UK Climate Change Programme 2006 - JNCC - Defra

154
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland and UK greenhouse gas emissions by sector in 2003
Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions (MtC) 1 % Change Northern Ireland as
1990 2003 1990-2003 % of UK 2 (2003)
Business 0.46 0.60 +30 2
Waste Management 0.10 0.06 -44 2
Industrial Process 0.20 0.05 -75 1
Transport 0.94 1.28 +36 4
Residential 1.14 0.90 -20 4
Energy Supply 1.51 1.39 -8 2
Agriculture 1.38 1.35 -3 11
Land Use Change Emission 0.32 0.27 -16 7
Public 0.08 0.04 -55 1
Total Emissions 6.14 5.94 -3.4 3
Land Use Change 3 : Removal** -0.22 -0.22 2 5
Total Net Emissions 5.92 5.71 -3.5 3
Notes:
1 Base year and 2003 emission figures taken from the Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 1990-2003 (Baggott et
al., 2005). The emissions estimates for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland inventories are subject to greater uncertainty than the consolidated UK estimates.
2 UK figures exclude unallocated emissions. This affects energy supply and transport (where emissions due to military transport, fishing and domestic aviation
are unallocated).
3 Land use change removals is a sink and, therefore, removes carbon. Thus, the percentage change between 1990 and 2003 (in column 3) has therefore been
shown as a positive to reflect the fact that the capacity of the sink has increased.
will incorporate a risk assessment and will
recommend adaptation strategies for the key
impacts. This work is due to be completed by the
end of 2006 and its results will help to inform
Northern Ireland’s input to the UK Adaptation
Policy Framework.
6. The DOE’s Environment and Heritage Service
maintains a database on 13 indicators of climate
change including rainfall, temperature, and the
responsive behaviour of birds and insects.
A report on Climate Change Indicators for
Northern Ireland 17 published in 2004, indicated
that since 1840, nine of the fifteen warmest
years recorded have occurred since 1990. It also
pointed to evidence of:
• average temperatures increasing;
• an increase in the growing season;
• number of snow days decreasing; and
• swallows and butterflies being sighted
progressively earlier.
7. The database will be updated annually and will
form the basis of ongoing monitoring of climate
change impacts in Northern Ireland.
8. To promote awareness of climate change, the
Environment and Heritage Service issued a
guidance booklet 18 for public bodies on climate
change impacts in Northern Ireland, with
information on how climate change will impact
across sectors and on the delivery of key public
services. It includes checklists for public
authorities in assessing their vulnerability to
climate change.
9. DOE’s Planning Service recently completed a
public consultation on a draft Planning Policy
Statement (PPS15) on Planning & Flood Risk.
PPS15 seeks to reduce flood risks to people,
property and the environment and adopts a
precautionary approach to decision-making,
taking account of climate change and
acknowledging the wider sustainability objectives
of the Northern Ireland Administration.
Publication of the final PPS is anticipated by
April 2006.
17www.ehsni.gov.uk/pubs/publications/ccicover2.pdf
18A summary of the possible impacts can be found at: http://www.ehsni.gov.uk/pubs/publications/guidanceweb.pdf