Environmental Assessment Project 2019

Prepared by Emily Bunce and Mayu Suzuki (students on Global Sustainability course, University of Warwick)

Mentored by John Armstrong and Roger Twiney (members of Action 21 Trustee Board)

Reviewed by Todd Olive (Editor-in-Chief, GLOBUS Warwick)

Executive Summary

BackgroundThis report was commissioned by Action 21, a local environmental charity, to assess the sustainability performance of the Leamington and Warwick region, and to provide a data-based platform for the development of future improvement plants. This report was prepared by Emily Bunce and Mayu Suzuki, undergraduates from the University of Warwick, using publicly available data. Throughout the project there was difficulty in finding up to date, relevant data.

Aim of Report● To provide accessible information on the current state of sustainability in the Warwick District

(WD), and its potential future trajectory

● To identify problem areas to signpost where government and local council can invest

● Provide a tool for organisations and individuals to decide the most effective way to enhance their sustainable practises

Summary of FindingsEnergy

● Total energy use for the Warwick District in 2016 was 310.47 KTOEs (Kilo Tonnes of Oil Equivalent)

● In terms of petroleum product energy usage per capita, WD used 50% (30kg of oil equivalent) more than the UK average in 2016.

● WD has 1% less of its households classified as ‘fuel poor’ compared to the UK average

● Between 2014 and 2017, electricity generation from solar photovoltaics in WD has significantly increased, from just over 6,000 MWh to nearly 20,000 MWh, but is still lower than the national average.

● Only 1.3% of total energy demand in WD is covered by green energy generation.

● Per capita CO2 emissions declined by 30% (from 9.5 to 6.7 tonnes) in WD between 2005 and 2017.

Waste Management

● In 2017/18, households in WD produced 394.9kg of residual waste per year compared to an average of 543.6kg in the UK.

● 52.3% of household waste is sent for reuse, recycling or composting in WD.

● The Warwick District Council (WDC) is the only council in Warwickshire to use kerbside sort as their method of recycling collection, allegedly the most effective form of recycling collection.

● Currently, the volume of litter alone is not measured by WDC.

Transportation

● Data on modes of travel, length of cycle paths and number of public transport users were not available. Information on Stagecoach, the primary provider of bus services in WD, was also difficult to access.

● Around 75% of buses run by Stagecoach are built to the Euro V emission standard (the second to most stringent standard).

● 17 new buses are being acquired for the U1/U2 service in September built to the latest emissions standards, Euro VI.

Air Quality

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● Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) annual mean concentration levels are more than 10% higher in WD than the national average at roadside and urban background.

● The levels have increased in all sites by around 3µg/m3 since 2015.

● Particulate Matter (PM10) annual mean concentration levels, on the other hand, are more than 5% lower than the national average.o There are only two PM10 measuring points in the WD which limits the ability of the data to

represent the PM10 levels of the entire district

Water

● There is no information available specific to WD; our findings are based on data for the Severn Trent river basin area.

● In the Severn Trent river basin area, daily water usage per person has been about 10 litres lower than the UK average since 2016.

● On average, more than 9m3 of water is leaking per km of the pipeline per day both in Severn Trent area and across the UK.

● Quality of surface water bodies are relatively healthy in terms of ecological and chemical statuses.

WD Performance Against UK AverageBelow is a colour-coded rating of environmental performance of the WD (Severn Trent river basin area for water section) in each sub-section.Figures of WD are compared against respective UK figures first, then percentage differences are calculated.For the values used, please refer to Appendix 1.The transport section could not be examined due to the lack of data available.

Section Sub-section Rating

Energy Use Energy consumption per capita

Fuel poverty

Renewable energy production

CO2 emissions per capita

Waste Annual domestic waste generation

Recycling rates

Transport No data

Air Quality NO2 roadside annual mean concentration

NO2 urban background annual mean concentration

PM10 roadside annual mean concentration

(Based on two monitor points)

PM10 urban background annual mean concentration

2

(Based on two monitor points)

Please note the localisation of air pollution decreases the reliability of ‘mean’ as a

measurement of data, however this is the information provided in the WDC report provided.

Additionally, due to limited monitoring points (especially for PM10) results are not representative

of the entire district

Water Per capita water consumption

Water network leakage

Ecological status of surface water bodies

Chemical status of surface water bodies

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Contents Executive Summary 1

Contents 3

Section 1: Energy Energy Usage 4

Fuel Poverty 5

Green Energy Generation 6

Carbon Dioxide Emissions 8

Policy and Strategy 9

Section 2: Waste Management Waste and Recycling 10

Litter 12

Section 3: Transportation Statistics 13

Public Busses 13

WDC and WCC Plans 14

Suggestions for Improvement 14

Section 4: Air Quality AQMAs and Monitoring Sites 15

Statistics 15

Initiatives and Plans 16

Suggestions for Improvement 17

Section 5: Water Water Consumption 18

Water Quality 18

Policy and Strategy 20

Appendix 1 Warwick’s Performance Against UK Average Data 21

Appendix 2 Background of Action 21 23

Appendix 3 Relevant Actors and their Sustainability Objectives 24

Appendix 4 Introduction to Climate Change 25

Appendix 5 Economic Models of Waste 26

Appendix 6 Severn Trent Catchments 27

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Appendix 7 References 28

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SECTION ONE: ENERGY

Energy Usage

Statistics1

(Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, 2019)

● The total usage of energy per capita in Warwick District (WD) is lower than Rugby and Stratford, but about 50% (30kg of oil equivalent) more than the UK average in 2016. The district has shown a steady decline in total usage of energy.

● On the other hand, petroleum product usage has stayed fairly static, and is 16% (40kg of oil equivalent) higher than the UK average.

● The amount of energy used in Rugby can be explained by their cement industry.

● Stratford on Avon is one of the most affluent parts of the county, which may explain the high level of petroleum consumption.

Factors that Influence Energy Consumption2

● Among a range of socio-economic factors (such as housing type and age profile), fuel poverty is found to have the closest relationship between the energy consumption levels.

● Although it is not a strong relationship, tackling fuel poverty may further improve energy consumption level in WD.

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Fuel Poverty

Measurement3

In England, fuel poverty is measured using the Low-Income High Costs (LIHC) indicator, which considers a household to be fuel poor if:

● They require fuel costs above the national median level; and

● If they spent that amount, they would be left with a residual income below the poverty line.

Statistics4 5

● All four districts have less proportion of fuel poor households than the UK average.

● Numerically, more than 6,000 households are estimated to be in fuel poverty in WD, corresponding to 10% of the total households. This is nearly 1% lower than the UK average.

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Green Energy GenerationDefinitions6

Renewable energyGenerated through non-depletable source, for example, sunlight, geothermal heat, and biomass.

Low-carbon energy Means of generating energy with less GHG emission than traditional power generation. Examples include nuclear power, carbon capture and natural gas.

Different Methods of Energy Generation6

Traditionally, electricity is mainly generated from burning fossil fuels in large centralised power plants and distributed through the national grid. The method is very inefficient, and polluting because:

● Less than a third of the energy in fuel is converted, with the rest released as waste heat;

● Energy is also lost during the journey from the power plant to consumers; and

● Pollution, particularly CO2, is produced during the process of electricity generation.Each local area should consider sourcing energy from a more localised energy supply from renewable or low-carbon sources.

Solar Photovoltaic Energy

● Photovoltaic cells capture solar energy which is then converted into electricity

● Some electricity is still generated on a cloudy day, but stronger sunshine generates more electricity

Biomass Energy

● Organic materials that can be used as fuel. Biomass can come in solid (incinerating plants), liquid (biodiesel and ethanol) and gaseous (methane and landfills) forms.

Small Scale Wind Energy

● The UK is a world leader in smaller-sized wind turbines technology

● The government’s Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme now offers the opportunity for landowners, businesses and communities to take advantage of smaller scale renewable energy generation.

Combined Heat and Power District Heating

● Heat produced during generating electricity is also captured to heat buildings

● Unlike the conventional method of electricity generation in which heat is wasted, this is highly efficient

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Statistics1 7 8

● From 2014 to 2017, solar electricity generation has significantly increased, from just over 6,000 MW/h to nearly 20,000 MW/h, most likely owing to the introduction of Feed-in Tariff (FIT). On the contrary, generation from sewage and landfill gasses dipped slightly after 2016. Onshore wind, hydroelectricity generation and plant biomass are not contributing much to the total energy generated.

● Compared to other local districts, WD is covering less of its energy demand by green energy generation. However, these are all well below the UK average of 5.73%.

Potential of Renewables in WDOverall total of accessible renewable energy resource for WD is 1187MW, which corresponds to 2% of regional total energy demand.11

SolarIt is estimated that 28% of the district’s housing stock (17,000 properties) could potentially be suited to roof-mounted solar.9

WindAlthough there is enough rural space to install small and medium wind turbines, WD only marginally surpasses the viability threshold for having strong enough winds. Thus, it is not a very attractive market for wind energy generation.10

BiomassTo generate more energy from biomass, the public sector needs to intervene to drive supply and demand because a lack of demand increases price per unit of production, further decreasing demand.10 This can be achieved in several ways such as reviewing funding opportunities, reaching out to key stakeholders and advocacy.

Combined Heat and Power District HeatingPlaces with high population density like Birmingham have a huge potential to generate energy from this method,11 however with future development in technology and cost reduction, WD could also benefit.

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Carbon Dioxide (CO2) EmissionsStatistics12

● Overall, per capita CO2 have declined between 2005 and 2017.

● WD has very high volumes of CO2 emission from industry and commercial production. It has improved significantly from 9.5 tonnes to 6.7 tonnes. However, this is still the highest in the area.

● Emissions from transport remain about twice as high as Nuneaton and Bedworth. Rugby emits a lot from industry and commercial too, despite the low population. This is likely due to their heavily CO2

emitting industries such as cement.

● The UK average is more than 30% (2 tonnes) lower than the emissions level in WD.

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Policy and Strategy

WDC Initiatives and Plans● WDC aims to reduce impacts on the environment. To decrease carbon emissions, WDC prioritises

energy from renewable and low-carbon sources, while increasing efficiency.9

● WDC recognises the importance of eliminating fuel poverty through improving residential energy efficiency in its strategies, communication and funding to support households to install or replace their central heating systems with improved ratings.13

● WDC has signed an Energy Company Obligation (ECO) agreement. It aims to help households to have lower fuel bills and stay warmer by improving energy efficiency.14

UK + EU Initiatives and PlansEU Renewable Energy Directive 2009

● This directive sets a target for the UK to achieve 15% of its total energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020.

● The recent Renewable Energy Progress Report15 (released in 2019) suggests that the current implemented and planned policy initiatives in the UK appear insufficient to reach the target.

UK 2050 Net Zero Target16

● In June 2019, a legally binding target was passed to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

● This means that any emissions would be offset by schemes such as planting trees or using technology like carbon capture and storage.

● There are policies in favour of renewable energy, and coal is highly discouraged, demonstrated by the national coal-free milestones in the past.

Suggestions for ImprovementContinued support to landlords and many householdsTo face the problem of a large stock of privately-owned old buildings with uninsulated walls in WD and Leamington,9 the promotion of incentives to owners is crucial as the government cannot control these privately-owned buildings with huge energy cost.

Learn from successes of local districtsNuneaton and Bedworth perform far better than both WD and the UK average in terms of overall fuel consumption and petroleum product consumption. By opening discussions with members of the Borough Council, WDC may gain useful insight of how to improve their energy usage.

Join the UK100UK100 is a network of local government leaders who have pledged to shift their local communities to 100% clean energy by 2050. As the only network for UK local authorities that is focussed on climate and clean energy policy, the UK100 is a unique platform to connect local leaders, businesses and national government, to allow for both top-up and top-down policy making. Wolverhampton, one of our neighbouring boroughs, is already signed up to the UK100.

In addition to the UK100, there is a range of international and global networks for local authorities with the aim of increasing their sustainability, such as the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.

Changing our fuel sourceAs one of the poorest regions in the country for renewables usage, alongside using more petroleum than the UK average, it is clear that the WD needs to focus on moving our fuel consumption away from petroleum products and towards renewable energy sources.

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SECTION TWO: WASTE MANAGEMENT

Waste and Recycling

Statistics1

● Households in WD produce less residual waste than most of the local districts and the national average, with only 394.9kg as opposed to 543.6kg per year in the UK.

● More than half of household waste is sent for reuse, recycling or composting in WD.

● There is no significant change in either category over the years.

● However, on average, more than a third (35.34%) of the residual waste was composed of putrescible waste, which can be composted if sorted into garden wastes.

WDC Initiatives and PlansKerbside Collection recycling3

WD is the only district in the county (neighbouring authorities conduct co-mingled recycling collection) to use kerbside sorting as the method of recycling collection, which involves the recycling being sorted by the rubbish collectors at the kerbside into separate sections within the garbage truck. This is the most effective form of recycling management according to WRAP3 as it results in the least contamination. It can be seen as a positive example for the rest of Warwickshire. It is however more expensive than the less effective alternatives, so the WDC can be commended on their investment into recycling collection.

LimitationsTetra Pak4 is a material commonly used in juice, milk and preserved food containers. As the material itself reduces the need for refrigeration, prolongs food life and is made from renewable materials, the product is designed with sustainability in mind. However, due to the effort it takes to recycle, the product often ends up in landfill.Tetra Pak cannot be recycled at kerbside and must instead be taken to a specified recycling point. This extra effort is likely to encourage consumers to dispose of Tetra Pak in landfill rather than recycling it.

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UK + EU Plans and InitiativesIt can be expected that the WDC will continue to follow EU legislation on Waste Management. However, if EU legislation is no longer followed then the WDC would instead need to conform to the standards outlined in UK publications such as the recently published Our Waste, Our Resources: A Strategy for England.5

This publication recognises that better waste management will improve both the community and economy. It highlights the importance of decreasing waste production and increasing recycling capacity, especially with the increase of population growth. This links back to the Economic Models of Waste (Appendix 3), as the UK shifts away from the linear economy and towards a more circular economy. Some of the strategic aims of this document include:

● Utilising the polluter pays principle* to extend producer responsibility for the disposal of packaging that they place on the market

● Incentivise consumers to purchase sustainably

● Ban plastic products where there is a clear case for it and alternatives exist

● Improve urban recycling rates

● Support developing nations to tackle pollution and reduce plastic waste

Suggestions for ImprovementAs previously discussed, the WDC is performing well in several areas. However, it is still vital that WDC continues to seek improvements in their working to progress towards a more circular economy. The following are potential suggestions to encourage this progression.

Make Tetra Pak easier to recycleDue to the complexity of its being made of multiple materials, Tetra Pak can only be recycled at specific locations across the district at current. It is advised that the WDC develop their waste management technology so as Tetra Pak can be recycled at kerbside.

Promote separation of food waste from general waste6

Working with house designers and builders, develop kitchens that make food waste sorting and collection easier for households.To address the primary cause, education for households and businesses will be important. A cost-benefit analysis should be conducted for businesses to discourage production of unnecessary food waste.Promote the use of the free food waste caddies available on the WDC Website

Incentivise sustainable purchasingIncentives to change consumer behaviour are likely to have a positive impact on the amount of waste produced by the local population. There are already several small companies trying to increase the availability of plastic-free food and living choices such as ‘Zero’ and ‘CORE’ who regularly attend various markets and popups throughout the WD.7 Not only do these companies decrease plastic consumption, but they also encourage healthier food choices and bring money into the local economy. Therefore, financial support to these businesses should be considered.Campaigns to raise publicity of these sustainable practices will be equally effective. Communication and education of the public should be made in partnership with Warwickshire.

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*The polluter pays principle is a principle in environmental law which argues that those responsible for the production of pollution should be responsible for paying for its damages.

Litter

Statistics8

● Currently, the volume of litter alone is not measured by WDC as it is integrated with the street cleaning waste.

● Street litter collection in WD is gradually increasing over the years, from 1980 tonnes in 2013-14 to 2450 tonnes in 2018-19.

● We were unable to find the nationwide data.

WDC + UK Initiatives and PlansNational Clean Up Days9

In 2018, on the Great British Spring Clean day, almost 400,000 volunteers cleaned up their local communities with 270 local authorities and support from many commercial institutions and partners. The government seeks to hold the event annually for the coming years.

Clean Up Britain: Now or Never10

Clean up Britain is a nationwide campaign group that started in Leamington. They also focus on related topics such as single-use plastics and coffee cups. They have been working on various campaigns including delivering educational talks to schools, giving out Green Business Recognition Awards and the PickUP2 movement.

Suggestions for ImprovementProvide more financial support for local campaignsNow or Never explicitly highlights the importance of further investment from WDC, especially in litter prevention, education and enforcement. Litter does not only deteriorate the environmental quality, but is also a harmful threat to living organisms and predatory organisms higher in the food chain. Support is recommended to be provided these proactive campaigns.

Participate in the national schemesAlternatively, the district can encourage participation of national schemes such as the National Clean Up Day outlined above, inviting local businesses and campaigns for wider recognition of the issue.

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SECTION THREE: TRANSPORTATIONIn general, there is a lack of information available on transportation in WD.

● Although maps of the cycle network across the district can be accessed via: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/, the exact length of the national cycle path in the district is uncertain due to interrupted paths.

● Information on the number of public bus users in the district is also irretrievable.

Statistics1

● Due a small sample number, data on bus commuters and cyclists was unable to be estimated.

● Comparing to local areas, it is clear that there are far more people walking to workplaces in WD than any other local districts.

Public BusesBelow is the summary of environmental performance of Stagecoach, a major bus service operator in WD.

● Around 75% of buses in the district are built to the Euro V emission standard, which is the second to most stringent standard, with lower levels of CO, PM and NOx produced2 (please refer to Section Four for more details on air quality).

● 17 new buses are being acquired for the U1/U2 service in September built to the latest emissions standards, Euro VI, for a cost of £3.7million to increase Stagecoach’s positive impact on the environment.3

● With £6.9m funding from the government, Stagecoach plans to invest in zero emissions fleets in the next two years.4

● New bus depot built in 2017 in Leamington is equipped with a bus wash that uses rainwater, an electric vehicle charging area for employees, intelligent heating, energy efficient internal and external lighting and sustainable materials throughout.5

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WDC + WCC Initiatives and Plans● WDC is proposing to make transport improvements to drive economic growth.6 The most

prominent problem in the region is the congestion caused by relatively high density of commercial offices, faster-than-expected rate of population growth and tourism. In order to facilitate the growth of these businesses, time wasted at road congestions must be minimised.

● While car ownership levels within the District is relatively high, with over 80% of households having access to a car, WDC is promoting the use of public transport. For example, working in tandem with Stagecoach, Quality Bus Corridors have been developed.

● In addition, investment has been made to improve cycle infrastructure in the district, often in partnership with other authorities and institutions.

● WCC is focusing on travel plans for school children as well as sustainable travel plan where applicable.7 The action plans include controlling congestion near schools, informing about more sustainable modes, and improving footpaths and cycle paths.

● To deliver mobility to all members of the community, WCC offers free bus passes for older and disabled residents.8

Suggestions for ImprovementCollect data

● Currently there is no publicly available data to show the scope of performance in the transport area. WD should collect and publish accessible data on cycle infrastructure, methods of travel deployed, and number of public transport users which will give a better understanding of what actions need to be taken to improve the current situation

Promote more sustainable travel choices9

● Raise awareness of the benefits of walking and cycling in terms of maintaining health and saving money while being friendly to the environment

● Create a travel planning programme including liaison with bus companies, which can be offered to Council employees and ultimately to businesses.

● Publicise car sharing and a car club that are more flexible and less costly than busses and yet more environmentally friendly than single-occupancy vehicles.

More funding for public transport operators

● Electric busses are not commercially viable for any provincial bus companies in the UK as they cost double the amount of a regular bus, and also require the building of necessary infrastructure at an additional cost. The only way companies can afford electric busses is with help from the government

● Funding is owned by the central government so local bus authorities must bid for it to improve their services

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SECTION FOUR: AIR QUALITY

Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) and Monitoring Sites in WD3

A location is deemed an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) if the local authority recognises that it is an area (as small as one street) in which the National Air Quality Objectives are unlikely to be achieved without change.A monitoring site is a specific location in which measurements of air quality are taken at regular intervals. They can be automatic (continuous monitoring devices which provide high resolution data) or non-automatic (passive devices which provide an average of a given pollutant, useful for screening and baseline studies). Monitoring sites will be placed within an AQMA to track pollutant progress.The following AQMAs have all been identified due to high concentrations of NO2, with the primary source identified as road traffic.

StatisticsIt is important to recognise that, due to the nature of air pollution coming from multiple sources, air quality can differ dramatically in different areas of the same city.Two indicators used are the annual mean concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and PM10 (Particulate Matter measuring less than 10 µm in diameter) at different monitoring sites.

WD1

● Between 2013 and 15, the annual mean NO2 level did not change much, but in recent years, the concentration increased in all sites by around 3µg/m3.

● Since 2013, the number of sites exceeding NO2 annual mean objective has increased both on

roadside and kerbside.

● There are only two monitoring sites for PM10. On Rugby Road, the annual mean concentration rose from 15.8 to 17.3µg/m3 while it fell on Hamilton Terrace from 17.9 to 13.9 µg/m3.

UK2

● The overall trend of annual mean NO2 concentration is downward sloping at roadsides, urban background and rural background.

● Annual mean PM10 concentration in the past was nearly 40µg/m3 in both roadside and urban background, but it has fallen to below 20µg/m3.

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WDC Initiatives and Plans1

● Construction of the ‘Europa Way’ between Leamington Spa and Warwick will improve local air quality by providing park and ride facilities, segregated bicycle lanes, new pedestrian routes as well as general traffic optimisation and junction improvement.

● Traffic management including implementation of 20mph zones in AQMAs to optimise traffic flow.

● Conducting Active Travel Campaign to switch to healthier and more sustainable travel choices like walking, running and cycling.

● Promoting low emission vehicles and supporting infrastructure.

● Continued monitoring and assessment of air quality. Having observed higher levels of pollutant concentrations than the previous year in the majority of monitoring locations, WDC plans to install more monitoring sites and assess the impact of taxis on AQMAs so that WDC can make informed decisions.

UK and EU Air Quality GuidelinesUK Guidelines3

● Local authorities are responsible for assessing and reviewing air quality to ensure that they meet the national air quality objectives

● If they do not meet these objectives, then they must declare an AQMA and create an action plan that details how air pollution will be decreased in this AQMA to ensure it can meet the national air quality objectives

● To learn more about these objectives please visit: https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/National_air_quality_objectives.pdf

EU Guidelines4

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= NO2 annual mean objective of 40g/m3

● The EU Ambient Air Quality Directives set limits and targets for concentrations of various pollutants in the atmosphere, including PM.

● The UK meets European air quality standards for nearly all pollutants, except for NO2 limits alongside roads in cities and towns.

Suggestions for Improvement

As illustrated by the earlier line graphs, atmospheric concentrations of NO2 and PM10 increased in most areas over the years monitored. Actions must be taken urgently to address adverse consequences on the health of the population.

Review of AQMAsWDC should continuously assess if there have been any changes to AQMAs so that WDC can plan towards improvement of air quality in those areas accordingly and efficiently.

Promotion of more sustainable methods of travelAs discussed in Section Three, transportation, raising awareness of more green methods of travel among the public and the business sector will reduce the number of vehicles on the roads. Along with funding for public transport service operators to have higher European Emission Standards fleets, air quality is expected to improve on busy roads. However, the plan should take population growth of the district into consideration so that it does not underestimate its objective.

Improve road infrastructureIn tandem with the action outlined above, WDC should consider improvement of road infrastructure, especially in places with high levels of traffic. Congestion may be solved with introduction of better road management signs, speed controls, or improved cycle path.

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SECTION FIVE: WATERThe water in the WD is supplied by Severn Trent, which manages a wide area (refer to Appendix 4).The data below are for the entire area of the large catchment covered by the company because we could not find data more specific to each local area.Furthermore, we could not find data on wastewater quality but water quality of surface water bodies.

Water Consumption1 2

● Each year since 2016, daily water usage per person has been about 10 litres lower in the area managed by Severn Trent than the UK average.

● Water leakage in the Severn Trent area has been 0.1m3 greater per km, however, in the latest year period, it is 0.1m3 lower.

Water QualityWater Management Issues3

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Water Body Current StatusSevern Trent Surface Water Bodies (Total: 755)4

● Although there is no water body classified at a high ecological status, 81.2% of water bodies in Severn River Basin has moderate to good ecological status.

● 95.4% of the surface water bodies pass the criterion of chemical status.

UK Surface Water Bodies (Total: 4679)5

● 80.7% out of all water bodies in the UK have moderate to high ecological status, which is relatively similar to what is observed in the Severn Trent Area.

● There are only 7 water bodies with high ecological status.

● 97.1% of water bodies have good chemical status. This proportion is slightly better than that of Severn Trent area.

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Policy and Strategy

Severn Trent Initiatives and Plans● In their annual report,6 Severn Trent announced its water management commitments for 2020-25.

They plan to reduce unsustainable water abstraction, reduce leakage, working with farmers to reduce chemical contamination of water sources, increasing water efficiency of households by conducting efficiency checks for consumers and educating primary school pupils to consider their water usage behaviour.

● The Warwickshire Avon catchment of Severn River Basin prioritises identification and reduction of pollution, community engagement with the local environment, and restoration of water corridors to a near natural state.

● There are plans laid out to further improve physical modification and address pollution by reducing diffuse pollution to 2027.

Suggestions for ImprovementReducing water waste by improving piping infrastructureFocussing on improving piping infrastructure is key to reducing pipe bursts and, as a consequence, water usage per household. Severn Trent already have several planned improvements on piping which can be seen on their website, which is a positive sign that the company are attempting to address the issue.

Social awareness of water useAlthough Severn Trent have the responsibility of maintaining the quality of the Warwickshire water system, the consumption of this water is determined by the population whom use it. By raising awareness of the importance of using water smartly in the WD through campaigns, posters and infographics, the population’s consumption of water may decrease.This has proven effective in business environments, for example a WRAP case study reported the effectiveness of saving water campaigns targeted for its employees on the dairy company ARLA.7 A similar approach could be applied to WD.

Address LitteringLitter can easily enter waterways and deteriorate the water quality. Plastics, in particular, take hundreds of years to decompose, having a negative impact on the aquatic biosphere. By promoting clean-up schemes and educating the public as outlined in Section Two: Waste Management, some positive impacts on our waterways are expected.

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Appendix 1 – WD Performance Against UK Average Data

Energy Use

Waste ManagementData Unit Year UK Warwick and

Leamington

Annual domestic waste generation

Kg/household/year 2017-18 543.6 394.9 (72.6%)

Recycling rates % of waste recycled, reused or composted

2017-18 43.2% 52.3% (121.1%)

Litter (Street cleansing)

(%)

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Air Quality

Water

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Appendix 2 - Background of Action 21

Who are we?Action 21 is a volunteer-based charity located in Leamington Spa which aims to raise awareness of sustainable living and reduce the environmental impact of the population on the Warwickshire region. Temporarily employing students from the University of Warwick to write this report, Action 21 hopes that this paper will provide a guide for individuals and businesses looking to adopt sustainability practices into their running, as well as providing a simple overview of the current state of sustainability in Leamington and Warwick so as residents have easy access to this vital information.

Main AimsEnvironmental

Local Community

Future Focus

For more information, please visit our website at www.action21.co.uk

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Appendix 3 - Relevant Actors and their Sustainability Objectives

Warwick District Council (WDC)1

● To embed sustainability at a strategic level within the organisation

● To address (their) own impacts relating to sustainability and ensure (Warwick’s) physical assets and operations remain resilient in the face of a changing climate

● To promote and enable sustainability and climate change resilience in the wider district

Warwickshire County Council (WCC)Environmental Management Policy, 20172

● Comply with environmental legislation and other environmental compliance obligations

● Identify and manage the authority’s significant environmental risks to an acceptable level and identify potential opportunities for improvement.

● Make best use of natural resources, employing life-cycle philosophy where practicable and managing wastes in line with the Waste Hierarchy.3

● Safeguard the natural environment of Warwickshire within the authority’s control, preventing pollution and protecting biodiversity and ecosystems

● Ensure the effective management of the authority’s built and natural estate

● Maintain resilience regarding environmental threats to the organisation, its services and wider Warwickshire where the authority has control or influence

● Ensure that WCC staff have the necessary skills, competence and awareness regarding environmental aspects of their roles

● Through the above actions to achieve continual improvement of the Authority’s environmental performance

Declaration of a Climate Emergency3

A cross party Climate Change Task and Finish Working Group will be established, then report back to the Cabinet in January.Work should also go ahead to develop proposals for a carbon neutral action planThe council will review and update transport plans to support the building of sustainable transport systems in each District and Borough

Severn Trent4

● We will make our region the most water efficient in the UK

● We will play a leading role to help make our region's rivers even healthier

● We protect our environment (we do everything we can to prevent polluting the environment and we reduce our carbon footprint)

● We make a constructive contribution to developing sustainable and resilient water and wastewater services

Stagecoach5

● developing green travel plans and incentives for our people, customers and other organisations

● working with other companies and organisations to improve sustainability in the supply chain

● improving the accessibility of our services

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● awareness of biodiversity issues

● investing in more fuel-efficient vehiclesusing alternative, renewable fuels

● training our people in more efficient driving techniquessaving energy at our offices and depotsconserving and recycling water

● reducing and recycling waste

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Appendix 4 – Introduction to Climate ChangeClimate Change6

The sun provides heat energy to our planet. While some of the incoming sunlight is reflected into space, the rest is trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere by the greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide and methane. Since the Industrial Revolution, anthropogenic activities have been releasing GHGs at an unprecedented rate. As a result of the increased concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere, the global temperature is rising (Figure 1), causing accelerated climate change; the long-term alteration in global weather patterns.

Consequences of Climate Change7

● Extreme weather

● Events such as heavy rain, floods, heat waves, and droughts have become more frequent

● Rising Sea Level caused by the melting polar ice and glaciers as well as expansion of warmer sea water

● Coastal and low-lying areas are susceptible to flooding and erosion

● Impacts on human health

● An increase in the number of heat-related deaths in some regions

● Changes in the distribution of certain illnesses

● Economic costs

● Damage to property and infrastructure from extreme weathers

● Industrial sectors dependent on climate such as agriculture, forestry, energy and tourism are affected

● Environmental damages

● The changes to the habitats are happening too rapidly that wildlife is struggling to adapt

Living SustainablyIt is important for each one of us to be fully aware of the phenomenon and attempt to have a more sustainable living to reduce carbon footprint.

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For example, consuming less energy, adopting greener transport methods, reducing waste, and having a more plant-based diet are some practices everyone can adopt in our everyday lives.

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Appendix 5 – Economic Models of WasteIn 2017/18, the UK produced a total of over 23 million tonnes of household waste. We live on a planet of finite resources and space, and our consumption of waste is putting a huge strain on its ability to maintain life. An important topic to look at when examining waste management is the system of economy in place. There are three main waste-based theories of economy:

The Linear Economy is based on the extraction of natural resources to manufacture goods, which are consumed and eventually become waste. This economic model is highly wasteful as resources are pumped in at the ‘raw materials’ stage and lost at the ‘non-recyclable waste’ stage. The Reuse Economy is the model that best represents the current economy of the UK. Whilst recycling and reuse decrease the amount of non-recyclable waste created, there is still a large amount of waste produced, and raw materials are still needed in large quantities to make up for this. The Circular Economy represents a fully sustainable economy, in which no waste is created, and materials are instead reused and repurposed in a circular manner. This would in turn decrease the amount of raw materials needed to be added to the system. Whilst a truly circular economy is very difficult to achieve due to technical constraints and high consumer demand, working towards increasing our capacity to work within a circular economy would vastly increase the sustainability of our waste management processes.At current, the UK works in a reuse economy, which whilst better than a linear economy, still produces large amounts of non-recyclable waste. A circular economy is incredibly difficult to achieve due to the large demand for goods and structure of modern society, but policy makers see it as a goal and aim to create a more circular economy.

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Appendix 6 – Severn Trent Management Catchments

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Appendix 7 – ReferencesSection One: Energy

1 - Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. (2019). Sub-national Total Final Energy Consumption in the United Kingdom: 2005-2016. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/total-final-energy-consumption-at-regional-and-local-authority-level (Accessed 10 September 2019)

2 – Warwickshire Observatory. (2012). Domestic Energy Consumption in Warwickshire. [Online] Available at: https://warksobservatory.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/domestic-energy-consumption.pdf (Accessed 10 September 2019)

3 – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. (2019). Sub-Regional Fuel Poverty in England. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sub-regional-fuel-poverty-2019 (Accessed 9 September 2019)

4 - Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. (2019). Sub-Regional Fuel Poverty Data. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sub-regional-fuel-poverty-data-2019 (Accessed 9 September 2019)

5 - Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. (2019). Fuel Poverty Statistics England. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fuel-poverty-detailed-tables-2019 (Accessed 26 September 2019)

6 - Nuneaton and Bedworth Council. (2015). BOROUGH PLAN BACKGROUND PAPER: Renewable and low carbon energy. [Online] Available at: https://www.nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk/downloads/file/375/c23_-_borough_plan_background_paper_renewable_and_low_carbon_2015 (Accessed 9 September 2019)

7 - Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. (2018). Renewable Electricity by Local Authority. [Online] Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/regional-renewable-statistics (Accessed 9 September 2019)

8 - Office for National Statistics. (2017). Population Estimates for UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: Mid-2016. [Online] Available from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland (Accessed 9 September 2019)

9 - Warwick District Council (2018). WDCs Strategic Approach to Sustainability and Climate Change 2016-2020. [Online] Available at: https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/downloads/file/2531/wdc_strategic_approach_to_sustainability_and_climate_change (Accessed 28 September 2019).

10 - Clark, R. et al. (2010). Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Resource Assessment and Feasibility Study. [Online] Available at: https://www.northwarks.gov.uk/downloads/file/7268/cd84_renewable_and_low_carbon_energy_resource_assessment_and_feasibility_study (Accessed 13 September 2019)

11 - SQW, Maslen Environmental and CO2 Sense. (2011). Renewable Energy Capacity Study for the West Midlands. [Online] Available at: http://www.sqw.co.uk/files/7813/8694/8739/21.pdf (Accessed 13 September 2019)

12 - Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. (2019). UK local authority and regional carbon dioxide emissions national statistics: 2005-2017. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-local-authority-and-regional-carbon-dioxide-emissions-national-statistics-2005-to-2017 (Accessed 9 September 2019)

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13 - Warwick District Council. (2017). Warwick District Council Home Energy Conservation Act Report 2017. [Online] Available at: https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/downloads/file/4427/heca_report_2017. (Accessed 11 September 2019).

14 – Ofgem. (n.d.). Energy Company Obligation (ECO). [Online] Available at: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/eco. (Accessed 11 September 2019).

15 – European Commission. (2019). Renewable Energy Progress Report. [Online] Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/renewable-energy/progress-reports (Accessed 9 September 2019)

16 – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. (n.d.) UK becomes first major economy to pass net zero emissions law. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-becomes-first-major-economy-to-pass-net-zero-emissions-law (Accessed 9 September 2019)

Section Two: Waste Management1 - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. (2018). Local Authority Collected Waste Statistics - Local Authority data. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/env18-local-authority-collected-waste-annual-results-tables (Accessed 9 September 2019)

2 - Warwick District Council. (n.d.). What happens to your recycling? [Online] Available at: https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/info/20470/recycling/593/what_happens_to_your_recycling (Accessed 13 September 2019)

3 - WRAP (2009). Choosing the right recycling collection system. [Online] Available at: http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/Choosing%20the%20right%20recycling%20collection%20system.pdf (Accessed 13 September 2019)

4 - Tetra Pak (n.d.). Our Carton Packages. [Online] Available at: https://www.tetrapak.com/packaging (Accessed 13 September 2019)

5 – Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (2018). Our Waste, Our Resources: a strategy for England. [Online] Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/765914/resources-waste-strategy-dec-2018.pdf (Accessed 13 September 2019)

6 – WRAP. (n.d.). A Food Waste Recycling Action Plan for England. [Online] Available at: http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/A_Food_Waste_Recycling_Action_Plan_For_England_0.pdf (Accessed 13 September 2019)

7 - K. Smith (2018). New businesses help to tackle plastic waste in Warwick district. [Online] Available at: https://www.warwickcourier.co.uk/news/environment/new-businesses-help-to-tackle-plastic-waste-in-warwick-district-1-8673630 (Accessed 13 September 2019)

8 – Private Source

9 - Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, and Department for Transport. (2018). Litter Strategy for England: First Annual Report. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/litter-strategy-for-england-progress-reports (Accessed 13 September 2019)

10 – Owen, A. (2019). Now or Never Campaign Update 2019. [Online] Available at: https://www.itsnowornever.org.uk/now-or-never/campaignupdate/ (Accessed 13 September 2019)

Section Three: Transportation1 - Office for National Statistics. (2018). Travel to work methods and the time it takes to commute from home to work, Labour Force Survey, 2007 to 2016. [Online] Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/labourproductivity/adhocs/008005traveltoworkmethodsandthetimeittakestocommutefromhometoworklabourforcesurvey2007to2016

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?fbclid=IwAR1IPxDVSoq1of3QpEGLKYuNLb9dzjUeGbWjdikoE6puUfqI7kC3qYApdAs (Accessed 9 September 2019)

2 – TransportPolicy.net. (n.d.). EU: Heavy-Duty: Emissions. [Online] Available at: https://www.transportpolicy.net/standard/eu-heavy-duty-emissions/ (Accessed 14 September 2019)

3 – Coach&BusWeek. (2019). Stagecoach to invest £3.7m for student travel in Warwick. [Online] Available at: https://cbwmagazine.com/stagecoach-to-invest-3-7m-for-student-travel-in-warwick/ (Accessed 14 September 2019)

4 – Stagecoach. (2019). Government Backs Stagecoach Plans to Deliver Major Investment in Electric Buses. [Online] Available at: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/news/manchester/2019/february/government-backs-stagecoach-plans-to-deliver-major-investment-in-electric-buses (Accessed 14 September 2019)

5 – Stagecoach. (2017). Stagecoach moves into in new multi-million-pound Midlands bus depot. [Online] Available at: https://m.stagecoach.com/media/news-releases/2017/03-05-2017.aspx (Accessed 14 September 2019)

6 - Warwickshire County Council. (2011). Warwickshire Local Transport Plan 2011-2026. [Online] Available at: https://apps.warwickshire.gov.uk/api/documents/WCCC-630-116 (Accessed 14 September 2019)

7 – Warwickshire County Council. (n.d.). Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy. [Online] Available at: https://apps.warwickshire.gov.uk/api/documents/WCCC-930-52 (Accessed 14 September 2019)

8 – Warwickshire County Council. (n.d.). Free Bus Travel. [Online] Available at: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/concessionarytravel (Accessed 14 September 2019)

9 - Air Quality Consultants (2015). Air Quality Action Plan: Warwick District Council. [Online] Available at: https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/downloads/file/517/air_quality_action_plan (Accessed 11 September 2019)

Section Four: Air Quality1 - Warwick District Council. (2018). Warwick District Council Annual Status Report. [Online]. Available at: https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/downloads/file/5032/air_quality_annual_status_report_2018 (Accessed 28 September 2019)

2 - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. (2019). Defra National Statistics Release: Air quality statistics in the UK 1987 to 2018. [Online] Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/796887/Air_Quality_Statistics_in_the_UK_1987_to_2018.pdf (Accessed 26 September 2019)

3 - UK Air (n.d.) Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). [Online] Available at: https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/aqma (Accessed 28 September 2019)

4 - Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (2015). 2010 to 2015 government policy: environmental quality. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2010-to-2015-government-policy-environmental-quality/2010-to-2015-government-policy-environmental-quality#appendix-5-international-european-and-national-standards-for-air-quality (Accessed 28 September 2019)

Section Five: Water1 - Discover Water (2019). The amount we use. [Online] Available at: https://discoverwater.co.uk/amount-we-use (Accessed 26 September 2019)

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2 - Discover Water (2019). Leaking pipes. [Online] Available at: https://discoverwater.co.uk/leaking-pipes (Accessed 26 September 2019)

3 - Environment Agency. (2015). Severn River Basin Management Plan. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/severn-river-basin-district-river-basin-management-plan (Accessed 14 September 2019)

4 - Environment Agency. (2015). Severn River Basin Management Plan. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/severn-river-basin-district-river-basin-management-plan (Accessed 14 September 2019)

5 - Environment Agency. (2016). National Evidence and Data Report. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/river-basin-management-plans-national-evidence-and-data-report (Accessed 26 September 2019)

6 – Severn Trent Plc. (2019). Annual Report and Accounts. [Online] Available at: https://www.severntrent.com/content/dam/stw-plc/shareholder-resources/ara_annual_report_2019.pdf (Accessed 14 September 2019)

7 - WRAP (2014). Case Study: Motivating employees to save water. [Online] Available at: http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/CStudy%20Arla%20FHC%202014.pdf (Accessed 11 September 2019)

Appendices1 – Warwick District Council. (2018). Warwick District Council’s Strategic Approach to Sustainability and Climate Change. [Online] Available at: https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/downloads/file/2531/wdc_strategic_approach_to_sustainability_and_climate_change (Accessed 28 September 2019)

2 – Warwickshire County Council. (2017). Environmental Management Policy, Managing The Authority’s Environmental Impacts. pp.5. [Online] Available at: https://apps.warwickshire.gov.uk/api/documents/WCCC-783135454-96 (Accessed 28 September 2019)

3 - Warwickshire County Council (2019). WCC declares climate emergency on hottest day of summer. [Online] Available at: https://news.warwickshire.gov.uk/blog/2019/07/26/wcc-declares-climate-change-emergency-on-hottest-day-of-summer/ (Accessed 28 September 2019)

4 - Severn Trent. (2016). Our Ambitions and Values. [Online] Available at: https://www.severntrent.com/responsibility/our-ambitions-and-values/ (Accessed 28 September 2019)

5 – Stagecoach Group Plc. (2015). Shared Responsibility, Shared Future: Our Sustainability Strategy. [Online] Available at: https://www.stagecoach.com/sustainability/our-strategy.aspx (Accessed 28 September 2019)

6 – The Basics of Climate Change. The Royal Society. [Online] Available at: https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/climate-change-evidence-causes/basics-of-climate-change/ (Accessed 10 September 2019)

7 – Climate Change Consequences. Europe Commission. [Online] Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/change/consequences_en (Accessed 10 September 2019)

8 - Warwickshire Waste Partnership. (2013). Warwickshire’s Municipal Waste Management Strategy. [Online] Available at: http://wwp.warwickshire.gov.uk/municipal-waste-strategy/ (Accessed 13 September 2019)

Figure 1 – Loria, K. (2018). CO2 levels are at their highest in 800,000 years. World Economic Forum. [Online] Available at: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/05/earth-just-hit-a-terrifying-milestone-for-the-first-time-in-more-than-800-000-years (Accessed 10 September 2019)

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Figure 2 – Government of the Netherlands (n.d.). From a linear to a circular economy. [Online] Available at: https://www.government.nl/topics/circular-economy/from-a-linear-to-a-circular-economy (Accessed 13 September 2019)

Figure 3 - Environment Agency. (2015). Severn River Basin Management Plan. Pp. 71. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/severn-river-basin-district-river-basin-management-plan (Accessed 14 September 2019)

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