News Release : 7 July 2005

SOUTH EAST FACES BIGGEST CHANGE IN CLIMATE –
Assembly calls on everyone to help reduce impact

Everyone must help reduce the impact of climate change, as South East England faces the biggest change in the country, says the South East England Regional Assembly. Planners, developers, businesses and individuals all need to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as this is the main problem that causes climate change.

The Assembly has clear plans for coping with climate change by promoting energy efficiency and increased use of renewable energy. Policies on managing climate change are a key part of the Assembly’s South East Plan, a 20-year planning vision for the region.

The South East can expect hotter drier summers and warmer wetter winters with rainfall potentially increasing 20% by 2050. Sea levels are predicted to be 85cm higher by the end of the century. The Assembly takes action on climate change through:

• Promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy
• Reducing the need to travel and promoting sustainable transport
• Reducing landfill use for household waste (landfill waste creates methane gas which is a greenhouse gas)
• Ensuring efficient use and management of water resources eg drainage and storage
• Promoting sustainable construction and high environmental standards in new buildings
• Making buildings more resilient to flooding and other effects of climate change.

Speaking at the South East Climate Change Partnership Forum today, the Assembly Chief Executive Paul Bevan emphasised the need to take action: “We need to improve our efforts if we want to make a difference in tackling climate change. We urge local authorities, developers, businesses and individuals to be more energy efficient. The Assembly takes the lead by setting higher targets for renewable energy and promoting a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Even optimistic scenarios of reduced future greenhouse gas emissions suggest that climate change will remain a part of our lives and needs addressing now.”

Energy
The Assembly has set targets for cutting CO2 emissions by 20% by 2010. Renewable energy such as solar panels, wind turbines and biomass generated energy could significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The Assembly wants to radically increase the percentage of electricity generated by renewable energy from less than 1% in 2005 to 16% in 2026. It also encourages local authorities and other organisations to include high standards of energy efficiency in all developments and maximise renewable energy use.

Water
The Assembly takes part in a European project called ESPACE, which shares best practice on managing water supply and improving water storage. Working with the Environment Agency, water companies and the South East Climate Change Partnership the Assembly ensures that the South East Plan is based on realistic policies for matching water demand and availability to growth.

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Head of Communications - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. By 2080, the average annual temperature in much of the South East could be up to 4.5oC. Please see the South East Climate Change Partnership website for more information on climate change
2. The target to cut CO2 emissions by 20%, below 1990 levels, by 2010 are set by the Assembly in the Integrated Regional Framework 2004. This is also the national domestic target.
   
   
3. For more details on ESPACE, please see their website.
   
   
4. For natural resources policies, view the draft South East Plan (section D5)
   
   
5. Regional Monitoring Report 2004 - The Assembly regularly monitors water supply and quality, risk of flooding, electricity derived from renewable sources and energy consumption, and air and noise pollution. See the report in the publications section.
   
   
6. The Regional Assembly is the "voluntary regional chamber" for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
   
   
7. The Assembly is made up of 112 members including elected councillors nominated by the region's local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
   
   
8. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
   
   
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007

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