Tacking climate change across the East Midlands: Local Government Consultations




Attended the Climate Change Seminar in Nottingham on Wednesday 12th Dec.

At these consultation events, they welcomed views on the questions and issues raised in the consultation document "Towards a programme of action on climate change for the East Midlands" PDF, which are summarised on page 14. These are the links I have copied at the bottom of this post, for convenience. I think these are a fair resource in their own right.

They also say: Comments and views on issues not directly addressed in the questions will also be welcome. You / your organisation can also contribute views and comments in a number of ways.

1) By using the online consultation form at:  http://www.emra.gov.uk/climatechange

2) By making comments in writing to:

FREEPOST RRRB-XCAX-GCUB
East Midland Regional Assembly
Council Offices
Nottingham road
Melton Mobray
LE13 0UL

The formal consultation period closes at noon on Friday 21 December 2007

Responses to this consultation will inform the development of the East Midlands Climate
Change Programme of Action, which will be finalised and published by spring 2008.

*****

Press Release
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Government Office, East Midland (East Midlands)

(GOEM) Tacking climate change across the East Midlands

Events in 5 cities

The East Midlands is responsible for the equivalent of 47 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year and could see some of the most substantial climate changes in England over forthcoming decades. Regional action is important in translating national priorities and in catalysing and supporting action at the local level.

A consultation document Towards a Climate Change Programme of Action for the East Midlands was published on 16th October 2007 by East Midlands Regional Assembly and is open for consultation until 21st December. This document outlines some emerging priorities that have been determined by early discussions and reviews of evidence and existing plans. The aim is to test these through the consultation process, to identify any gaps and develop more detailed action proposals. The Programme of Action itself will be drawn up in the light of this consultation and launched in early 2008.

Contributions to this regional debate on climate change are welcome from all interested organisations and individuals. Comments can be sent via the details below, or made in person at one of the consultation events.

Regional Partners Government Office for the East Midlands, Environment Agency, East Midlands Regional Assembly and East Midlands Development Agency have organised ten sessions in five different locations around the region. Each session lasts up to three hours at different times of the day, starting or finishing with lunch/tea to enable networking. These will be workshop style events with lots of time for discussion and interaction and are co-hosted with local climate change groups and partnerships.

Fri 7th December Northampton Park Inn, 10-1pm and 2-5pm
Mon 10th December Derby CVS, 10-1pm and 2-5pm
Tues 11th December Lincoln Drill Hall, 10-1pm and 2-5pm
Wed 12th December Nottingham GOEM offices, 2-5pm and Mechanics 7-9.30pm
Thur 13th December Leicester City Rooms, 10-1pm and 2-5pm

People from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors are welcome to attend and participate in the debate, especially if you are involved in regional activities in some way.

If you want to take part please email  climatechange@emra.gov.uk to reserve a place. Please identify which session you wish to attend and whether you would like lunch (or tea for the evening session). You will be sent confirmation of the date, time, venue and directions accordingly. All details are online at this address for reference:  http://www.emra.gov.uk/climatechange.

If you have any other questions about the events, please call 01664 502582.

Mike Peverill, Regional Climate Change Co-ordinator said "We are looking forward to a week of intense debate about one of the most challenging issues of our time. I hope that you will come and see what the partnership is doing and add your ideas as well."

Further background information is available at the web address above, including the consultation document which can be downloaded directly here:
 http://www.emra.gov.uk/files/towards-ccpoa-consultation2.pdf

If you can't get to an event, but would like to have your say, please email  climatechange@emra.gov.uk or use the online form at  http://www.emra.gov.uk/climatechange.
which also has some prompt questions. Alternatively, contributions can be sent in the post to this address (no stamp is required).

FREEPOST RRRB-XCAX-GCUB
East Midlands Regional Assembly
Council Offices
Nottingham Road
Melton Mowbray, LE13 0UL

For any further questions relating to the consultation process please call 07795 060 941.

Notes to Editors

The Assembly

1 The East Midlands Regional Assembly is one of eight in England outside of London. It was launched in 1999 and comprises 111 Members, with 2/3 being representatives of all the regions Local Authorities including the Peak National Park, and 1/3 nominations from the wider social, environmental and business community.

2 The Regional Assembly has three main roles:
Scrutiny of the East Midlands Development Agency (emda)
Co-ordination and integration of regional policies
Acting as the regional planning and housing body

3 The Regional Assembly has three Regional Boards that focus on key issues of East Midlands' life: Regional Scrutiny Board; Regional Housing, Planning & Transport Joint Board and Regional Communities and Policy Board. These boards are supported by the Housing, Environment, Transport, Public Health and Promoting Sustainable Development groups.

MEDIA INFORMATION FROM
Jon Whowell, Policy Advisor Communications East Midlands Regional Assembly
Tel 01664 502 551, Mobile 07887 635749, E-mail  jon.whowell@emra.gov.uk
Website  http://www.emra.gov.uk


‘A flourishing region’ Regional Economic Strategy for the East Midlands 2006-2020 (2006), East Midlands Development
Agency  http://www.emda.org.uk/res/
A Local Climate Impacts Profile (CLIP) for your Community (2007), UK Climate Impacts Programme
 http://www.oursouthwest.com/climate/archive/local-climate-impacts-profile-ukcip-2007.pdf
Adapting to climate change in Europe- options for EU Action (2007), European Commission
 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52007DC0354:EN:NOT
Adapting to Climate Change: A Case Study Companion to the Checklist for Development (2007), London Climate Change
Partnership, Southeast Climate Change Partnership, Sustainable Development Round Table for the East of England
 http://www.london.gov.uk/climatechangepartnership/adapting-mar07.jsp
Draft Climate Change Bill (2007), HM Government  http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm70/7040/7040.asp
Draft East Midlands Regional Plan (2006), East Midlands Regional Assembly  http://www.emra.gov.uk/files/file1018.pdf
Draft Planning Policy Statement: Planning and Climate Change (2006), Communities and Local Government
 http://www.communities.gov.uk/archived/publications/planningandbuilding/consultationplanningpolicy
East Midlands Regional Affordable Warmth Action Plan (2006), Department of Health, East Midlands Development
Agency, East Midlands Public Health Observatory National Energy Action, East Midlands Regional Assembly,
Government Office for the East Midlands, NHS  http://www.nea.org.uk/downloads/operations/action_plan.pdf
East Midlands Regional Waste Strategy (2006), East Midlands Regional Assembly
 http://www.emra.gov.uk/publications/housing-planning-and-transport/waste/the-east-midlands-regional-waste-strategy
East Midlands State of the Region Report for 2006 (2005), East Midlands Regional Assembly
 http://www.emra.gov.uk/files/state_of_the_region_report_2007.pdf
EMRAF Rural Action Plan 2007-2013 (2007), East Midlands Rural Affairs Forum  http://www.ruralaffairs.org.uk/rap/
Energy White Paper 2007 (2007), Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
 http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/whitepaper/page39534.html
Making Space for Water (2005), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/strategy.htm
Planning for a Sustainable Future: White Paper (2007), HM Government
 http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/planningsustainablefuture
Planning Policy Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk (2007), Communities and Local Government,
 http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/pps25floodrisk
Putting Wildlife Back on the Map: A Biodiversity Strategy for the East Midlands (2006), East Midlands Biodiversity Forum,
East Midlands Regional Assembly, English Nature  http://www.emra.gov.uk/publications/documents/EMRBS-May2006.pdf
Regional Environment Strategy (2003), East Midlands Regional Assembly
 http://www.emra.gov.uk/publications/regional-communities-policy/environment
Smarter Choices brochure (2006), East Midlands Regional Assembly
 http://www.emra.gov.uk/what-we-do/housing-planning-transport/smarter-choices2
Tackling Climate Change in the Regions (2007), Regional Development Agencies
 http://www.englandsrdas.com/filestore/pdf/107639%20RDA%20Leaflet.pdf
The East Midlands Energy Challenge. Part 1: The Regional Energy Strategy (2004)
 http://www.emra.gov.uk/files/energy-strategy-part1.pdf
The East Midlands Energy Challenge. Part 2: Framework for Action (2007)
 http://www.emra.gov.uk/files/energy-strategy-part2.pdf
Waste Strategy for England (2007), Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/

____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email:  tash@indymedia.org
Web:  http://tinyurl.com/2gf3mf
Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
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"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
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