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Microsoft Word - CC Newsletter Dec 11.docxEnvironmental Policy Consulting
December 201 Climate Change Newsleter
1. Do they know it’s Christmas?
Climate talks in Durban suceded in keping the dialogue alive but failed to deliver a binding treaty
to replace Kyoto. Leaders agred to agre an agreable agrement by 2015, and an extension of the
Kyoto Protocol is likely until this comes into efect in 2020, although no details are yet agred. Work
on adaptation wil progres, including National Adaptation Plans and funds for developing countries.
2. White Christmas
Defra’s long awaited Water White Paper describes a “vision for future water management in which
the water sector is resilient, in which water companies are more efficient and customer focused, and
in which water is valued as the precious resource it is”. There is suport for the catchment-based
approach, proposed legislation to reform the abstraction regime and ideas on water efficiency and
sustainable drainage. A draft Water Bill is expected in early 2012.
3. Ho Ho No
The White Paper was accompanied by reports from Ofwat and the Environment Agency. One of the
Case for Change reports highlights the risk to water availability from climate change and other
drivers, with some particularly disturbing maps in varying degres of red (Figure 4.1).
4. He’s not the Mesiah
Chris Huhne claimed the government’s latest Carbon Plan shows emissions are faling (mainly due to
an increase in nuclear energy) and wil continue to fall to meet Climate Change Act targets (erm,
nuclear again). Acompanying the Plan was a revised 2050 carbon online calculator, which enables
users to compare the cost of diferent energy systems, or the cost of doing nothing.
5. Five Gold Rings
Meanwhile, the Comite on Climate Change reckons that the proportion of energy produced by
biomas (favoured by many water companies) wil need to increase five-fold if the government is to
meet its 2050 emisions target. However, the Commite stops short of sugesting that aditional
incentives (e.g. through the Renewables obligation) are required. It also sugests that the development
of bioenergy should take full acount of wider environmental and social impacts.
6. Crackers
Defra has published new statutory adaptation reports from National Grid (electricity and gas). Whilst
the reports note the potential increased risks posed by flooding, they do not explicitly consider the
links with the water industry, or that energy suplies are dependent on water.
7. Ghost of Christmas Past
UKCIP’s latest report on adaptation in the UK brings together experience and knowledge from the
organisation’s 15 years of acting as a bridge betwen scientists and those tasked with adapting to an
uncertain (but diferent) future climate. As wel as seting out what has ben achieved so far, the
report also discuses what more could be stil be done.
8. Walking in the Air
A new Met Ofice report examines the impacts of climate change on 24 countries around the world. It
shows that al countries in the study have warmed since the 1960s and that the incidence of extremely
warm air temperatures has increased while extremely cold weather has become les frequent. If
emisions are left unchecked, average temperatures are likely to rise by between 3 and 5 degrees, with
up to 49 milion extra people at risk from coastal flooding by the end of the century, and the risk of
river floding significantly increasing in most countries.
9. Brusels Sprouts
The European Comision is consulting on its Renewable Energy Strategy, which sets an obligatory
target of 20% renewable energy in final energy consumption by 2020. The consultation invites views
on how policy should develop beyond this, up to 2030, and is open until February.
The Comision is also consulting on its Fitnes Check on Freshwater Policy. The purpose of the
Fitnes Check is to identify excesive burdens, overlaps, gaps, inconsistencies and/or obsolete
measures which may have apeared over time. It covers a range of Directives, including the WFD, as
wel as areas where there is curently no legislation at EU level, including water scarcity and climate
change adaptation.
10. Yule Log
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has published a database of examples
of adaptation actions from around the globe. It features plenty of water and UK based examples, and
further examples can be submited via the web site.
11. Bank Holidays
The World Bank has launched an Open Data Initiative on climate change, to alow planners,
policymakers and others aces to high quality datasets and analysis. The Bank says the materials wil
be open, fre, and acesible to al via a new Climate Change Knowledge Portal.
12. Wise Men
A new paper from the OECD considers the role of the private sector in adapting to climate change. It
considers the role of finance, climate vulnerabilities and awareness, assessment and management of
climate risks, as well as new business oportunities arising due to climate change. The report also
examines factors which can affect companies’ engagement in adaptation, and ways in which
governments can asist and encourage private sector adaptation to climate change.
13. All I Want for Christmas
The US Environmental Protection Agency and others have published a Climate Change Handbok for
water resource managers. The handbok uses the Integrated Regional Water Management planing
framework as a model for integrating climate change impacts and potential adaptation measures. It
includes a checklist for identifying and prioritising the vulnerability of local watersheds, along with a
number of tools and case studies.
14. Conferences
The future of the water industry – post White Paper 2 Feb London
Recent Advances in Energy Saving in the Water Industry 21 Feb Leds
Water Management in Europe 22-23 Feb Lile
World Water-Tech Investment Sumit 28 Feb London
6th World Water Forum: Time for solutions 12-17 Mar Marseile
Climate ek 12–18 Mar London
CIWEM Anual Conference 20-21 Mar London
Waterwise conference 22-23 Mar Oxford
IWA World Congres on Water, Climate and Energy 13-18 May Dublin
Water Inovation Europe 15-16 May Brussels
2012 - Changing the Water Industry for a Sustainable Legacy 17-18 May London
Gren Wek 22-25 May Brussels
World Water Week 26-31 August Stockholm
Hapy Christmas to all
To unsubscribe from or provide fedback on this newsleter, just drop me an email at
bruce@envpolconsulting.co.uk
