Tuesday - Climate Change Seminar Went to an interesting seminar on climate change this afternoon. I have to admit up front that I am fairly skeptical as to whether climate change is caused by human activity - being an historian, I am aware that the climate was much warmer in Roman times, and in medieval times ... and much colder in Viking times and the little ice age of the 17th century. And I am deeply skeptical about whether County Durham can do *anything* to stem the tide of climate change ... whatever is causing it. However, having said that, global and local temperatures *are* rising, and this will change both our weather and our climate. The County Council believes that by 2050, winter rainfall will be up 20% in winter, down 37% in summer; we will have fewer snow days, and more heatwaves; sea levels will rise by perhaps 2 feet. All these changes have significant consequences on the environment, on the economy, and on health, and we would be bonkers not at least to *prepare for* and adapt to the changes. DCC is therefore developing a Climate Change Strategy and a Climate Change Delivery Plan. As you might expect, it focuses on energy-efficiency, reducing CO2, and intends to try to decouple CO2 from economic growth and lifestyles. DCC is already very proactive in this area, and is trying to work with businesses and government. My own contribution was to point out that - more important even that mitigating CO2 emissions - was to protect the poor and the vulnerable, who are being most damaged by the changes. My view is that the poor and the vulnerable are being more hurt by low-carbon initiatives than they are being be the climate change itself. And they need DCC to take a lead in protecting and preparing them. Part of the answer is the Green Deal (which I have written about previously - see the link below), part of the answer is more proactive pre-application demands on builders, part of the problem is being tougher with landlords. There are *many* difficulties and problems here - not least how to impose tougher climate change conditions without damaging the delicate north-east economy, and driving away house-builders who are already hesitant to build. One interesting fact I learned is that - as our government reduces the money available to respond to climate change - the EU is giving us £14million ring-fenced *for* climate change initiatives (we have to find 40% matched funding). Plans have been drawn up already as to how we intend to use the money - £3m on domestic adaptations, £1.2m on advice and help to business, £2.2m to encourage low carbon technologies, and £4.5m for new low-carbon technologies (e.g. geothermal at Eastgate, smart grids, battery storage etc.) There will also be £4m for green infrastructure improvement to help create more resilient communities (e.g. flood defences, SUDS schemes, peatland protection), and - most exciting of all - £2.2m on trying to create local low carbon supply chains, growing our own biofuel, using local businesses etc. As i said, this money is coming from the EU, not our own government, and when - and it will probably happen - some idiot prime minister of whatever party submits to pressure to hold a referendum on Europe, I hope that north-east people will realise on which side their bread is buttered. After all this theorising this afternoon, down to earth this evening accompanying the Mayor to a charity evening at Seaham - an enjoyable mixture of raffle, sweepstakes, bingo games, diet coke, other chains and a cabaret act.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 00:48:30 +0000