Sustainable Community Strategy - Coventry Partnership

10. Improving Coventryʼs environment and tackling climate change - Our Plans
10a Long-term outcomes
• Coventryʼs carbon footprint will have reduced
• Coventry will be making more sustainable use of natural resources - less energy and water will be used,
less waste and pollution will be produced, more waste will be recycled
• Coventry will be better prepared for the impacts of climate change
10b Short-term priorities
• Reduce the carbon dioxide emissions produced by Coventry City Council and the wider community,
supported by robust systems of measuring, managing and monitoring – learn from this and disseminate
good practice across the Coventry Partnership
• Improve understanding and awareness among local people of how they can adopt more sustainable
lifestyles through education, advice and support
• Proactively encourage individuals and organisations to adopt behaviours that will minimise their impact
on climate change, and provide specific guidance to help them to do so
• “Climate-proof” Coventryʼs key strategies and plans
• Develop and start to implement the cityʼs Climate Change Strategy
• Develop and start to implement the cityʼs Waste Strategy
10c Some indicators we will use to help us measure success
In addition to the indicators identified under the other themes indicators could include: reduction of CO2
from local authority operations; per capita level of CO2 emissions; adapting to climate change; residual
household waste per head; household waste recycled and composted; municipal land filled; level of air
quality; improved biodiversity - active management of local sites.
10d Opportunities and challenges of growth
The future growth of the city needs to plan for climate change and ensure that sustainable growth is
achieved. We should plan new developments of jobs and homes to minimise commuting and build low or
zero carbon homes. We must provide healthy, attractive and safe environments (including parks and open
spaces) that encourage people to adopt healthy, sustainable lifestyles and provide quality public transport
and better facilities for walking and cycling to reduce the use of cars.
Mitigation against climate change needs to include landscape features that will absorb sudden peak flows
in watercourses and flooding.
There are a number of business opportunities from developing a response to climate change and the
application of new technologies including energy efficiency. Working with Coventryʼs two universities we
should look to encourage the development and application of new technological solutions, sustainable
production methods and the business opportunities these might provide.
10e Equality of opportunity, community cohesion and neighbourhoods
As explained in the Equality of Opportunity and Community Cohesion theme, vulnerable communities are
likely to be most affected by the impact of climate change. High-density developments are most likely to be
prone to a heat island effect. It will be important to involve local communities in addressing issues in their
neighbourhoods and in developing local responses to tackle and adapt to climate change.
10f Climate change
Already encompassed by the above.
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