We are presented with a huge challenge. It is now clear that our activities are having an impact worldwide. We have a responsibility in Suffolk both to reduce our emissions of greenhouses gases and to play our part in ensuring we are resilient to the impacts of the changes to come.
The Suffolk Climate Change Partnership comprises all of Suffolk’s Local Authorities as well as a number of other local organisations. Together, we have written and published the Suffolk Climate Action Plan– the first of many steps in planning how to meet and respond to the challenges of climate change. It will mean many organisations and communities working together in Suffolk, a county which already has a fine tradition of genuine partnerships.
Please download a copy of the booklet here. For hard copies of the plan to or to find out more infomation, contact the Climate Change Partnership Manager, David Walton on 01473 264842/01284 758507or e-mail david.walton@suffolk.gov.uk .
Mitigation – reducing our greenhouse gas emissions
The UK’s emissions of greenhouse gases need to reduce by a minimum of 80% by 2050, in order to play our part in slowing global and local climate change (UK Climate Change Act, 2008). As a first step towards this, we have committed in Suffolk to a 60% reduction by 2025, against a 2004 baseline.
Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases touches every part of how we live and work – from better manufacturing processes and more energy-efficient buildings, to increasing the amount of local food we buy, using public transport, recycling and home insulation. It also means establishing targets for the amount of energy that we use from low-carbon sources such as wind, biomass and solar energy.
Suffolk has abundant potential for renewable energy, and is already home to the UK’s largest offshore wind farm project at Greater Gabbard. As well as this, the OrbisEnergy centre at Lowestoft is leading the way in developing new renewable technology. Increasing our renewable energy resources is a key element of our aim to create the greenest county and encourage the development of the low-carbon economy in Suffolk.
We all need to play our part.
Adaptation – building resilience to climate change
Climate change has serious implications for everyone as shown by recent extreme weather events in the UK and we need to be better prepared for the future. For communities it is about taking action to become more resilient to the consequences of a changing climate. For local authorities this challenge is set against the need to continue to provide high quality services across the county. For businesses it is to ensure that economic sustainability and security of supply chains are maintained.
The UK Climate Projections 09 study, launched in June 2009, warned us that summer rainfall will very likely decrease over time in the East of England, a region already suffering from pressure on water resources as its population grows.
The rate of sea level rise is expected to increase, making significant coastal flooding ever more likely and increasing erosion rates along our coast.
Heat waves such as the one in 2003 are projected to increase in frequency and severity as time progresses, so we will need to make adjustments to the way we live and work in the summer in order to make better use of natural ventilation and shade.
Heavy winter rainfall events are also expected to increase in frequency and severity over the coming years, so the risk of serious flooding events will increase over time; communities will need to be mindful of their more vulnerable properties, and our Local Authorities will need to be better prepared to support communities which are affected.
We will all need to be ready.
Suffolk Climate Change Partnership Team.
If you would like to know how our plans are progressing in Suffolk, please call the Climate Change Partnership Manager on 01473 264842/01284 758507or e-mail david.walton@suffolk.gov.uk.
If you represent a community group and want to know how we can support you with talks and to find grants for projects you may wish to complete, our Communities Advisor may be able to help.
If you are a small or medium-sized enterprise and would like to know how we can help you reduce your resource use and costs, why not get in touch with our Environmental Business Advisor service?
If you would like information on energy reduction measures you can take, please call our Climate & Energy Helpline on 0800 02 88 938.
