Work areas

Climate Change and Sustainable Energy

There is overwhelming evidence that climate change is happening and is having a real impact on our lives. The United Kingdom Climate Impacts Programme Climate Change Scenarios show that climate change impacts are likely to increase in their severity and frequency over the coming decades. This re-enforces the message that we need to act now to avoid future degradation of ecosystems, disruption to the economy and reduction of the quality of our lives.

CAG Consultants has been working with local authorities, regional and national government and other stakeholders to tackle climate change. Our work has encompassed projects aiming to:

• Create a zero carbon future through developing energy strategies, advice and guidance with local authorities and other stakeholders. CAG sees it as important to show how minimising energy demand, using energy efficiently and producing energy sustainably are key elements of creating sustainable communities.
• Put in place the necessary adaptations to the impacts of climate change by producing planning advice, and assisting national and regional government, local authorities and others to identify how to deal with the likely impacts on their services and infrastructure. CAG promotes a partnership approach to adaptation strategies stressing the importance of all the key agencies working together to minimise risks even with the uncertainties posed by climate change.

CAG promotes a partnership approach to developing mitigation and adaptation strategies, stressing the importance of key agencies working together to minimise risks and maximise opportunities in tackling climate change.

The support we can provide to government and other public sector bodies includes:

• Production of guidance on the likely impacts of climate change and the best means of integrating climate change adaptation responses into the planning process.
• Development of climate change and energy strategies, enabling energy reduction and climate change adaptation to become integrated across a local authority or regional government body.
• Facilitation of community and stakeholder engagement in work on energy and climate change.
• Evaluation of local and national programmes aimed at delivering action on energy, fuel poverty and climate change.

Examples of our work are illustrated below:

Helping organisations to get started: tools and guidance

The Nottingham Declaration Action Pack

CAG prepared and is currently updating the Nottingham Declaration online Action Pack on climate change for Local Authorities. The toolkit is sponsored by the Improvement & Development Agency (IDeA), the Local Government Association, the Energy Saving Trust, the Environment Agency and the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP). The Action Pack provides detailed information to councils on how to prepare a strategy to reduce Local Authority and community greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change, guiding authorities through five key stages:
1. Getting started
2. Assess current and likely situation
3. Develop strategic approach
4. Prepare an action plan
5. Implementation

A sustainable energy toolkit and benchmark for Local Authorities

CAG is currently preparing a toolkit to enable Local Authorities to evaluate and improve their performance in delivering the sustainable energy agenda through their roles as an estate manager; as a service provider; and as a community leader. The toolkit, which supports the Nottingham Declaration pack is being developed in partnership with seven authorities as part of the Beacon Peer Support Programme, with support from the department for Communities and Local Government, Defra and the IDeA. For more information about the toolkit, see the IDeA website.

Tools for delivering Scotland's and UK's climate change commitments

We undertook research for Scottish and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER) through which we evaluated the tools provided by support organisations such as the Energy Efficiency Advice Centres, Energy Saving Trust, Carbon Trust etc, and the opportunities and support available to local authorities.

Water management climate change adaptation toolkit

We worked with Land Use Consultants to prepare a Water Management Climate Change Adaptation toolkit for use by planners and developers on behalf of the Environment Agency and the South East Regional Assembly. The toolkit is available here.

Assessing current and future situation:
Assessing emissions and impacts

Guidance on the impacts of climate change on regional and local government

We developed guidance (with Land Use Consultants) on the impacts of climate change on regional and local government and agencies in the East of England for the East of England Regional Assembly. The Stage 1 report, which covers 'Guidance on Spatial Issues', looking at regional spatial adaptation responses is available here. The Stage 2 report provides 'Guidance for Local Service Provision' on adaptation responses for business, local authorities and other agencies. A summary report is available on the Sustainability East web site.

Evaluating the methodology to predict Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions

CAG was commissioned by the Scottish Executive to undertake an evaluation of the methodology used to predict Scotland's future greenhouse gas emissions. This work has helped support the production of the new Scottish Climate Change Programme.

Cross-regional research on climate change impacts and adaptation

We are currently working (with a consortium of consultancies) on two major research projects as part of the Cross-Regional Research Programme led by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra):

• Research study on Climate Change adaptation response for the new Growth Areas of South-East England: This will lead to guidance on the adaptation and mitigation response at a building and neighbourhood level.
• Research Study on Climate Change impacts on the Countryside and Rural Economy: looking at the impacts of climate change on rural communities across the UK (working in partnership with Land Use Consultants.

Information about these projects and other research as part of the Cross-Regional Research Programme can be found on the Defra website.

Developing guidance on strategic approaches to
climate change and sustainable energy

The Planning Response to Climate Change. Advice on Better Practice

We worked with Oxford Brookes University to prepare advice for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on the Planning Response to Climate Change which addressed the role of the planning system in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change. This project was commissioned by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Guidance on Strategic Environmental Assessment and Climate Change

We worked with Levett-Therivel Sustainability Consultants and the Environmental Change Institute to produce guidance for practitioners on how to take account of climate change within Strategic Environmental Assessment of plans and programmes. The guidance, which was sponsored by the Environment Agency, the Countryside Council for Wales, English Nature and produced in 2004 is available here. The guidance has now been updated to reflect new government information on SEA and climate change; and the findings of a review of how the original version was used (Kirwan, 2005). It complements the UK Practical Guide to the SEA Directive (ODPM et al. 2005). The updated guidance is available here.

Guidance on the role of community partnerships in sustainable energy issues

We worked with independent consultant Peter Capener to produce guidance on the role of community planning, community planning partnerships, neighbourhood renewal and the use of PSAs in promoting sustainable energy among local authorities in Scotland, England and Wales. It included case studies of good practice from across the UK. This guidance was commissioned by the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes and published by the Energy Saving Trust.

Preparing strategies and action plans

Bedfordshire County Council

In 2007, we worked with key decision makers within Bedfordshire County Council to develop a climate change mitigation and adaptation strategy and action plan for the Council's estates and services. We worked with ISAUK who measured the Council's carbon and climate footprints for estate and services, and undertook scenario work to explore the implications of future action on carbon savings. We hope to provide a link to this work in the near future.

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

In 2007, we facilitated a workshop for members of the Sefton Borough Partnership to discuss the potential for a Borough-wide approach to climate change.

Hampshire County Council

We undertook an audit of likely climate change impacts on the actions and programmes of Hampshire County Council. This included providing recommendations for the response of each department to climate change.

Cornwall Sustainable Energy Partnership

We worked with Cornwall Sustainable Energy Partnership and Cornwall County Council to develop the Cornwall Energy Strategy: Action Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow and in conjunction with LUC produced guidance on the siting and landscape impact of renewable energy technologies. The strategy document is available from CSEP's website.

Energy Saving Trust

We undertook research on the policy and regulatory framework for Housing Associations (HAs) and the ability of the EST to promote work on sustainable energy through HAs.

Fuel poverty and under-occupancy in private homes

Too Big to be Warm: Fuel Poverty and Under-Occupancy in Private Homes was prepared by CAG Consultants with Hugh Brown (formerly of BRE). This study examined the links between under-occupancy and fuel poverty amongst older people living in large private sector housing for the National Right to Fuel Campaign, and sponsored by the Eaga Charitable Trust. The final report and summary are available to download.

Energy Saving Trust

Prepared a report on the role of Local Strategic Partnerships, Neighbourhood Renewal and Public Service Agreements in promoting sustainable energy. This report included case studies of good practice from across the UK.

Energy Saving Trust

Undertook a significant research project on the benefits of Community Sustainable Energy Projects (CSEPS). The research included statistical analysis, focus groups and case studies of good practice. We have recently been commissioned by EST to disseminate the findings of this research to decision makers and to regional HECA fora.

Implementation: Evaluating approaches and projects

Evaluation of EST Local Authority Support Programme

We undertook an evaluation of the Energy Saving Trust's Local Authority Support Programme (LASP). For this we utilised phone interviews, questionnaires and focus groups to gain the views of Local Authority and LASP staff as to the effectiveness of the programme and the ways in which it could be improved.

Evaluation of the Councils for Climate Protection pilot programme

On behalf of the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) and Defra, we carried out an evaluation of the Councils for Climate Protection (CCP) pilot programme, an England and Wales network set up to support Local Authority action on climate change.

Review of benefits of Community Sustainable Energy Projects (CSEPS)

We undertook a significant research project on the benefits of Community Sustainable Energy Projects (CSEPS) for the Energy Saving Trust. The research included statistical analysis, focus groups and case studies of good practice. The full report and summary are available. We have since been commissioned by EST to disseminate the findings of this research to decision-makers and to HECA fora.

SNIFFER Review of Scottish Local Authority activities on climate change

In 2005, CAG Consultants surveyed all 32 Scottish Local Authorities about their response and activities to tackle climate change for SNIFFER. The research considered both mitigation and adaptation issues and looked at how Councils had integrated energy and climate issues into Community and Strategic Plans. The final report is available on the SNIFFER web site.

For more information contact:

Helen Chalmers
01691 828026
hc@cagconsult.co.uk

Tim Maiden
0191 224 1390
tm@cagconsult.co.uk

Alison Pilling
01226 350853
ap@cagconsult.co.uk