like in local authorities To date over 200 UK local authorities have announced climate emergencies making measurement and transparency more important than ever As we approach 2020 the year in which global emissions should peak in order to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement 1 we look at the actions in the UK that can achieve this tipping point
Transport is the biggest source of air pollution and GHG emissions in the UK which in turn impacts health and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations2 Leadership on sustainable transport can minimize this risk while maximising a variety of environmental social and financial opportunities
Electric vehicles are key to the UK governmentrsquos ldquoRoad to Zerordquo strategy and this is reflected by the actions of local authorities For example Cambridge City Councilrsquos Air Quality Action Plan shows how a district council can act on air quality and transport In collaboration with the Greater Cambridge Partnership theyrsquore accelerating the transition of the cityrsquos taxi fleet to zero emission capable vehicles by installing more than 20 new rapid chargers by 2020 Each charger can provide 80 charge to a taxi in 30 minutes The council is also placing public charging points in car parks around the city while encouraging their installation in new developments where there is parking provision Their target for a 30 electric or petrol hybrid fleet in Cambridge by 2023 should reduce taxi emissions by 20-30 in turn reducing city-wide NOx emissions by 15-45 To achieve the aim of all licensed vehicles being zero-emission or low-emission capable by 2028 theyrsquore incentivising license fees (100 discount for zero-emission 50 for low-emission vehicles) and extending age limits (15 years and 12 years respectively)3 Cambridgersquos plan shows that even smaller councils can roll out EV policies which can make a real difference to citywide emissions
City centre low emission zones have the potential to reduce transport emissions while promoting more sustainable transport choices Glasgow City Council launched Scotlandrsquos first low emission zone (LEZ) on December 31 2018 Currently in phase one it will be fully
implemented by 2022 when all vehicles entering the zone will have to meet specified exhaust emission standards The Scottish Government has pledged to introduce LEZs into Scotlandrsquos four biggest cities Glasgow Edinburgh Aberdeen and Dundee between 2018 and 20204
The phased approach to low emission zones is a popular and effective mode of implementation also used by Greater Londonrsquos Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) The ULEZ will aim to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) which accounts for half of the emissions from road transport across London As a direct result more than 100000 residents will no longer live in areas exceeding legal air quality limits by 20215 Introduced in April 2019 the regulation will be further strengthened in October 2020 for the heavy vehicle Euro VI standard to apply across the whole of Greater London and again in 2021 to expand the ULEZ for light vehicles across inner London
Innovation on transport is not limited to low emission vehicles Greater Manchesterrsquos ldquoBee Networkrdquo is a proposal for the UKrsquos largest cycling and walking network covering 1800 miles The plan aims to make cycling and walking easier and more attractive giving people an option to get around without a car It further suggests that some other problems felt across the city region as well as the UK at large such as health air quality and congestion can all be addressed by increasing uptake of these choices a point backed up by a recent report by C40 6 Congestion alone costs Greater Manchester pound13 billion annually and 30 of car journeys are less than 1km Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham aims to make ldquobetter places to live and work by giving people a real choice about how they travel In doing so wersquoll make the city region healthier and more prosperousrdquo7
Tackling emissions with new transport solutions
INNOVATIVE ACTION IN UK LOCAL AUTHORITIES 2
Municipal energy companies to increase the power of renewables
The UKrsquos emissions have reduced 43 below 1990 levels in 2017 as a result of successful efforts to decarbonize the grid Municipally owned energy companies have the potential to accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy in the UK while reducing fuel poverty The municipally owned energy companies aim to make a difference to both the supply and demand of energy This is achieved through offering green tariffs of 100 renewable energy as well as initiatives such as providing customers smart meters to give them more control over their energy consumption
Early movers such as Bristol Energy and East Midlands-based Robin Hood Energy have already had market impact and seen results Average tariffs are now pound87 cheaper in the East Midlands and Bristol Energy claims it can save customers an average of pound250 8 a year while reinvesting profits in the local area
Norwich City Council have pursued an innovative model in their partnership with Engie to co-create Roar Power Similar to others in the space Roarrsquos aim is to reduce fuel poverty and carbon emissions reduction Partnering with Engie an established provider who received a CDP lsquoArsquo score on climate change in 2018 means that they can provide a reliable low-cost service to achieve their aims Norwich City Council estimate the project should save 23-3tns of carbon per person in the city while saving consumers money reducing fuel poverty in the city and working to improve the energy efficiency of housing stock
CitizEn Energy a not-for-profit energy provider founded by Southampton City Council provides 100 green electricity They source electricity from solar and wind farms across the UK provided by Robin Hood Energy Southampton are looking to work with other local councils to promote the use of CitizEn Energy to provide gas and electricity to their residents offering a competitively priced local alternative to the rsquobig sixrsquo energy companies By offering competitive tariffs CitizEn also aim to address fuel poverty Crucially any surplus will be reinvested into local energy efficiency and fuel poverty initiatives contributing further financial and carbon savings
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
httpwwwmission2020globalclimate-turning-point
httpswwwenvironmental-protectionorgukpolicy-areasair-qualityair-pollution-and-transport
httpswwwcambridgegovuktaxi-licensing-fees
httpsairqualitynewscom20190103glasgows-lez-comes-into-force
httpswwwlondongovukpress-releasesmayoralultra-low-emission-zone-to-expand
httpswwwc40orgresearchesmckinsey-center-for-business-and-envi-ronment
httpstfgmcompress-releasebeelines
httpswwwbristol-energycoukpositive-energy-bristol
INNOVATIVE ACTION IN UK LOCAL AUTHORITIES 3
Creating opportunity from the lsquogrand challengersquo of housing emissions
The UK government aims to build 300000 new homes a year (1 million new homes by 2020 and another half a million by 2022) The UK Government has also identified halving the use of energy in new buildings by 2023 as one of its ldquoGrand Challengesrdquo 9 Taken together these policies make buildings a crucial sector for the coming years
BCP Council (Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole) have added their first Passivhaus standard properties to their residential stock funded by the council This internationally recognised building standard can reduce energy bills by 9010 Recently Norwich City Council won the prestigious Stirling Prize for Architecture for their own Passivhaus council estate development - Goldsmith Street - with almost 100 ultra-low energy homes11
Whether social or private housing both Bournemouth and Norwich show that UK local authorities can be ambitious on developing low carbon residential buildings
Greater Manchesterrsquos 5-year environment plan identified three key priority areas to reduce energy demand in buildings existing homes commercial buildings and new buildings They have set an ambition for ldquoall new buildings to be net zero carbon by 2028rdquo and ldquoinitiating a fundamental shiftrdquo in whole-house retrofit by 2024 The scale of the challenge is to retrofit 61000 homes per year between now and 2040 It is recognized in the plan that ldquoretrofit of existing residential properties is the most significant issue in achieving our aims for carbon neutralityrdquo
12 due to the up-front costs and potential disruption associated with the measures required While there are challenges in achieving these aims cities are starting to take action where they can
To conclude the actions being taken by local authorities across transport energy and buildings illustrate how local authorities are stepping up to the challenge to help a low-carbon world
9
10
11
12
httpswwwgovukgovernmentpublicationsindustrial-strate-gy-the-grand-challengesmissions
httpwwwpassivhaustrustorgukUserFilesFileWhy20choose20Passivhaus20201320FINALpdf
httpswwwbbccouknewsentertainment-arts-49970607
httpswwwgreatermanchester-cagovukmedia19865-year-plan-branded_3pdf
To start your reporting journey with CDP and gain access to cutting edge insights tools and analysis please contact citiesemeacdpnet To explore CDP data in full access our Open Data Portal at datacdpnet
INNOVATIVE ACTION IN UK LOCAL AUTHORITIES 2
Municipal energy companies to increase the power of renewables
The UKrsquos emissions have reduced 43 below 1990 levels in 2017 as a result of successful efforts to decarbonize the grid Municipally owned energy companies have the potential to accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy in the UK while reducing fuel poverty The municipally owned energy companies aim to make a difference to both the supply and demand of energy This is achieved through offering green tariffs of 100 renewable energy as well as initiatives such as providing customers smart meters to give them more control over their energy consumption
Early movers such as Bristol Energy and East Midlands-based Robin Hood Energy have already had market impact and seen results Average tariffs are now pound87 cheaper in the East Midlands and Bristol Energy claims it can save customers an average of pound250 8 a year while reinvesting profits in the local area
Norwich City Council have pursued an innovative model in their partnership with Engie to co-create Roar Power Similar to others in the space Roarrsquos aim is to reduce fuel poverty and carbon emissions reduction Partnering with Engie an established provider who received a CDP lsquoArsquo score on climate change in 2018 means that they can provide a reliable low-cost service to achieve their aims Norwich City Council estimate the project should save 23-3tns of carbon per person in the city while saving consumers money reducing fuel poverty in the city and working to improve the energy efficiency of housing stock
CitizEn Energy a not-for-profit energy provider founded by Southampton City Council provides 100 green electricity They source electricity from solar and wind farms across the UK provided by Robin Hood Energy Southampton are looking to work with other local councils to promote the use of CitizEn Energy to provide gas and electricity to their residents offering a competitively priced local alternative to the rsquobig sixrsquo energy companies By offering competitive tariffs CitizEn also aim to address fuel poverty Crucially any surplus will be reinvested into local energy efficiency and fuel poverty initiatives contributing further financial and carbon savings
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
httpwwwmission2020globalclimate-turning-point
httpswwwenvironmental-protectionorgukpolicy-areasair-qualityair-pollution-and-transport
httpswwwcambridgegovuktaxi-licensing-fees
httpsairqualitynewscom20190103glasgows-lez-comes-into-force
httpswwwlondongovukpress-releasesmayoralultra-low-emission-zone-to-expand
httpswwwc40orgresearchesmckinsey-center-for-business-and-envi-ronment
httpstfgmcompress-releasebeelines
httpswwwbristol-energycoukpositive-energy-bristol
INNOVATIVE ACTION IN UK LOCAL AUTHORITIES 3
Creating opportunity from the lsquogrand challengersquo of housing emissions
The UK government aims to build 300000 new homes a year (1 million new homes by 2020 and another half a million by 2022) The UK Government has also identified halving the use of energy in new buildings by 2023 as one of its ldquoGrand Challengesrdquo 9 Taken together these policies make buildings a crucial sector for the coming years
BCP Council (Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole) have added their first Passivhaus standard properties to their residential stock funded by the council This internationally recognised building standard can reduce energy bills by 9010 Recently Norwich City Council won the prestigious Stirling Prize for Architecture for their own Passivhaus council estate development - Goldsmith Street - with almost 100 ultra-low energy homes11
Whether social or private housing both Bournemouth and Norwich show that UK local authorities can be ambitious on developing low carbon residential buildings
Greater Manchesterrsquos 5-year environment plan identified three key priority areas to reduce energy demand in buildings existing homes commercial buildings and new buildings They have set an ambition for ldquoall new buildings to be net zero carbon by 2028rdquo and ldquoinitiating a fundamental shiftrdquo in whole-house retrofit by 2024 The scale of the challenge is to retrofit 61000 homes per year between now and 2040 It is recognized in the plan that ldquoretrofit of existing residential properties is the most significant issue in achieving our aims for carbon neutralityrdquo
12 due to the up-front costs and potential disruption associated with the measures required While there are challenges in achieving these aims cities are starting to take action where they can
To conclude the actions being taken by local authorities across transport energy and buildings illustrate how local authorities are stepping up to the challenge to help a low-carbon world
9
10
11
12
httpswwwgovukgovernmentpublicationsindustrial-strate-gy-the-grand-challengesmissions
httpwwwpassivhaustrustorgukUserFilesFileWhy20choose20Passivhaus20201320FINALpdf
httpswwwbbccouknewsentertainment-arts-49970607
httpswwwgreatermanchester-cagovukmedia19865-year-plan-branded_3pdf
To start your reporting journey with CDP and gain access to cutting edge insights tools and analysis please contact citiesemeacdpnet To explore CDP data in full access our Open Data Portal at datacdpnet
INNOVATIVE ACTION IN UK LOCAL AUTHORITIES 3
Creating opportunity from the lsquogrand challengersquo of housing emissions
The UK government aims to build 300000 new homes a year (1 million new homes by 2020 and another half a million by 2022) The UK Government has also identified halving the use of energy in new buildings by 2023 as one of its ldquoGrand Challengesrdquo 9 Taken together these policies make buildings a crucial sector for the coming years
BCP Council (Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole) have added their first Passivhaus standard properties to their residential stock funded by the council This internationally recognised building standard can reduce energy bills by 9010 Recently Norwich City Council won the prestigious Stirling Prize for Architecture for their own Passivhaus council estate development - Goldsmith Street - with almost 100 ultra-low energy homes11
Whether social or private housing both Bournemouth and Norwich show that UK local authorities can be ambitious on developing low carbon residential buildings
Greater Manchesterrsquos 5-year environment plan identified three key priority areas to reduce energy demand in buildings existing homes commercial buildings and new buildings They have set an ambition for ldquoall new buildings to be net zero carbon by 2028rdquo and ldquoinitiating a fundamental shiftrdquo in whole-house retrofit by 2024 The scale of the challenge is to retrofit 61000 homes per year between now and 2040 It is recognized in the plan that ldquoretrofit of existing residential properties is the most significant issue in achieving our aims for carbon neutralityrdquo
12 due to the up-front costs and potential disruption associated with the measures required While there are challenges in achieving these aims cities are starting to take action where they can
To conclude the actions being taken by local authorities across transport energy and buildings illustrate how local authorities are stepping up to the challenge to help a low-carbon world
9
10
11
12
httpswwwgovukgovernmentpublicationsindustrial-strate-gy-the-grand-challengesmissions
httpwwwpassivhaustrustorgukUserFilesFileWhy20choose20Passivhaus20201320FINALpdf
httpswwwbbccouknewsentertainment-arts-49970607
httpswwwgreatermanchester-cagovukmedia19865-year-plan-branded_3pdf
To start your reporting journey with CDP and gain access to cutting edge insights tools and analysis please contact citiesemeacdpnet To explore CDP data in full access our Open Data Portal at datacdpnet