Climate Change

Thursday 24th September 2009, Charing Cross Guoman - London, 08:45 - 16:05

Tackling Climate Change Through Renewable Energy: Towards a Low Carbon Economy

“Many of you are from the public sector, and Government believes that the public sector has a particular role in demonstrating leadership in reducing carbon emissions. Improved energy efficiency in the public sector delivers a double public benefit: firstly it saves public money, and secondly reduces carbon emissions”

Joan Ruddock MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, 29th March 2009.

Overview

Recent findings from leading scientists and politicians have stated that tackling climate change, by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, is the most critical, long-term problem facing all governments.

Whilst the Stern Review made it clear that both the causes and consequences of climate change are global requiring collective, international, political leadership, concerted group action at the local level is politically necessary to accelerate a change in citizens’ behaviour.

Under the terms of the Climate Change Act the government is required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the UK by 80% by 2050. The Nottingham Declaration (2000) on climate change and the Energy Measures report, published by BERR in 2007, demonstrates the instrumental role that local authorities and agencies play in both designing ‘joined-up’ policies and implementing initiatives to tackle climate change.

The Government’s Climate Change Programme (2006) advocated early, collaborative intervention in the local economy by public sector organisations both to raise the awareness of and tackle the impact of climate change. As part of a wider set of initiatives, the promotion and operation of greater energy efficiency programmes and the generation of sustainable, renewable energy using micro-generation technologies are critical elements in a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the public sector.

The damaging effects of climate change require local authorities to act now to further reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. With local authorities reporting against specific targets to reduce carbon emissions in their areas (NI 185, NI 186, N1 188) since April 2009, speakers at this event will discuss policies, strategies and concrete programmes and initiatives both to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.

Agenda

08:45	Coffee and Registration
09:20	Chair’s Welcome Address Professor Paul Fleming, Assistant Director, Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development, De Montfort University Leicester (CONFIRMED)
09:30	Energy Efficiency in the Public Sector: Towards a Low Carbon Economy National, European and international policy context The importance of the public sector in playing a leadership role Carbon saving initiatives across the public sector Understanding the potential of the public sector Rewarding success and innovation Kate Hughes, Head, Climate and Energy: Business and Public Sector, Department for Energy and Climate Change (CONFIRMED)
09:50	Climate Change Projections: An Update Recent climate changes Climate modelling Future climate projections UK climate projections Understanding the likely impact of climate change Risk management strategies Dr Debbie Hemming, Manager, Climate Impacts Analysis, Met Office Hadley Centre (CONFIRMED)
10:10	Promoting Renewable Energy – The Role of the Public Sector Opportunities – land resource, making a difference, economic benefits Challenges facing delivery Public sector champions – leading the way Stephen Ainger, CEO, Partnerships for Renewables (CONFIRMED)
10:30	Towards a Low Carbon Health Service Saving carbon improving health: NHS as exemplar organisation Sustainable living: business case and key metrics in the NHS NHS Sustainable Development Unit: our mission Leading by example: societal benefits of carbon reduction in the NHS Dr David Pencheon, Director, Sustainable Development Unit (SDU), NHS (CONFIRMED)
10:50	Questions and Answers Session
11:20	Coffee and Networking
11:45	Tackling Climate Change in the City - An Integrated Approach Effecting change: working with the business and local community Using a risk management approach to reduce our energy consumption Lowering our carbon emissions using an energy management strategy Low carbon electricity in the City: combined heat and power station Supporting sustainable living Waste reduction through resource management Simon Mills, Head of Sustainable Development, City of London (CONFIRMED)
12:05	A Local Government Perspective: Tackling Climate Change Using Renewable Energy Change in energy usage: energy conservation in Barnsley Whole life costings: switching to renewable energy sources Improving the performance of new and existing buildings Striding towards 2050: carbon savings in Barnsley MBC Future strategy Dick Bradford, Principal Designer (Building Services) and Energy Engineer, Property and Procurement, Barnsley MBC (CONFIRMED)
12:30	Questions and Answers Session
12:50	Lunch and Networking
14:00	Combating Climate Change Impact of Climate Change on the built environment Technologies to reduce energy demand in buildings Understanding the impact of technologies on occupier behaviour to reduce energy demands Micro generation systems Multi-functional photovoltaic cells Using marine currents for energy generation Renewable energy outlook: improving building performance Professor AbuBakr Bahaj, School of Civil Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton (CONFIRMED)
14:20	Sustainable Living in Kirklees – The Kirklees Experience Our ambition: a beacon of green living in the UK Greater energy efficiency and use of renewables Low carbon ‘clean’ transport Greener, cleaner neighbourhoods Eliminating fuel poverty Towards low carbon living: corporate targets Building performance of the civic centre: NI 185,186, 188 New build and major projects must include lifetime costings Greater use of renewable energy systems Kirklees Warm Zone Future plans Helen Tinker, Environment Officer, Kirklees Council (CONFIRMED)
14:40	Coffee and Networking
15:00	Preparing Towns and Cities for a Changing Climate Challenges involved in making cities more sustainable places to live, work and invest in the context of climate change Urban design and management strategies for existing cities Integrating new and existing settlements Green infrastructure strategies CABE’s programme for sustainable cities and www.sustainablecities.org.uk Case studies:- Hammarby Sjöstad, Stockholm; Vauban; Freiburg; Malmö; and Copenhagen.’ Jonathan Davis, Director of Knowledge and Skills, CABE (CONFIRMED)
15:20	Closing Keynote Address: The Other Arm of a National Response Strategy to Climate Change: Adaptation How much will we need to adapt in order to avoid major impacts? How much will adaptation cost? Are there limits to our adaptive capabilities? Current progress in the development of the UK’s national adaptation strategy The role of national and local government, quangos and civil society Professor Martin Parry, Visiting Professor, Centre for Environmental Policy, Visiting Research Fellow, Grantham Institute, Imperial College London (CONFIRMED)
15:40	Questions and Answers Session
16:05	Chair's Summary and Close

*programme subject to change without notice

Exhibitor

Partnership for Renewables

Audience

Delegates will be drawn from the public and private sector; from: central government departments and agencies; local authorities; NHS; third sector organisations; housing organisations; transport sector; marketing and consultants; banking and finance sector; trade unions; think tanks; retailers and employers, academia.

Climate Change

Thursday 24th September 2009, Charing Cross Guoman - London, 08:45 - 16:05

Tackling Climate Change Through Renewable Energy: Towards a Low Carbon Economy

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