Rugby Net Zero

Adapting to Climate Change

2024-10-28T15:28:14Z

Cllr Alison Livesey, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for Operations and Traded Services, discusses the need for climate adaptation.

"As climate change accelerates, communities are faced with the pressing need to adapt. For Rugby, a borough rich in history and natural beauty, the importance of climate adaptation cannot be overstated.

"Here’s why embracing this challenge is crucial for the future of Rugby and its residents."

1. Protecting local infrastructure

Rugby has a range of essential infrastructure, from roads and bridges to schools, the college and the hospital. Extreme weather events—such as heavy rainfall, flooding, and heatwaves—pose significant risks to these structures. By working with partners to encourage investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, we can safeguard our assets, ensuring that they withstand the impacts of climate change. This not only protects residents but also reduces the long-term costs associated with repairs and maintenance. The Borough Council is already taking steps to decarbonise its buildings and housing stock.

2. Safeguarding natural landscapes

The green spaces in Rugby, including parks, rivers, open spaces and woodlands, are vital for biodiversity and the well-being of the community. Climate change threatens these ecosystems through altered rainfall and increased temperatures. Adaptation strategies, such as habitat restoration and the creation of green corridors, can help preserve these natural landscapes, supporting wildlife and enhancing the quality of life for residents.

3. Enhancing public health

A changing climate can lead to a rise in health issues, from heat-related illnesses to respiratory problems exacerbated by poor air quality. For Rugby, adapting to climate change involves not only mitigating these risks but also promoting healthier lifestyles. Initiatives such as expanding cycling infrastructure, improving public transport, and increasing access to green spaces can enhance public health while also reducing carbon footprints.

4. Supporting local economy

Rugby’s economy is diverse, with sectors ranging from manufacturing to retail. However, climate change can disrupt local businesses through supply chain issues and changing consumer preferences. By fostering a resilient economy that embraces sustainable practices, Rugby can attract new investments and create jobs in green industries. This proactive approach will position the borough as a leader in sustainability, ultimately benefiting its economic landscape.

5. Fostering community engagement

Adaptation to climate change is not solely the responsibility of local government; it requires community involvement. Engaging residents in discussions about climate resilience can foster a sense of ownership and responsibility. Initiatives like community gardens, tree-planting days, and educational programs can empower citizens, encouraging them to take active roles in creating a more sustainable Rugby. Our World Café event on 9th November at the Benn Hall is the first step in our conversation with residents about how our borough should adapt to the challenges presented by climate change. Sign up here https://tinyurl.com/38k6j7j5

6. Mitigating future risks

Investing in adaptation today can significantly reduce the risks and costs associated with future climate-related disasters. By developing comprehensive plans that address potential climate impacts, Rugby can ensure a more secure future for its residents. This forward-thinking approach not only protects lives and property but also enhances the borough’s overall resilience.

Conclusion

The challenges posed by climate change are real and immediate, but they also present an opportunity for Rugby to innovate and lead. By prioritising adaptation strategies, the borough can protect its infrastructure, safeguard natural landscapes, enhance public health, support the local economy, engage its community, and mitigate future risks. Embracing this imperative will not only ensure a sustainable future for Rugby but also set a positive example for other communities facing similar challenges. Together, we can build a resilient Rugby ready to thrive in a changing world.

Residents can find out more about climate adaptation at the World Café Event taking place from 10am to 2pm on Saturday 9 November at the BENN Hall, Rugby. Book your place.

Rugby Borough Council and Garden Organic team up with local volunteers to protect nature

2024-10-28T15:12:12Z

The partnership will provide support to volunteer Community Champions, who will offer training and advice to residents around growing their own food, composting, preventing waste and using natural methods to promote healthy, productive and sustainable gardens and green spaces.

During the 11-month project, Rugby Borough Council, Garden Organic and residents will work together to nurture land, inspire growing and greenspace activities, embed sustainability in gardening practices, and impact positively on biodiversity.

Through its research, campaigning, community and conservation work Garden Organic, based at Ryton Gardens near Coventry, promotes organic growing, composting and citizen science to help people cultivate healthier, biodiverse and sustainable growing spaces.

Commenting on the project’s importance, Garden Organic’s CEO Fiona Taylor said: “Organic gardening and composting are two of the most positive actions we can all take in helping nature to recover.

"Our volunteers are central to showing people how to get started. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and they take part in training people up in gardening and composting skills. The idea is to equip people with straightforward ways they can recycle their garden and kitchen waste, while also advising them on how to garden in the very best way to boost biodiversity.

"Partnership working is the best way to reach our local communities and, as a local organisation, we’re delighted to be doing so with our own borough council in Rugby.

Cllr Maggie O’Rourke, Portfolio Holder for Partnerships and Welling said: “I am really excited for this partnership, to engage with volunteers and residents. This is timely as we see Rugby move forward in its Climate Strategy, progressing work in climate adaptation in which biodiversity is an important feature.

“Engagement with residents, parishes, and communities is crucial to deliver meaningful change at a local level. The Council must work effectively with third sector organisations like Garden Organic as equal partners, in aligning our shared priorities to deliver joint action, for the borough to continue to thrive.”

Cllr Neil Sandison, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Partnerships and Wellbeing said: "I very much welcome this initiative from Garden Organic in the borough, as volunteers can make a real difference in the community.

"Championing gardens and open spaces can help make Rugby a more biodiverse and greener place to live."

To find out more about Garden Organic or support its work by becoming a member visit: www.gardenorganic.org.uk

For information on the partnership, and to get involved, email: rugby@gardenorganic.org.uk

Countryfile's Tom Heap talks climate change at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum

2024-10-28T15:11:32Z

The journalist, author and television presenter holds an 'In conversation with' event at the Little Elborow Street venue on Saturday 9 November to talk about the issues raised by A World of Fire and Ice, artist Gina Glover's exhibition which explores humans' relationship with energy and how it impacts the natural world.

Glover and regular collaborator, author and researcher Geof Rayner, join Heap for a panel discussion on the issues raised by the exhibition and the broader challenges the world faces in order to combat climate change.

Tom Heap has reported on science and the environment for a quarter of a century, reporting for BBC One's Countryfile and presenting Radio Four's Rare Earth and the Climate Show on Sky.

His books include 39 Ways To Save The Planet and this year's Land Smart - How To Give People And Nature The Space To Thrive, which explores how farmers, scientists and conservationists have stepped up to face the challenges of climate change.

A World of Fire and Ice opened at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum in September and features landscape photography, sculptures and 'camera-less' photographs.

The exhibition takes visitors on a journey from the deep past to the far future, with a focus on the urgent climate challenges the planet now faces.

From melting ice caps to fossil fuels, A World of Fire and Ice aims to create a mix of emotions - to think, to be concerned and, most importantly, to believe in the power of working together to combat climate change.

Katie Boyce, Rugby Art Gallery and Museum's senior exhibitions and programming officer, said: "A World of Fire and Ice aims to generate discussion about the human relationship with our planet and the role we have played in climate change through reliance on fossil fuels.

"So, it's a fitting end to the exhibition to welcome Tom Heap, a prominent and respected voice in the climate change debate, to discuss the issue with Gina and Geof, and answer questions from the audience."

The 'In conversation with' event takes place from 4.30pm to 5.30pm, with a drink reception for ticket holders taking place from 4pm.

Tickets, priced £3 for adults (under 18s free), can be booked online at www.ragm.co.uk/gina-glover

Cllr Maggie O'Rourke, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for partnerships and wellbeing, said: "While the Gina Glover exhibition delivers a stark message on climate change, it also offers hope we can work together to overcome the challenges and protect the planet for future generations.

"Finding solutions to the climate challenges we face has been the focus of Tom Heap's recent books, so this talk should be a fascinating and informative event for anyone who cares about our environment."

Cllr Neil Sandison, Rugby Borough Council's Liberal Democrat spokesperson for partnerships and wellbeing, added: "The conversation with Tom Heap complements the World of Fire and Ice exhibition which so many visitors found illuminating.

"The climate emergency affects us all and any contribution to the debate which helps to develop policy going forward should be welcomed."

A World of Fire and Ice closes on Saturday 9 November.

For more information about exhibitions and events at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, visit www.ragm.co.uk

Have your say on climate change

2024-10-28T15:10:35Z

IN a first for Rugby, the borough council will be holding a Climate Adaptation World Café Event on 9 November.

Residents will be able to engage directly with the council’s draft climate change adaptation plan and will have a chance to express their views on the proposals and make suggestions.

John Slinger MP and Mary Creagh MP, the Minister for Nature, will address this free event, which will be held at the Benn Hall on 9 November from 10am to 2pm.

It will be in the format of a World Café engagement, and there will also be a marketplace for partner organisations to inform participants of what they do locally and opportunities to get involved. Organisations already signed up to attend include: Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WWT), Garden Organic, Rugby Eco Hub and Rugby Borough Council’s waste management team.

The key output from the event will be a report reflecting the views and opinions expressed on the day. This will be used to inform the council’s work in relation to climate adaptation.

The climate adaptation action plan will be the first practical step to address climate change on a borough wide basis. Until now the actions taken have tended to focus on developing policy and taking action within the council’s remit, such as energy efficiency measures in council housing.

Speaking about the event, Cllr Alison Livesey, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for operations and traded services, said: “I am really excited that, for the first time, Rugby Borough Council will be engaging residents in a different way. Together we’ll explore how we as a borough adapt to climate change and involve residents directly in a conversation about this hugely important topic.

“Participants will engage with a series of questions about the possible impacts of climate change on the borough and how we should adapt. The outputs of the event will directly influence the final version of our adaptation plan, so this is a real opportunity to influence council policy. It is wonderful to have Mary Creagh MP, the Minister for Nature, address the event, which underlines what an important step forward the event is for Rugby Borough Council.”

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, Rugby Borough Council's Liberal Democrat group leader, said: "Are you concerned about the changing climate? The weather is changing, we can all see it - more storms, heavy rain. The opportunity at this event is for us to work together and feed into the Borough's adaptation plan which will be used in the coming months. It is a great opportunity, so please come along."

Dan Green, deputy chief executive of Rugby Borough Council, said: “In Rugby, extreme weather events are already being experienced by our communities and they are predicted to become more frequent.

"Residents of the borough have seen first hand the devastation caused by climate change impacts, such as flooding.

"We can no longer talk about climate change as a problem for tomorrow - it is a reality today.

“We must take urgent action to ensure the borough's residents, businesses and communities can continue to thrive.

"We invite all to attend this important event and have their say on the actions we take to adapt to climate change.”

To sign up or find out more, residents can go to: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rugby-borough-councils-climate-adaptation-world-cafe-event-tickets-1031020759847

Free tree saplings

2024-02-15T12:23:17Z

As a result of programme changes along the whole line of HS2, HS2 and their contractor Belfour Beatty Vinci, now have a surplus of different species and quantities of tree saplings available to communities.

These saplings are available to all community and voluntary organisations, including parish councils and charities.

These have become available as nurseries who grow the saplings do so based on an estimate demand for what will be needed in 3 years. The estimation is now different from 3 years ago meaning there is a surplus.

Details of the species available can be found in the Excel document here - Tree saplings for communities (5.61 MB) - the height on the sheet reflects the sapling height, not the fully grown height of the tree.

Requirements, including species and quantities will need to be made via the form, by the end of February with a delivery address and contact details It is anticipated that delivery will be during March. Please send completed forms to communityinvestment@balfourbeattyvinci.com.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust

2024-02-19T14:22:34Z

Join Warwickshire Wildlife Trust for a cuppa and cake on Tuesday 5th March 10:30 - 12:30 at the Benn Hall, Newbold Rd, Rugby, CV21 2LN and find out more about #TeamWilder.

This will be a great opportunity to meet others taking action for nature in Rugby, share your aspirations and concerns for nature in your local patch and let them know what support you might need to take action.

Please book on here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rugbys-green-conversations-tickets-807649008927 to make sure they have enough cake!

If you are unable to make the session but keen to find out more, please email amanda.evans@wkwt.org.uk.

Wrapping Up Waste this Christmas:

2023-12-04T13:59:30Z

Many of us will be looking forward to a Christmas filled with great food and exchanging gifts with family and friends. But the good times also mean the amount of waste produced typically increases by around a third over this period – that’s around 3 million tonnes extra across the UK.

However, with a little extra planning it’s easy to reduce your festive debris, and you could save some money or help someone less fortunate at the same time.

Gift wrapping. Please ensure wrapping paper goes into your recycling bin, UNLESS it has glitter or other plastic bits stuck to it. Ideally these types of wrapping should be avoided as they cannot be recycled.

To reduce your waste more, why not consider gift wrapping in fabric? It looks beautiful, is quicker and less messy than paper and sticky tape and can be reused over and over again.

Food Waste. Many of us stock up on food over the holidays, but this often leads to lots more being thrown away. Food waste should ideally go in your green bin or on your compost heap if you have one. It should never go in your blue recycling bin. You can put food waste in your black bin, but we should all avoid this as much as possible due to its negative environmental impact.

Food waste can be avoided with simple actions such as planning your food shop, checking your fridge to see what needs eating, and saving leftovers by putting them in the fridge or freezer. Think turkey sandwiches and turkey stew, check www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for lots of ideas.

Alternatively, Olio is a widely used app which lets you share unwanted food for free. Put a post up when you have too much food, or take someone else’s food if you don’t have enough.

Tree Recycling. Real or plastic? The debate rages on, but from an environmental and waste perspective the instructions are straightforward.

Real trees have the benefit that they will fully biodegrade in time. We will only collect Christmas trees that are cut into pieces 15cm (6”) or smaller and placed in your green bin. We will not accept trees or other items left by the side of your bins. Please ensure all decorations and lights have been removed. You can also bring whole trees to the recycling centre on Hunters Lane.

This year you can also sign up for the Pass The Smile charity Christmas tree collection, who will collect your tree from your doorstep. Read more and register your tree before January 8th https://just-helping.org.uk/collections/west-midlands-warwickshire-pass-the-smile-for-ben-myton-hospice-d/. Pass The Smile would also love to hear from anyone interested in volunteering for this wonderful cause.

Artificial trees have the benefit that they can be used for many years, although eventually they must be disposed of. Unfortunately these cannot be recycled and so must go in your black bin, or if it doesn’t fit then take it to the recycling centre on Hunters Lane.

Electrical waste and batteries. You treated the family to a new TV so you can finally watch Christmas TV in glorious 4K, but what to do with the old one? Please, do not put waste electricals in any of your household bins. While they cannot be recycled with your household waste, they still contain precious materials that should be reused.

If your old electricals still work, you could generate some cash by selling to a local dealer, or through an online platform. If they are beyond repair, please take them to the recycling centre on Hunters Lane.

It is even more important to avoid putting any batteries in your bins, as these can and do cause fires. Many supermarkets now accept batteries, or you can bring them to Hunters Lane.

Are you ready for the single-use plastic ban?

2023-09-27T09:10:48Z

We want to ensure that retailers, suppliers and manufacturers are aware of the changes coming into effect, when they will be required to make them and why the ban is coming into force. 

The upcoming ban includes polystyrene cups and food containers, single-use plastic cutlery and single-use balloon sticks. There will also be a restriction to the supply of single-use plastic trays and bowls to members of the public, although businesses can continue to supply these items if they are used as packaging in shelf-ready pre-packaged food items.

How to prepare for the single-use plastics ban:

Businesses will need to use up existing stock and find alternative substitutes or reuse solutions by 1 October 2023.

This ban compliments the existing restrictions on other single-use plastic items including plastic straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers and the carrier bag charge.

Why the government is banning single-use plastics

The government is committed to tackling plastic pollution and littering and to reduce avoidable waste. Single-use plastics have damaging environmental impacts as they are commonly littered and are difficult to recycle. These impacts need to be managed so that we can protect our environment. 

Damaging environmental impacts: Plastic pollution takes hundreds of years to break down and inflicts serious damage to the environment. It is also a source of greenhouse gas emissions, from the production and manufacture of the plastic itself to the way it is disposed of.

Unnecessary littering: England uses around 2.7 billion items of single-use cutlery — most of which are plastic — and 721 million single-use plates per year, but only 10% are recycled.

Enforcement

If the rules are not complied with, a range of enforcement options have been provided, including both civil and criminal sanctions. The bans will be enforced by Trading Standards.

More information

Reducing our plastic use

2023-09-11T13:39:58Z

By Alex Becker, Waste Services Development Officer

Plastic is a great example of a double-edged sword; incredibly helpful in so many ways, yet also causing so many difficulties.

It’s a miracle material in many ways: cheap, lightweight, can be made tough, soft, flexible, see-through or any colour, water-proof and non-toxic! Imagine a world without plastic and we have to think back to the world of more than a hundred years ago, where things had to be made from natural materials such as wood, metal, stone or clay. Many modern conveniences that we take for granted would be impossible to mass-produce, and fresh food would go off much faster with less effective packaging.

However, its some of these same miracle properties which also mean plastic is such a huge problem today. Its so cheap that most of us don’t give a second thought to using it once and throwing it away. But we really should think again, because due to its incredibly durable nature, it definitely doesn’t just go away; in fact, if left to natural causes, plastic persists for hundreds of years. And even then it doesn’t really go away, instead breaking into smaller and smaller pieces called ‘micro-plastics’, which eventually become small enough to get into our food, and eventually, into us.

Its clear that, in order to enjoy many of the things which we take for granted, we can’t just get rid of plastics. The key is to ensure that they don’t get into the environment.

Avoid single-use plastic wherever possible.

Here's three tips to help reduce the amount of plastics that you buy.

When you go shopping, consider the amount of packaging on all your purchases. Fresh fruit and vegetables can be found in the marketplace on market days with minimal packaging. Rugby Unwrapped in the town centre is a dedicated packaging free shop.
Be prepared and bring your own. If you are going shopping, bring bags. If you plan to get take-away food or drinks, consider bringing a reusable cup and containers for food.
Shop local if you can – not only does this result in less packaging used in delivery, it also reduces road and air miles and keeps wealth in the community.

For more advice and information about reducing your waste and recycling responsibly, please visit our pages at www.rugby.gov.uk/recycling.

Further information:

Recycling for Great Big Green Week

2023-06-16T09:29:46Z

Each week, early in the morning, you drag your bin out to the kerb. Later that day you bring it in again, empty. It's one of life’s little routines that we take for granted. But how often do we stop and think about our waste?

Mission to top the league

I joined Rugby Borough Council in April with a mission to increase Rugby’s recycling: since 2016 our recycling rate has dropped and is now around 43 per cent. Looking around at our neighbours in Warwickshire, we’re roughly mid-table, some are worse, but some are much better.

Call me crazy, but I love this town that has been my home for 18 years, so I’m making it my personal mission to get us to the top of the league, and one of the first things we’ll be doing is tackling the so-called problem of ‘wishcycling’.

Wishcycling?

This slightly confusing term has been in the news recently, and it means “the act of placing items into the recycling bin in the hopes they will be recycled”, which I expect all of us have done at one time or another.

There are many things which stop us from recycling correctly, but from what I have seen the main problem is simple – we’re just not sure about it. The vast majority of our bins are full of correctly separated recycling – but with small mistakes: mostly plastic bags and food waste.

A spanner in the recycling works

Let’s get technical for a minute and understand what happens after your friendly bin man or lady takes away your blue-bin waste.

Assuming our crews are happy that your bin has no obvious signs of contamination (yes they do check!), your waste comes to our depot on Hunters Lane. It is then whisked away to the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) about 15 miles away near Leicester. Here, complex machinery allows your waste to be quickly sorted into various different streams – aluminium, paper, different types of plastics, etc – following which they can then be treated ready to be recycled into brand new materials.

Issues with contamination come from the effect on the machinery. To give a few examples:

plastic bags get caught up in the moving parts;
food waste is difficult to separate. It gets into the final product and reduces the quality, making it less usable;
wet paper and card become sticky and clog up the machinery;
batteries can catch fire (this is becoming much more of a problem with the rise in disposable vapes).

Small steps, big change

By making a few small changes to our habits, we will start to see effects rippling through. At Rugby Borough Council, we will be doing our part by making it clearer what can and can’t be recycled, with better information coming to our website, and I will personally be going out into the Rugby’s communities. If you are a school or group and would like a visit or talk from me, please get in touch.

I’m really encouraged to see how many of our residents care deeply about recycling and the environment in general – you only have to look at amazing groups like Rugby Litter Busters and Rugby Repair Café (find them on Facebook if you’ve not come across them before).

But if you take one action away from Great Big Green Week 2023, I would ask you to simply take 5 minutes to check our website www.rugby.gov.uk/recycling and make sure you know What Goes in Which Bin.

The Environmental Improvement Plan (2023) for England

2023-03-17T09:00:54Z

The Environmental Improvement Plan (2023) for England

Following on from our recent article relating to the government’s net zero review, this blog focusses on the latest publication from government.

The 25 Year Environment Plan was published in 2018 and set out ten environmental goals to help natures recovery. These included delivering clean air and water, enhancing biodiversity, reducing the risk of harm from environmental hazards and enhancing natural environment.

Government committed to refreshing the 25 year plan every five years and the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), published in January this year, marks that first review.

UK Government - 25 Year Improvement Plan (2018)

The EIP identifies an ‘apex goal’ of improving nature by halting the decline in our biodiversity so we can achieve thriving plants and wildlife.

To deliver this goal, government commits to:

Launching a Species Survival Fund to create, enhance and restore habitats.
Creating, restoring, and extending areas for wildlife through projects including new National Nature Reserves, and the next rounds of the Landscape Recovery Projects.
Protecting 30% of our land and sea for nature through the Nature Recovery Network and enhanced protections for our marine protected areas.
Implementing the Environment Act 2021, including rolling out Local Nature Recovery Strategies to identify areas to create and restore habitat, and Biodiversity Net Gain to enhance the built environment.
Supporting a transformation in the management of the countryside by incentivising farmers to adopt nature friendly farming practices.
Publishing an updated Green Finance Strategy, setting out the steps needed to leverage in private finance to deliver against these goals.

These commitments correspond well with the objectives and goals set out in Rugby’s Climate Change Strategy with the strategy recognising the importance of the natural environment in reducing the impacts of climate change.

Rugby Climate Change Strategy - Natural environment 2030 goals

Given the alignment to the goals we have set in Rugby, the government’s commitments in respect of the ‘apex goal’ are very much welcomed.

Underpinning the government’s Apex Goal, the EIP makes various commitments which include:

Improving environmental quality and achieve clean air by tackling the key sources of emissions and challenging councils to improve air quality more quickly.
Ensuring clean and plentiful water by upgrading wastewater treatment works, restoring 400 miles of river, establishing new woodlands along England’s rivers and ensuring water companies deliver a 50% reduction in leakages by 2050.
Improving the use of resources by introducing a deposit return scheme for plastic and metal drinks containers from October 2025, implementing consistent recycling between different councils and banning the supply of single-use plastics from October 2023.
Improving the mitigation of climate change by managing the multiple demands on land, developing a new National Adaptation Programme, improving coastal and flood defences and rewarding farmers for actions to reduce risks and impacts from climate change
Improving biosecurity, recognising that the risk of pests, pathogens, and invasive non-native species is increasing.
Improving the beauty, heritage and engagement of nature by ensuring that everyone should live within 15 minutes walk of a green or blue space, greening the Green, investing in National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and National Trails, extending the delivery of the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme and investing in active travel, with a vision for half of all journeys in towns and cities to be cycled or walked by 2030.

UK Government Environment Improvement Plan (2023)

Again, these commitments correlate well to Rugby’s Climate Change Strategy and recognise some of the key challenges we face in delivering the strategy - such as improving local air quality, implementing the changes to waste collections set out in the Environment Act and working with landowners from all sectors in our Borough.

In delivering the EIP, Environment Secretary, Thérèse Coffey, said:

“ Our Environmental Improvement Plan sets out how we will continue to improve our environment here in the UK and around the world. Nature is vital for our survival, crucial to our food security, clean air, and clean water as well as health and well-being benefits.

We have already started the journey and we have seen improvements. We are transforming financial support for farmers and landowners to prioritise improving the environment, we are stepping up on tree planting, we have cleaner air, we have put a spotlight on water quality and rivers and are forcing industry to clean up its act.

Whether you live in a city or town, in the countryside or on the coast, join us in our national endeavour to improve the environment.”

UK Net Zero Review

2023-03-10T09:00:54Z

UK Net Zero Review

The UK Government has published Chris Skidmore MP’s much anticipated independent review of its strategy for achieving net zero by 2050.

Chris Skidmore, is an MP and environmental campaigner who was commissioned to review the government’s strategy for achieving net zero by 2050 – a target which the UK is required by law to reach.

Over 1800 organisations and individuals submitted responses to the Call for Evidence . The review makes recommendations for government, industry, local authorities and individual households – and highlights that we are all responsible when it comes to achieving net zero.

Workplaces and the Economy

Part one focusses on Net Zero as a growth opportunity and recognises that the climate and economy are closely linked. Transition to a net-zero economy presents opportunities from which the UK should be able to benefit.

The Review suggests that ultimately the economic benefits of net zero will outweigh the costs. It estimates that the UK could see approximately 2% additional growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), through the benefits from new jobs, increased economic activity, reduced fossil fuel imports and cost savings.

The report says that we must move quickly to realise these opportunities, some of which are being missed today.

It draws seven conclusions:

Net zero is creating a new era of change and opportunity.
The UK must act decisively to seize the economic opportunities and smooth the transition.
The benefits of investing in net zero today outweigh the costs.
Unlocking the ambition of places and communities will deliver the most successful version of net zero.
Net zero can materially improve people’s lives – now and in 2050 – but work is needed to secure the benefits and minimise costs.
Net zero by 2050 remains the right target for the UK: it is backed by the science, widely followed, and is creating real opportunity.
Significant additional government action is required to ensure that the UK achieves net zero in the best way possible for the economy and the public.

Part two of the review looks at how the UK can maximise the opportunities by working collaboratively, noting the roles of local authorities, communities and individuals to deliver the transition.

Climate Positive Communities

The Review is clear that there must be more locally led action on net zero. It recognises that communities want to act, and that government can help by providing central leadership, and empowering people and communities to deliver locally.

It says that government should put public engagement at the heart of its work on net zero, including:

A major expansion of the government's public reporting and engagement on net zero.
Putting power in people’s hands, providing consumers with the information they need to make the choices they want
Working with industry towards introducing a standardised approach to ecolabelling for as many products as possible by 2025.

The Review presents the potential benefits which net zero can bring to us all, including cost savings, homes that are warm in winter and cool in summer, cleaner air improved health and wellbeing and new jobs. In delivering these benefits, the Review suggests that the role of individuals can be summarised as:

The Role of Local Government

The Review recognises the key role which local authorities must play in delivering Net Zero.

It notes that the Climate Change Committee (CCC) published a recent progress report which report noted:

“It remains unclear how central, devolved and local government will operate coherently towards the net zero goal.”

It suggests that by reforming the relationship between central and local government on net zero, local authorities can be empowered to deliver place-based, place-sensitive action and unlock the high levels of local net zero ambition that we have across the UK.

The Review makes the following recommendations:

Government should introduce a statutory duty for local authorities to take account of the UK’s net zero targets.
Government should simplify the net zero funding landscape for all local authorities by the next Spending Review.
Government should establish local net zero missions in 2023 for key policy areas to encourage places to go further and faster.
Government should fully back at least one Trailblazer Net Zero city, local authority, and community, with the aim for these places to reach net zero by 2030.
Central government should provide guidance, reporting mechanisms, and additional capacity and capability support to enable local authorities to better monitor and report their net zero progress.
Central government should reform the local planning system and the National Planning Policy Framework now, with a clearer vision on net zero.
Government should undertake a rapid review of the bottlenecks for net zero and energy efficiency projects in the planning system and ensure that local planning authorities are properly resourced to deliver faster turnaround times.

Key Actions for 2025

The review makes a total of 129 recommendations which aim to catalyse efforts to tackle emissions across every part of the economy. The review summarises a common message that is the need for clarity, certainty, consistency, and continuity from government and proposes ten priority missions to harness public and private action out to 2035:

Net Zero Rugby

The recommendations of the review are encouraging for the approach being taken in Rugby.

Our own Climate Change Strategy recognises the importance of many of the aspects identified within the report – be they related to the potential for benefit within workplaces and the economy or the need to engage and empower local communities who have the passion and expertise to make progress where government can not.

The Council’s cross party Climate Emergency Working Group are now considering the recommendations of the report and how they can be used to further our work in Rugby Borough.

The full review is available to read online

Let's talk tomatoes

2023-03-03T15:59:08Z

Like most people, I’ve found it harder to find certain fruit and vegetables in supermarkets and greengrocers recently.

Peppers, tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce……..all seem to be harder than usual to find and Rugby’s supermarkets have not been no exception, with a some having empty veg shelves and others limiting purchases.

Reports have suggested that the UK imports up to 95% of its tomatoes in winter months, however crop yields in areas such as southern Spain and Morocco have been lower than usual due to adverse weather conditions.

It’s unclear as to how long these difficulties will last, however they do give an opportunity to reflect on the climate impact of year-round consumption and how can we address similar food supply challenges in the future.

So……..let’s talk tomatoes.

Tomatoes appear to be in a particularly short supply and are a crop for which the UK relies heavily on import during the winter months. I thought it would be helpful to look at this more closely in this blog.

Whilst recognising that the current shortage may be due to a short term shock weather event, rather than a long term trend, there are suggestions that we may see similar shortages in tomato production in the future.

A study published in the nature journal has suggested that increases in air temperature and water resource constraints in tomato growing regions could reduce yields by 6% by 2050.

This may manifest sooner than expected, with National Geographic reporting that 2021 saw a significant decline in yield, due to hotter than usual temperatures.

But, it isn’t just tomatoes. There are numerous reports which suggest that other crops, such as corn and wheat will be similarly impacted by long term climate change and shock weather events.

With this in mind, we need to give serious thought to our approach to food and how it may need to change in the future.

Food Systems and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

We know that food systems are responsible for up to one third of global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and that in the UK there are a variety of causes of this. The diagram below helpfully explains these.

A Waste Resources Action Partnership (WRAP) report that food related Greenhouse Gasses (GHG) can be reduced. It provides an analysis of the total GHG emissions linked to the production and consumption of food & drink consumed in the UK and estimates of further emissions reductions that could be achievable by 2030.

The report estimates that total UK food system emissions in 2019 were estimated to be 158 Mt CO2e - equivalent to 35% of UK territorial emissions.

Reducing these emissions by up to 50% is possible, however achieving this will require action at ace to ensure that existing policy, business or sector-level commitments and targets are delivered. This action includes:

Ensuring a continued focus on decarbonisation of operational emissions.
Developing a better understanding of wider supply chain emissions.
Achieving zero deforestation commitments in supply chains
Taking action on food waste.
Influencing consumer behaviours.

Taking Action on Food Waste

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) suggest that globally, 17% of available food is wasted.

In 2019, this amounted to 931 million tonnes of food sold to households and businesses - a considerable waste of resources and production of unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions.

In the UK alone, 70% of food waste comes from homes and up to 36 million tonnes of Greenhouse Gas Emissions could be prevented by reducing this.

The Environment Act 2021 sets into law a forthcoming requirement that food waste must be collected on a weekly basis by all Waste Collection authorities (such as Rugby Borough Council), however a more environmentally and financially beneficial solution is to eliminate food waste from households.

The ‘LoveFoodHateWaste’ programme gives some helpful advice on how individuals can save money, reduce emissions and help preserve natural resources by reducing food waste.

Where food waste does arise, then home composting offers a sustainable solution for dealing with food waste. Our friends at Garden Organic provide some very useful advice about getting started with composting.

Growing Your Own

At about this time of year, I usually start planting some seeds, ready to harvest fruit and veg in the summer months.

I only have a small garden and no greenhouse, and so am a bit restricted in what I can grow. Despite this, and with limited gardening experience, I manage to regularly grow tomatoes (I tend to go for the dwarf/ patio varieties), courgettes, salad leaves and potatoes. Fortunately for me, our friends at Garden Organic once again provide some really easy to follow advice on how to grow your own.

Last year was a bumper year for tomatoes and I actually ended up with more than I could eat so decided to look at how I could use them through the winter months. There were lots of suggestions online and I eventually managed to produce my own sun dried tomatoes, tomato chutney (ideal for Christmas for presents!) and pasta sauce to freeze.

For the more adventurous, allotments provide an opportunity to grow on a larger scale. There is a wealth of research which highlights the physical and mental heath benefits of allotment gardening, as well as the social, environmental and financial benefits.

Seasonal Eating

I read with interest that the Environment Secretary, Therese Coffey recently suggested that we ought to be eating turnips at this time of year. Whilst perhaps a simplistic headline, I do agree that seaseonal eating is something which we can all consider.

It has become the norm for us to be able to buy pretty much any fruit or vegetables throughout the year but there are benefits to eating products that are in season, including:

A reduction in transport related emissions
A more cost effective option
Higher nutrient retention
Supporting the local community and economy

There a various online guides to help with this as well as advice on what is in season.

In the short term, we may have to adapt to the current shortages, but in the longer term, there are a number of actions that we need to look at across the food system to understand how we can reduce the impacts which food has on the environment and adapt our eating habits to a changing climate.

If you have any views on this subject or hints and tips you would like to share, then please do get in touch.

Council to adopt climate and sustainability planning guidance

2023-02-03T17:22:37Z

The council's cabinet will consider the Climate Change and Sustainable Design and Construction Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) at its meeting on 6 February and will recommend that councillors adopt it at Council in February.

The SPD was the subject of a public consultation in autumn 2022, with feedback incorporated into the final document. Topics it covers include energy efficiency and renewable energy, flood risk and flood resilience, sustainable drainage, green infrastructure and landscaping, and broadband.

If adopted, the guidance will become a "material consideration" that is taken into account when deciding future planning applications.

Cllr Ian Picker, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for growth and investment, said: "Adopting a supplementary planning document is a recognised way of introducing additional planning guidance, which should be taken into account when determining relevant planning applications, or an appeal against a planning decision.

"The document will help us all be clear on how these really important policies should be applied in practice.

“By providing clear guidance up front about policy expectations, we want to support the planning application process, as well as assist the council in determining these applications.”

Adoption of an SPD addressing the climate emergency is a key action in the Rugby borough Climate Change Strategy, which was adopted last year.

Cllr Emma Crane, Rugby Borough Council climate change champion, said: "This Climate Change and Sustainable Design guidance document sets out how developers can meet our climate and sustainability objectives as they meet the borough's identified housing need.

"With guidance on topics such as reducing energy demand and energy efficiency, passive solar design and renewables, future housing development should have a far lower impact on climate change and cost residents of new properties much less to run.

"And, with guidance on drainage, biodiversity and landscaping, developers will need to show how their landscaping proposals have taken into consideration the impacts of climate change and the related impacts on nature."

A supplementary planning document sets out more detailed information on local plan policies and how they can be achieved.

Council opens consultation on Climate Change Supplementary Planning Document

2022-11-21T11:24:35Z

From the desk of Cllr Ian Picker, Portfolio Holder for Growth and Investment.

As we move forward with our ambitious plans to tackle climate change and build a sustainable future here in Rugby, the planning system undoubtedly has a significant role to play. That is why, as a member and then Chair of the Planning Committee at Rugby Borough Council I always sought to ensure that the development taking place in Rugby is fit for the future by not only incorporating best practice but seeking to go further where we can in encouraging sustainable and environmentally friendly design. This is a goal I share not only with my colleagues across the Council, but also with the overwhelming majority of residents in Rugby.

That is why we have brought forward a Climate Change and Sustainable Design Supplementary Planning Document and we have consulted on the ideas and options it contains. This document, when adopted, will help to ensure that from the inception of plans for new homes, new industrial buildings or even changes of use within our existing communities, the principles of sustainable and environmentally friendly design and development are at the heart of future development in Rugby.

This work is vital because buildings play such a crucial role in our work to tackle climate change. At all phases of a building’s life, there are opportunities to decrease the carbon footprint – at the design stage, at the construction stage, and whilst the building is being used. This Sustainable Design SPD will give our planners the tools they need to ensure that this practice is followed, including encouraging greater use of energy generation measures including solar panels or domestic wind turbines, environmentally friendly heating options such as ground or air sourced heat pumps, and the use of innovative construction methods to reduce the overall carbon impact of the next generation of homes.

We’re also looking at the wider ways in which our planning system can enhance and protect the environment. Through this, we will seek to ensure that developments incorporate high quality landscaping, green and blue infrastructure and a focus on protecting habits for all species, but especially vulnerable species. We all know how important the preservation of natural habits is and both I and everyone at the Council want to ensure that our Borough’s future growth is sensitive to the natural environment.

Free Carbon Literacy Training Opportunity

2023-03-14T12:58:30Z

Are you hearing messages about climate change, but not sure what you need to know? Want to make a difference, but not sure where to start?

Want to know more about the role you can play in the climate and nature crisis?

Climate Change can be an overwhelming topic but we all have an important role to play, and informing yourself is such an important first step.

The West Midlands Combined Authority and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games have worked together to produce an accredited Carbon Literacy training course, freely available to West Midlands citizens to empower and go on from the Games to make positive change.

During the engaging and interactive online modules you’ll learn about the science behind climate change, how it’s affecting both the world and our region, how you can influence others to drive action, and what you can do personally.

On successful completion of the course – you’ll receive formal accreditation as carbon literate which you can proudly display on your social media or CV or keep to yourself! (or you can just dip in and learn more about the parts that interest you the most!)

Click here or B2022 to find out more!

Council opens consultation on draft Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan

2022-06-21T12:53:19Z

The draft strategy has been developed alongside voluntary and community organisations and reflects their shared ambitions to deliver a net zero carbon borough.

Cllr Emma Crane, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for Communities, Homes, Digital and Communications, and the council’s Climate Change champion, said: “I would like to thank the cross-party working group on Climate Change that has been working on this draft strategy.

"Alongside input from voluntary and community organisations, their contributions have helped bring this draft strategy to the point where we are able to present our vision of Rugby being an environmentally sustainable place where we work together to reduce and mitigate the effects of climate change, transitioning Rugby to a low carbon and nature positive place.

“This strategy gives the Borough a strategic direction and provides the framework within which we can collectively take responsibility and work together to deliver our Net Zero Vision. Together, we can ensure that our Borough has a greener and more resilient future and is a place where future generations can truly thrive.

"I hope to hear from as many Rugby residents as possible on how we can tackle the climate and nature crises together.”

The draft strategy has seven themes covering:
•   Workplaces and the economy;
•   Transport;
•   Homes and energy;
•   Adaptation;
•   Waste, resources and the circular economy;
•   Natural environment;
•   and Climate and nature positive communities.

It outlines a three-pronged approach whereby the council will deliver change on factors within the council’s direct control, enable change on those factors that the council can facilitate by working with others, and influence change on factors outside of the council’s control.

Rugby Borough Council has direct control of a very small proportion, less than 1%, of carbon emissions produced in the borough. However the strategy commits the council to influence the remaining emissions reductions through local leadership and partnership working. The council will lead the transition for the Borough of Rugby to become net zero, ensuring that it has a rich biodiversity where people can easily access nature, enjoy clean air, travel by using low carbon transport and heat buildings by using renewable energy.

Find out more and take part in the survey at www.rugbynetzero.co.uk/climate-strategy-consultation.

Clean Air Day 2022

2022-06-16T11:52:17Z

Clean Air Day this year highlights the role that personal transport has in reducing air quality locally. Tailpipe emissions from petrol and diesel-fuelled vehicles make an obvious contribution to particulates in the air, but a recent report also highlighted that particulates from tyre degradation also play a role. Electrification and the switch to EVs will not clean up our air to the extent that we need.

In the borough of Rugby we are fortunate that air quality is – on the whole – not too bad. We know this because Rugby Borough Council uses diffusion tubes to monitor air quality at various sites across the borough. There are a few sites near to main roads, mostly where adjacent buildings provide a tunnel effect, where air quality is worse, but even at these sites the general trend across the borough is that air quality is improving.

To make a real difference, however, we need to make different choices as individuals. With fuel prices at an all-time high even the AA is now suggesting that shorter journeys would be better made by bicycle or on foot, and this is the only sustainable solution to the air quality problem too. We simply need to walk and cycle more.

Rugby already benefits from some good walking and cycling routes. There are some gaps however, and more work needs to be done in order to make sure that all our communities feel safe when walking and cycling. The Park Connector network that Rugby Borough Council is promoting will help.

These traffic-free routes will create a network of accessible shared footpaths and cycling routes criss-crossing Rugby. Grant funding is helping the council make sure they are well-drained, and with bat friendly solar lighting these routes should be usable year-round.

Clean Air day – and the fine weather we are currently having – are the perfect excuse to get your bicycle out of the shed and explore one of these new car-free alternatives. It’ll do you, and the air that you breathe, the world of good.

PS: Here's a playlist for your walk.

Cutting energy costs and helping the planet at the same time

2022-06-16T13:53:26Z

Tackling climate change can feel like an insurmountable challenge and with so many other pressing concerns to deal with, like energy price and cost of living crises, many people feel there’s little they can do on a personal level.

But taking steps to reduce emissions in our homes can also bring benefits such as lower energy bills. Heating is responsible for around 14% of the UK’s total carbon emissions. To decarbonise home heating, we’ll need to:

First make our homes more energy efficient, which will also reduce demand for energy; and
Heat our homes with renewable energy (electricity) rather than with fossil fuels (gas, oil or coal).

Switching away from gas heating means we’ll be a lot less exposed to the volatility of the global gas markets (which is what sets the high gas prices, regardless of whether we extract more of our “own” gas from the North Sea). It will also help us to move away from reliance on fossil fuels from countries such as Russia.

The main way to achieve this will be through removing our gas boilers and installing a heat pump. This can be done immediately or when our existing gas boilers come to the end of their lives.

The Government has set a target of installing 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028 and has recently launched its Boiler Upgrade Scheme which provides up to £6,000 grant funding for heat pump installations. For those in rented accommodation ask your landlord what plans they have to reduce emissions and to increase the energy efficiency of your property. The Council is developing a retrofit strategy for council homes and has started installing heat pumps in some of its properties.

The thought of installing a heat pump can be daunting, not just in terms of the cost. But it’s important to remember that whilst it’s a different technology to the gas boilers we’re used to, it’s a well-established and popular technology widely used in many other countries. The UK lags behind most European countries in installations (France installed over 8.6 million heat pumps in 2020) and came joint last for heat pump sales out of 21 nations. Now is the time for the UK to catch up!

Heat pumps work a bit like a fridge in reverse - see this useful summary which explains more about how they work. Headline points to note are that around 50% of UK homes are suitable for heat pumps with no or minimal upgrades to insulation and, according to a recent study, once installed a heat pump will be £260 cheaper to run per year than a gas boiler.

Another concern can be that there are not enough trained heat pump engineers, however, this is fast changing. Octopus Energy has committed to train 1,000 green heat engineers per year and the Heat Pump Association has confirmed that they can train over 7,000 heat pump installers per year across 22 centres in the UK.

At the same time as moving away from heating our homes with gas and other fossil fuels, we also need to reduce our energy use. The International Energy Agency has provided a guide with simple steps we can take, such as turning down the thermostat by a few degrees. Sky has also provided a handy guide of steps you can take to save £400 a year at the same time as cutting our carbon emissions.

As summer approaches, I’ve already turned my heating off, but I’m also going to turn off my tumble drier, use the eco setting on my dishwasher and check out the Government’s new Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Every little helps in the fight for our planet.

A footnote on hydrogen….It’s also worth saying a word about “hydrogen ready boilers” (through converting existing gas boilers) which many people may have heard of and may think is a viable alternative to installing a heat pump. It’s important to remember that heating our homes purely by hydrogen is unlikely to be an option which will be rolled out for the majority of homes in the UK and instead is likely to be something which may be best suited for neighbourhoods which are located close to existing gas power stations. It’s also worth knowing that most hydrogen is made using electricity from gas, is very energy intensive and creates large amounts of carbon dioxide as a by-product. The market for capturing this CO2 is still developing and the technology is as yet unproven for mass roll out. This is in contrast to heat pumps which are a proven technology across many countries. Find out more here.

Reflections on COP

2021-12-16T16:07:27Z

I was lucky enough to be able to attend the global climate conference COP26 in Glasgow in November, which with over 40,000 delegates, was the biggest COP ever. Whilst the pledges made in the final Glasgow Climate Pact are expected to put the world on a path to global warming of less than two degrees, this will only happen if all of the promised emissions targets are actually delivered. Unfortunately, current climate policies around the world don’t come close to achieving these aims and global temperatures are currently set to rise by about 2.7 degrees, meaning the 2020s is the critical decade for taking more action to deliver on pledges.

Climate change is affecting all of us – a recent study found that at least 85 per cent of the world’s population has been affected by climate change and I was particularly moved to hear the experiences of those in developing countries, many of whom have contributed the least to climate change but are suffering disproportionately from the impacts which are devastating their homes and farmlands. I met an impressive lady Emi Mahmoud, a Sudanese poet and UN Goodwill Ambassador who has written powerfully about her experiences as a refugee fleeing from the impacts of climate change.

Whilst it was inspiring to witness heads of state and business leaders from around the world committing to greater action on climate change at an international level – plans to move away from coal, commitments to end fossil fuel subsidies and deforestation are particularly welcome – climate change is a global problem which we all have a responsibility to play our part in solving and which must be done in a fair and just way.

Everyone, from heads of state down to each individual will need to take action. Here in Rugby we’re seeing the impacts of climate change with increasingly heavy rainfall, more frequent flooding and extremely hot weather in summer. Solving climate change can seem overwhelming but there are lots of steps all of us can take together and local authorities have a really crucial role in terms of supporting and educating communities on how to reduce our carbon emissions.

Getting emissions down is about a lot more than reducing waste and increasing recycling rates which, whilst important, will not be enough to get us to net zero. There are going to have to be more changes, such as making our buildings more energy efficient and heating them with renewable energy, and changing the way we travel by moving to electric vehicles and choosing public transport or walking and cycling over car journeys.

Undoubtedly national and local governments need to do more to raise awareness of the changes that need to be made on the journey to net zero. Rugby Borough Council has started this process by engaging with residents through our climate change survey (it’s still running so do please share your views) and our climate summit. We’ll shortly be consulting on a Net Zero Strategy for Rugby which will set out how we will reduce emissions both in the council itself and in partnership with others and we’d really love to hear from as many local people as possible. We’ll be announcing plans for how you can get involved shortly. Reducing emissions will be a borough wide endeavour and we’ll all need to support each other in the transition to a net zero Rugby.

If we want our children and grandchildren to enjoy a world free from catastrophic warming and to feel the benefits of easy access to nature, clean air and homes which are warm in winter and cool in summer then we need to start to make the changes now. But we need to act fast before it is too late.

Councillor Emma Crane is Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for Homes and Communities, Digital and Communications, and Climate Change Champion.