Sustainable Development
Combating climate change
The challenge of climate change
The world's climate is already changing. Burning coal, oil and gas (fossil fuels) for energy used in industry, homes and transport is increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.
This has caused temperatures throughout the world to rise over the last 100 years and unless we reduce CO2 emissions, climate change will have a huge effect on the world's economies, societies and wildlife.
Climate change is recognised as being one of the biggest problems facing the world and governments worldwide are trying to reduce their CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases.
The solutions for reducing our climate change impact are well known and easily available - they involve using energy more efficiently and increasing the use of renewable energy. To reduce CO2 emissions we must take action locally.
What we are doing to tackle climate change
The Council and its partners are taking actions to reduce the borough's contribution to climate change on a number of fronts.
Firstly, we have a plan in place to reduce our energy consumption and CO2 emissions by 20% by 2010. We are making an investment of around £1 million in this programme as we recognise the importance of reducing our impact. Our Greening the Council web page will give you more detail about the actions we are taking.
We are also focusing on Sustainable Regeneration. Barking and Dagenham is in the midst of a massive regeneration programme that will see 25,000 homes and associated community, businesses and transport infrastructure built. With our regeneration partners, we are taking this opportunity to ensure new developments do not adversely impact on the environment.
We are achieving this through our Sustainable Planning work which is strengthening the borough's planning policies.
London has pledged to reduce its carbon emissions by 60% by 2025. The Council in partnership with the Mayor of London is working on projects to help London meets these high targets. One of these projects is the Barking Town Centre Low Carbon Zone.
The scheme will bring together the Council, community organisations, residents, businesses and utility providers in a partnership working together to significantly reduce carbon emissions produced in Barking Town Centre.
What we are doing to adapt to climate change
We are also taking measures to adapt to climatic changes that are already happening. We are assessing the risk to Barking and Dagenham from flooding and making sure existing as well as new communities are protected against this risk.
We are also thinking about the risk of overheating during future hotter summers and design our public spaces with cooling in mind, for example by using cool light coloured materials and using trees for shading.
Finally, we are reducing water consumption both in the council by dealing with leaking pipes and educating staff to save water, and are encouraging residents to do likewise.
The Council has recently made a public commitment (
PDF 48K) to identify and manage climate related risk. It has undertaken a local risk-based assessment ( PDF 84K) of significant vulnerabilities and opportunities to weather and climate, both now and in the future.
The Council has undertaken a detailed stock-take ( PDF 212K) of Council documents and policies, to assess how as a Council climate change adaptation has been considered and where it should be considered and addressed.
Through the development of the Barking and Dagenham Climate Change Strategy, key council officers, department heads and stakeholders have been made aware of the risk of climate change to the borough and their service area.
A detailed action plan has been developed as part of the strategy to address these risks, and will be available soon.
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Do your bit to combat climate change!
Everyone has a stake in the environment and the health of our planet since drastic climatic changes will impact us all negatively.
At the same time, we all have a role to play in reducing CO2 emissions at work, at home, when we travel and in our spare time. The following pages provide useful tips and advice on how we can all do our bit to combat climate change.
Beacon status
In March 2008 Barking and Dagenham was awarded Beacon status for tackling climate change. The award recognises Barking and Dagenham as a leading authority on the issue of climate change, and means that for 1 year Barking and Dagenham will be responsible for sharing the best practice found in the borough with local authorities nationwide.
Barking and Dagenham's work on low carbon regeneration, and in particular major projects such as the Sustainable Industrial Park in Dagenham Dock, Barking Riverside and Barking Town Centre Energy Action Area, impressed the judges as innovative solutions to climate change.
Other initiatives that received the government's praise included working with residents and staff to raise awareness on the risks climate change will bring and to encourage everyone to get involved and reduce their carbon footprint.
