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This paper sets out how the government will enhance our country’s energy security, seize the economic opportunities of the transition, and deliver on our net zero commitments. To meet this ambition, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will deliver: 1. Energy security: setting the UK on a path to greater energy independence. 2. Consumer security: bringing bills down, and keeping them affordable, and making wholesale electricity prices among the cheapest in Europe. 3. Climate security: supporting industry to move away from expensive and dirty fossil fuels. 4. Economic security: playing our part in reducing inflation and boosting growth, delivering high skilled jobs for the future.
The government was forced to publish this "Powering up Britain" strategy after the High Court judged last July that its current plan was not detailed enough to show how the UK would meet its goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Academics and green groups are unconvinced it will make enough difference. Dr Chris Jones, an expert in climate change at the University of Manchester, said: "This latest government energy strategy is a weak response to the UK's zero carbon energy needs. "The regressive measures on fossil fuels won't make any real impact on our bills and energy security, but they are enough to downgrade the UK's role as a leader in tackling climate change." Friends of the Earth - who were part of the team who brought the legal case against the last plan - said they may have to go back to the High Court. The Plan is based on nuclear and (unproven) Carbon Capture use and Storage and Hydrogen; plus the usual suspects of moving away from gas for heating; improved energy efficiency; renewables (but no change in policy on on-shore wind farms despite being cheapest source of electricity); decarbonising transport; speeding up planning (see below); mobilising green finance.
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Resolution hailed as ‘win for climate justice of epic United Nations adopts landmark resolution on climate justice proportions’ should make it easier to hold countries accountable for failures
A UN resolution was adopted on Wednesday that should make it easier to hold polluting countries legally accountable for failing to tackle the climate emergency, in a vote which was hailed as a historic victory for climate justice. The UN general assembly adopted by consensus the resolution spearheaded by Vanuatu, a tiny Pacific island nation vulnerable to extreme climate effects, and youth activists to secure a legal opinion from the international court of justice (ICJ) to clarify states’ obligations to tackle the climate crisis – and specify any consequences countries should face for inaction. “Today we have witnessed a win for climate justice of epic proportions,” said Ishmael Kalsakau, prime minister of Vanuatu. “Today’s historic resolution is the beginning of a new era in multilateral climate cooperation, one that is more fully focused on upholding the rule of international law and an era that places human rights and intergenerational equity at the forefront of climate decision-making.” The resolution, which was co-sponsored by more than 120 countries including the UK, but not the US, will help establish a legal litmus test of sorts for the global climate justice movement seeking to hold countries to account for climate failures in the courts. It comes on the day the Biden administration opened an auction to drill 73m acres of the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas – and just days after the self-acclaimed “climate president” approved a massive, multi-decade-long oil and gas drilling project in Alaska, which will create one of the largest “carbon bombs” on US soil. While the opinion from the world’s highest court will not be binding in domestic courts, establishing international legal rules can be influential on judges and governments. It also represents the first attempt to establish climate action obligations under international law, which advocates hope will strengthen climate-related litigation by helping vulnerable states and advocates hold countries accountable for their action and inaction. The resolution emerged out of mounting frustration at the mismatch between the global community’s rhetoric and action on climate change, amid escalating losses for countries such as Vanuatu, which face an existential threat due to sea-level rise. The frustration spurned a social movement led by Vanuatu law students turned youth activists, and work on the resolution was led by Indigenous lawyers in the Pacific. In essence, the ICJ advisory will help establish whether there is legal obligation for countries to do what they have committed to in non-binding treaties such as the 2015 Paris climate accord, and whether failure to do so can be challenged through litigation. Dorset Council and LitterLotto have joined forces to launch a new initiative aimed at tackling littering and rewarding citizens who are doing their part to keep the area looking glorious. The partnership will see users of the LitterLotto app in Dorset given the opportunity to win an additional £100 each month, on top of the £1,000 weekly jackpot and spot prizes already available.
LitterLotto, the innovative app that uses gamification to encourage citizens to dispose of litter properly and has been making waves in the fight against littering. The app allows users to keep tabs on the amount of litter they dispose of as well as a chance to win a prize on each submission. Each entry also goes into the draw for the weekly and month jackpots. The scheme was launched in Dorset last year and has already seen local residents win cash prizes. Simon, a keen litter picker and local Sherborne resident, recently won £100 by using the LitterLotto app. The partnership between Dorset Council and LitterLotto is a testament to the council’s commitment to using technology and innovation to tackle the issue of littering. The addition of the monthly £100 prize for users in Dorset is an extra incentive for people to do their part in keeping the area litter-free. LitterLotto has already been successful in incentivising litter picking and promoting responsible waste disposal. The app has received positive feedback from users, who have praised the experience as both fun and rewarding. The app’s unique approach to tackling littering has made it a popular choice among individuals and organisations looking to make a difference. This report provides the Committee’s biennial report of progress in preparing for climate change as required under the Climate Change Act. It provides an assessment of progress at the end of two National Adaptation Programmes, the statutory programme required from Government to help prepare the country for climate change. The second National Adaptation Programme covered the period of 2018 – 2023 and the third is due to be published in summer 2023.
3 key messages:
Delight for campaigners as BCP Council Urge Dorset Pension Fund to Divest from Fossil Fuels23/3/2023 On Tuesday night, BCP Councillors used their last meeting before May’s elections to ask the Dorset Pension Fund, to move ‘all remaining energy investments in the pension fund to sustainable energy investments by the end of 2024’. Effectively this means, stop funding fossil fuels, go invest in renewables.
Campaigners from Dorset Action on Pensions who have supported the efforts are delighted with the outcome. They pay tribute and thanks to the BCP Councillors who brought the motion and to the Council for their commendable decision. Cllr Dr Felicity Rice who instigated the matter said ‘The support for this motion demonstrates how public opinion has dramatically changed in the last couple of years. It is now essential that the Dorset Pension Fund moves our investments away from fossil fuels as quickly as possible, so that they do not risk our employees’ investments becoming worthless, and stuck in oil and gas that is not going to be used. I also find it crazy that we have been using BCP residents’ money to invest in fossil fuels, which will cause flooding and coastal erosion to many areas in Dorset that those same residents know and love. The sooner money is moved away from fossil fuels, the better.’ Cllr Chris Rigby who seconded the motion highlighted the further benefits ‘BCP council has committed to being carbon neutral by 2030, and this includes the carbon footprint of its investments. Therefore, this is an easy way for BCP council to reduce its carbon footprint in a fairly simple and very low-cost way’. The decision by BCP reflects a growing trend in fossil fuel divestment. This month insurance giant Aviva announced they would move £2.5 billion away from fossil fuels, and in October 18 University Pension Funds pledged to divest £18 bn worth of fossil fuel investments. Dorset Council, BCP Council and Public Health Dorset have been awarded £4,343,000 by central government to upgrade homes and off-grid households with energy efficiency measures as part of the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) scheme.
The HUG scheme will provide energy efficiency upgrades and low carbon heating via local authority funding, to households in England that are low income, off the gas grid or have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) between D and G. We’ll be able to utilise these funds via our Healthy Homes Dorset programme – funded by Dorset Council, BCP Council and Public Health Dorset – and make sure many more people are able to install energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating at no cost to themselves. Bournemouth University has been awarded £1.4m from the government through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. This will support our CECAP goal of net zero emissions by 2030/31. It will be used to replace end of life fossil fuel gas boilers on Talbot Campus with electrically powered Air Source Heat Pumps and add hundreds more solar panels.
This project will be delivered from summer 2023 and will be completed by the end of March 2024. It will remove fossil fuel gas heating and hot water from Dorset House, Sir Michael Cobham Library (SMCL) and Kimmeridge House and add a solar panel array onto the roof of Dorset House which will generate around 100,000 kWh of green electricity per year. The complete project will eliminate around 200 tonnes of carbon emissions. This is because moving from gas to electrically powered heating has a lower carbon footprint. The electricity we use comes from either on site solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, we generate about five percent on site and we buy enough green electricity to meet the rest of our campus needs through Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) backed tariffs. BU will make a 12% contribution which takes the project value to £1.6m. This project is part of our Heat Decarbonisation Plan which has been developed this year to carry out technical studies of 21 BU buildings to identify how to move to low carbon heating sources. This includes thermal imagery of five buildings to identify building fabric improvements to reduce the heating required. Our approach includes a focus on improving the thermal properties of the building fabric and additional works funded by BU will likely include cavity wall insultation for the ground floor and a new, better insulated roof for Dorset House as well as improvements for SMCL. This is part of our Eco Campus Platinum, ISO50001 and ISO14001 certified Environment and Energy Management System where we work to reduce the amount of energy we need and decarbonise our energy sources. The fourth and final instalment of the sixth assessment report (AR6) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the body of the world’s leading climate scientists, is the synthesis report, so called because it draws together the key findings of the preceding three main sections. Together, they make a comprehensive review of global knowledge of the climate.
The report reiterates that humans are responsible for all global heating over the past 200 years leading to a current temperature rise of 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels, which has led to more frequent and hazardous weather events that have caused increasing destruction to people and the planet. The report reminds us that every increment of warming will come with more extreme weather events. The report outlines that the 1.5°C limit is still achievable and outlines the critical action required across sectors and by everyone at all levels. The report focuses on the critical need for action that considers climate justice and focuses on climate resilient development. It outlines that by sharing best practices, technology, effective policy measures, and mobilising sufficient finance, any community can decrease or prevent the usage of carbon-intensive consumption methods. The biggest gains in well-being can be achieved by prioritizing climate risk reduction for low-income and marginalized communities. Bournemouth-based Eco Sustainable Solutions has joined forces with an award-winning turf business to expand its range of products.
Joining forces with Harrowden Turf, Eco Sustainable Solutions will now expand its range of landscaping products to include several varieties of new Meadowmat Wildflower Turf. Wildflower lawns are part of a growing movement away from the traditional short-cut grass lawns previously typical of commercial and residential spaces across the UK. In comparison, a typical monoculture grass lawn has less to offer insects and animals in terms of habitat and food options. Wildflower lawns and meadows on the other hand are great for biodiversity providing bees, butterflies, and other important pollinators with food. On a single day in summer, one acre of wildflower meadow can contain three million flowers, producing 1kg of nectar sugar. That’s enough to support nearly 96,000 honeybees per day. Not only that, but wildflower lawns also help fight climate change, sequestering as much carbon as woodland. Connor Scott, sales manager at Eco Sustainable Solutions, said: “This wildflower turf has an incredible ability to retain colour and lushness, even in challenging conditions. “Not only this but it’s a naturally speedy way to create a wildlife-friendly patch in your garden.” Talbot Village Trust has applied to BCP Council for permission to designate land at Highmoor Farm as a heathland support area, aimed at reducing pressure on the nearby and protected Talbot Heath.
But the proposal has prompted concerns it could be "the beginning of the end" for the farm and a precursor for the planned business park neighbouring the site. Similar plans to convert part of the farm had been included in the controversial development of the site first proposed in 2000. These were eventually rejected more than ten years later following an appeal. The trust has now filed its application to create a heathland support area (HSA) to reduce human pressure on Talbot Heath. The site is identified for such a use in the Poole Local Plan which also designates neighbouring land for an "innovation quarter". Council planning policy says the aim of an HSA is to spread public access to heathland over a wider area. “The biodiversity of the heath is adversely affected by human pressures, which are caused inadvertently by the use of the area for informal recreation, as well as deliberately through misuse such as arson and fly-tipping,” a statement submitted on behalf of the trust by consultants Intelligent Land says. “The HSA will provide an alternative area for recreation to divert pressures off the heath, as well as space to support the heath through biodiversity gains.” It adds there are “partial similarities” to what was proposed in 2000 and that this part of the project was not cited as a reason for the refusal of the overall development. But the application has already attracted objections, including from Nick Dobbs, an administrator for the Preserve Talbot Heath Facebook group. CPRE objects to building on Highmoor Farm (Viewpoint Feb 2023 Volume 20, Issue 7) (https://www.dorsetview.co.uk/publication/dorset-view-february-2023-volume-20-issue-7) because building on green fields and not focusing development on brownfield sites. Planning application (APP/22/01455/F) for a new 11606 m2 Nuffield Health Hospital BCP Council and provision for 13,394 m2 of employment, healthcare & university-related floor space. |
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