Clean Growth and Climate Emergency – Strategy …...Clean Growth and Climate Emergency – Strategy into Action Author Carolyn Mckenzie, Head of Sustainable Business and Communities,

Clean Growth &

Climate emergencies

Strategy into action

Carolyn Mckenzie Kent County Council

David Symons WSP

Clean and resilient growth, Net Zero and the

Climate Emergency

What does it mean for local authorities?

Carolyn McKenzie

Head of Sustainable Business and Communities

Kent County Council

What does it mean?

…high levels of public interest…

…pressure to go faster…

..not just about doing a bit more on renewables …..

…it’s also about everything we commission and buy…

Revenue £99.2bn

Capital £27.7bn

…and crucially

it’s about effective

communications and

stimulating behavior

change

Do nothing

With Actions

What there isn’t?

a silver bullet…

…or a single strategy…

…or a large pot of gold…

LOTS OF SMALL POTS OF MONEY HELD BY DIFFERENT

PEOPLE

…one person in charge…

PARTNERSHIP

What we can be sure of…

…multiple benefits, not just carbon savings …

ACTIVE TRAVEL IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH & OBESITY LOW CARBON ECONOMIC GROWTH

SAVINGS LEADING TO INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY REDUCTION FUEL POVERTY

IMPROVED BIODIVERSITY THROUGH MANAGEMENT REDUCED CONGESTION AND BETTER AIR QUALITY

BETTER CLIMATE RESILIENCE

…people will look to local authorities for…

LEADERSHIP

…for issues in and out of our control

…and don’t forget…

…the simple things…

• Building controls – heat, light, water

• Turning things off!

• Caretaker/Building Manager Training

• Stopping – unnecessary meetings that require lots

of people to travel

• Increasing the use of IT, virtual home working

Replacing the old….

…climate resilience …

…and finally DO…

…take the time to look at the evidence …

• Yes urgency

• Do the ‘no

regrets’ now

• Use the

evidence to do

the right things in

the future

So what are we going to do??

Taking rapid actions on climate emergency declarations

David SymonsWSP UK Director of Sustainability

27

There is a strong business case for taking fast action

• “Promoting economic,

social and

environmental well-

being”

• Growth

• Fairness for all

• Legal compliance

Clead growth supports most councils’ core

priorities

Most emissions come from the region, not council’s direct

operations

The CCC’s 14 decarbonisation pathways provide a good focus

While there’s commonalities, each authority is unique

Tomorrow will be different from today

Practical action is key

4,000

4,500

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

Total distance travelled per UK person per

year (miles)

Travelling less, and for different reasons

29

There is

a strong

business

case for

taking

fast

action

• “Promoting economic,

social and

environmental well-

being”

• Growth

• Fairness for all

• Legal compliance

Clead growth supports

most councils’ core

priorities

Most emissions come from

the region, not

council’s direct

operations

The CCC’s 14

decarbonisation pathways

provide a good focus

While there’s

commonalities, each

authority is unique

Tomorrow will be

different from today

Practical action is

key

Local authorities have 3 main influences

LEAD

In our own

operations

ENABLE

a low carbon region

with our programmes,

policies and

decisions

INSPIRE

Business and

residents to take

climate action

themselves

UNDERPINNED BY A STRONG STRATEGY

1.

Leading in

our own

operations

Council’s own emissions are only around 2% of total emissions, but there is still much opportunity to take action and cut costs

•- Property

strategies &

standards

•- Green memoranda

with landlords

•- Energy management

& retrofit

•- Renewables &

Energy procurement

•- Avoidance – by VC

/ skype

•- Promoting low

carbon travel

choices for staff

•- Fleet strategy

•- Low energy

streetlights

•- Manging lighting

levels

Buildings Travel Public

Realm

Buying decisions

LEAD ENABLE INSPIRE

UNDERPINNED BY STRONG

STRATEGY

A model of “business as usual” emissions is the

place to start

A clear plan of how to deliver net zero

Schools

Non-school

Transport

Streetlighting

-

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

50,000

2018/19Emissions

2030/31Business As

Usual

Savings fromDemand

Reduction

Savings fromElectrificationof Heat andTransport

Savings fromRenewableGeneration

Savings fromGreen

Electricity

Savings fromAfforestation /

BiodiversityOffset

An

nu

al E

mis

sio

ns

(tC

O2

e)

1.

Leading in

our own

operations

Council’s own emissions are only around 2% of total emissions, but there is still much opportunity to take action and cut costs

•- Property

strategies &

standards

•- Green memoranda

with landlords

•- Energy management

& retrofit

•- Renewables &

Energy procurement

•- Avoidance – by VC

/ skype

•- Promoting low

carbon travel

choices for staff

•- Fleet strategy

•- Low energy

streetlights

•- Manging lighting

levels

Buildings Travel Public

Realm

Buying decisions

LEAD ENABLE INSPIRE

UNDERPINNED BY STRONG

STRATEGY

Buying low carbon is an important way to

deliver low carbon regions

What you buy How it’s madeWhole life

footprint

Specifications

Incentivising low carbon

innovation

Allowing effective differentiation

between tenderers

Following up on bidders’

commitments

36

2.

Enabling

a low

carbon,

resilien

t

district

LEAD ENABLE INSPIRE

UNDERPINNED BY STRONG

STRATEGY

Enabling a zero carbon, resilient region is probably councils’ largest opportunity

Low carbon

development

• Planning policies

• Supporting low

carbon development

• Building standards

Clean energy• Local energy

strategies

• Support for community

energy

• Renewable energy

Mobility

• 100% ready for electric

vehicles

• Safe networks for active

travel

• Clean public transport

fleets

Finance

• Supporting a low carbon

transition

Waste• Avoiding

landfill

• Promoting reuse

and recycling

37

Influencing all to play their part

Brand• Use low carbon & resilience

as a regional differentiator

Economic development• Local jobs to reduce

commuting• Local Industrial Strategies• Supporting business

transition• Promoting flexible working

Education• Integrated into the

curriculum• Promoting climate awareness• Promoting active travel

Quality of life• Linking low carbon with

clean air, health and happiness

Influence & Leadership• Use Members’ influence to

encourage others to take action

3.

Inspiring

business

and

residents

to lead

LEAD ENABLE INSPIRE

UNDERPINNED BY STRONG

STRATEGY

4.

A strong

climate

strategy

gives

clarity &

direction

LEAD ENABLE INSPIRE

UNDERPINNED BY STRONG

STRATEGY

1.

Initiate

2.

Research3. Plan

4.

Implement

David SymonsFuture Ready Leader at [email protected]

Establish a

team

• A lead

officer

• A steering

and/or

working group

• External

advisors, as

needed

Scope

• A clear scope

• A work

programme

Current

emissions

Climate risks

(if part of

the study)

Existing

actions,

policies,

strategies and

their

effectiveness.

‘Business as

usual’ carbon

trends

Vision

• What does

success look

like?

• The gap

• Strategic

opportunities

Develop &

refine

• Practical

actions to

deliver the

vision

• Timescales

• Funding

• Responsibilit

y

• Internal and

external

consultation as

needed

• Adoption

• Integrate of plan

into council

operations

Carolyn Mckenzie [email protected]

David Symons [email protected]