date: Wed, 6 Mar 2002 14:58:12 -0000
from: "Simon Torok" <s.torok@uea.ac.uk>
subject: What message would you give to a local Council?
to: "mike" <m.hulme@uea.ac.uk>, <n.jenkins@umist.ac.uk>, <kas11@cam.ac.uk>, <f.berkhout@sussex.ac.uk>, <simon.shackley@umist.ac.uk>, <j.a.halliday@rl.ac.uk>, <a.watkinson@uea.ac.uk>, <n.w.arnell@soton.ac.uk>, <mnt@soc.soton.ac.uk>, <sl285@cam.ac.uk>, <J.Hertin@sussex.ac.uk>

Dear all,

Thank you very much for your thoughtful contributions despite a tight
deadline (and for many of you, despite the request arriving as you were
rushing out the door).

I thought you would be interested in the following off-the-cuff discussion
points, in case you actually do run into your Councillor at the pub.

Regards, Simon.

	Climate change is happening, will continue and has negative and positive
impacts. Scientists predict a range of likely climates to help plan and
reduce risks. So . . .
	Conduct a climate change audit for any decisions sensitive to weather and
climate that has a life-span of more than 10 years: will climate change
undermine the investment, does infrastructure allow for climate change?
	Consider energy conservation and incentives: is energy efficiency
encouraged in future buildings through assessment of planning applications?
	Track developments in energy policy: e.g. CHP is not commercially
attractive currently due to policy (technology is promising) but conflicting
short-term economic and long-term environmental policies may soon converge
to encourage renewables.
	Articulate a renewables opinion: local impact versus national targets.
	Identify projects that combine carbon reduction with climate change
adaptation: e.g plant trees or energy crops on flood plains.
	Plan for opportunities through a cost-benefit analysis of options: e.g.
protecting against sea level rise using managed realignment could enhance
the coastlines value through tourism.
	Introduce an annual carbon audit for Council offices to see how much your
activities contribute, and from where.
	Raise awareness of current and future flooding in community and business
(insurers, builders etc) and connect with discussion on reducing emissions.
Appoint a climate change education officer for internal and external
awareness, e.g. display board of carbon dioxide emissions saved by Council
and residents as a result of actions, local information on Web site.

__________________________________
Dear Mike, Nick, Koen, Frans, Simon, Jim, Nigel and Andrew,

I have been asked to discuss climate change at a Kings Lynn/West Norfolk
Council Climate Change Task Group meeting. The Council are particularly
interested in the impact of climate change on East Anglia's energy demand,
building design, biodiversity, flood risk and water supply -- and what they
can do to reduce emissions.

It would be very useful to know what 3 (or more) key messages you would
deliver to the Council, considering your expertise in one or more of the
above areas.

While specific action plans are more the remit of organisations such as EA,
I think at this stage of the Tyndall Centre's life it would be good to be
able to offer some initial findings and current thinking about climate
change responses from around the Tyndall consortium.

So that I can incorporate your thoughts into a presentation, could you
please reply to this email by 2pm tomorrow (5 March).

Thank you for your help, Simon.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Dr Simon Torok-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
External Communication Manager                   Phone: (01603) 593 906
Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research       Mobile: (07880) 547 843
School of Environmental Sciences                 Fax: (01603) 593 901
University of East Anglia                        Email: s.torok@uea.ac.uk
Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK                             Web: www.tyndall.ac.uk
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-24 hour UEA media number: (01603) 592 203-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-

