DRAFT Sustainability Appraisal Report for the Emerging Local Plan ...

Table 68 – ER06 Policy Context Summary
Strategic Context – Sources of relevant objectives and
goals
Local Plan Relevant
objectives and
comment
[ER06] Climate Change
International Policy: Convention on Climate Change and
Biological Diversity: Earth Summit, Kyoto Protocol on Climate
Change
European Policy: European Sustainable Development
Strategy, The Sixth Environment Action Programme, EU
Energy Efficiency Plan
UK Policy: UK National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, UK
Renewable Energy Strategy, UK National Renewable Energy
Action Plan, ABI The Vulnerability of UK Property to
Windstorm Damage, Energy White Paper, UK Carbon Plan
,UK Communication Strategy for Climate Change, White
Paper – Meeting the energy challenge, National Planning
Policy Framework
Regional Policy: Regional Sustainability Framework
Surrey Policy: Surrey Climate Change Strategy, Surrey
Strategic Partnership Plan, Surrey Transport Plan: Climate
Change Strategy
Local Policy: Runnymede Renewable Energy Interim Advice
Note
European Law: European Renewable Energy Directive,
European Cogeneration Directive, European Energy Services
Directive, , European Energy Performance of Buildings
Directive, European Landfill Directive
UK Law: Climate Change Act, Energy Act, Building
Regulations
Objective: Mitigating against the long-term
dangerous effect of climate change, and
implement measures to adapt to the impact of
‘locked-in’ change in next forty years.
Comment: Whilst the objective is at the heart of
the aspirations of the SCS, it does not appear to
have the same status in its Local Plan. The Local
Plan does seek to prevent development in areas
likely to flood (aligned to national policy) but it is
unclear how it will assist in improving the Council’s
response to emergencies such as flooding,
heating, cold and storminess. Indirect potentially
negative public health issues that will be
exacerbated in an ageing population will need to
be addressed, including enhancing potential
positive benefits such as increased tourism. In
addition, the Local Plan could have provided an
opportunity to deliver development in the flood
zone by which fund improved flood defences that
would counter some the potential impact on asset
values already in areas likely to flood.
International
Convention on Climate Change and Biological Diversity: Earth Summit (1992)
11.5 The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change came into force in 1994 and
requires developed countries to take measures aimed at returning emissions of greenhouse
gases (in particular carbon dioxide) to 1990 levels by 2000 and to provide assistance to
developing countries. The Convention set no mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions
for individual countries and contains no enforcement mechanisms. Instead, the treaty
provides for updates ("protocols") that would set mandatory emission limits.
Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change (1992)
11.6 Under the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, the UK government has agreed a legally binding
target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 % below the base year (1990) level over
the period 2008 – 2012. This target was reached: UK emissions were 22% lower in 2008 than
in the base year.
European Renewable Energy Directive (2009)
11.7 The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets a target for the UK to achieve 15% of its energy
consumption from renewable sources by 2020.
European Energy Efficiency Directive (2012)
This Directive establishes a common framework of measures for the promotion of energy
efficiency to ensure target of 20% improvement in the EU's energy efficiency is achieved. The
directive repeals the Cogeneration Directive (2004) and Energy Services Directive (2006).
European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2002)
Page | 144 Runnymede BC FINAL Sustainability Appraisal Report – Feb 2013