Planning Supporting Statement - Partnerships for Renewables

Louth Canal Wind Energy Development
4 UK Commitment to Tackling Climate Change
4.1 Overview
4.1.1 The UK Government is strongly encouraging the generation of energy from renewable sources
and the reduction of the emission of gases that contribute to climate change. This support
forms a key element of the UK Climate Change programme and is outlined in the Energy White
Paper, the Energy Review and Planning Policy Statement 22: Renewable Energy. The
formation of the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in October 2008 reflects
the importance of tackling climate change and the need to secure clean, safe, and affordable
energy.
4.2 The Stern Review
4.2.1 The Stern Review on the economics of climate change (2006) highlighted the challenges faced
by climate change and the policy direction required to initiate a transition to a low-carbon
economy and thus reduce the extent of future climate change. The review highlighted the very
need to reduce future carbon emissions to reduce the level of global warming and also control
the extent to which future climate change affects human activity and the country‟s
infrastructure. For the UK, the Stern review highlights the following potential implications of
climate change:
Infrastructure damage from flooding and storms is expected to increase substantially,
especially in coastal regions, although effective flood management policies are likely to
keep damage in check.
Water availability will be increasingly constrained, as runoff in summer declines,
particularly in the South East where population density is increasing. Serious droughts
will occur more regularly.
Milder winters will reduce cold-related mortality rates and energy demand for heating,
while heat-waves will increase heat-related mortality. Cities will become more
uncomfortable in summer.
Agricultural productivity may initially increase because of longer growing seasons and
the carbon fertilisation effect but this depends on adequate water and requires
changing crops and sowing times.
4.2.2 The Stern review highlights the particular challenges which will be faced by infrastructure
providers in continuing to maintain and provide the infrastructure required in the light of
increased global warming:
“The consequences of climate change in the developed world are likely to be felt earliest and
most strongly through changes in extreme events - storms, floods, droughts, and heat waves.
This could lead to significant infrastructure damage and faster capital depreciation, as capitalintensive
infrastructure has to be replaced, or strengthened, before the end of its expected
life.” 3
3 The Stern Review, Chapter 5, Page 10, available at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/stern_review_report.htm
March 2012 7 Planning Supporting Statement
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