date: Mon, 3 Mar 2003 13:18:36 -0000
from: "Stephanie Ferguson" <stephanie.ferguson@ukcip.org.uk>
subject: UKCIP news
to: "Stephanie Ferguson" <stephanie.ferguson@ukcip.org.uk>

   Dear Colleague



   1. Building Knowledge for a Changing Climate initiative and report launch

   2. Climate change and the housing industry event

   3. Working with Business strategy consultation

   4. Working with local government

   5. Climate change and demand for water

   6. IPCC to consider carbon sequestration and regional climate forecasts in 4th assessment

   7. Regional scenario maps on website

   8. Communications feedback

   9. Forward look


   1. Building Knowledge for a Changing Climate initiative and report launch

   A joint 2-million EPSRC/UKCIP research initiative on the impacts of climate change on the
   built environment is to be launched by Minister for Environment and the Agri-environment,
   Rt Hon Michael Meacher MP, today 3 March at an event held in conjunction with the
   Insititution of Civil Engineers. A report outlining the six research projects and wider
   research agenda, developed with stakeholders, is also published today. For a hard copy,
   please contact UKCIP, or see [1]www.ukcip.org.uk/built_enviro/built_enviro.html for more
   information and to download.


   2. Climate change and the housing industry event

   UKCIP are among the speakers at a CIRIA event in London on 4th June, to be launched by Rt
   Hon Michael Meacher MP. Other speakers are from Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the
   Association of British Insurers,and Arup For further information, see [2]www.ciria.org.


   3. Working with Business strategy consultation

   UKCIP wants to engage a wider section of the business community, so that the many different
   sectors can start to consider how they will be affected by climate change. To build on
   existing relationships, we plan to develop identify new sectors and create a new section of
   our website, accessible from the home page. We would welcome your views about our draft
   strategy, recently discussed with the government's Advisory Committee for Business and the
   Environment (ACBE). See [3]www.ukcip.org.uk/business/business.htm


   4. Working with local government

   UKCIP and the Innovation and Development Agency (IdeA) have agreed to produce information
   for local authorities on climate change impacts on the full set of tasks undertaken by
   them. UKCIP and IdeA will work with the LGA, ODPM, the devolved administrations, and the
   members of the "Councils for Climate Protection" to produce a checklist of impacts against
   which local authorities can test their actions and policies. This follows the drafting of
   an initial document by Andy Reisinger, on secondment with UKCIP from the NZ government last
   December. If you would like to be involved in writing the next draft, contact Chris West or
   Steve Waller at IdeA ([4]steve.waller@idea.gov.uk).


   5. Climate change and demand for water

   A new study on the demand for water has been completed and is now available via our
   website: [5]www.ukcip.org.uk/water_demand/water_demand.html. Funded by Defra, the study was
   undertaken to ensure that climate change was considered not just from a water supply
   perspective, but also in relation to demand. A stakeholder forum to discuss the findings
   will be held in the Spring. Consideration is being given to production of a summary report.


   6. IPCC to consider carbon sequestration and regional climate forecasts in 4th assessment

   The politically sensitive issues of carbon sequestration and regional climate forecasts are
   to form part of the fourth assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
   Change (IPCC). The assessment, due in 2007, was discussed by some 300 IPCC members in Paris
   on 19-21 February. Sequestration was chosen as the subject for a special report, separate
   from the main assessment. After the meeting, Rajendra Pachauri, director of the Tata Energy
   Research Institute in New Delhi and chair of the IPCC, confirmed that more detailed
   regional models of the impact of climate change would be considered by the assessment's
   authors. For more information, see [6]www.ipcc.ch.


   7. Regional scenario maps on website

   New maps based on UKCIP02 climate scenario data are now available on the website. They
   provide a regional focus of the UK-wide maps seen previously. See
   [7]www.ukcip.org.uk/climate_change/future_uk.html.


   8. Communications feedback

   Brief update on your responses: 65 returned. All like e-news! Fact sheets for different
   sectors are also in demand, and we will be getting on with these in the coming months, in
   line with our Working with Business strategy. Mixed views as to whether hard copies of
   reports are needed, but people are generally more positive about downloading material than
   they were a couple of years ago. Media relations is not a general priority, but useful to
   raise awareness of climate change or to help meet specific objectives. It varies as to how
   much people have seen references to UKCIP. Discussion groups are not much in demand - you
   don't have time!


   This will be useful information for the new communications manager, so many thanks for
   returning the forms. We'll contact you directly if you made specific comments or expressed
   interest in training or discussion groups.


   9. Forward look

   BBC Radio 4's Archers is due to include a climate change theme in the coming weeks, when
   Spring comes early. Not sure of dates, but regular listeners will enjoy.

   Climate adaptation: risk, uncertainty and decision-making (launch date tbc please contact
   UKCIP if you're waiting to use this report)

   West Midlands scoping study launch (Summer 03)


   We look forward to meeting you at one of the above events or hearing from you via phone or
   email.

   Regards

   Chris West

   Director, UKCIP


   Based at the University of Oxford and funded by DEFRA, UKCIP helps organisations assess how
   they will be affected by climate change, so they can prepare for its impacts.


   UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) Draft Strategy for Working with Business March 2003


   INTRODUCTION

   UKCIP has successfully worked with some business sectors (e.g. water and insurance) over a
   number of years to raise awareness of climate change. See Annex 1 on existing
   business/UKCIP links. The current issue is how to engage with the wider business community
   that has its own specific needs and diverse interests.


   Aims

   To develop a strategy to help meet the business sector's needs for information on climate
   change impacts, and on the adaptation options available.


   1. It should complement the work of the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment
   (ACBE) and be consistent with ACBE's recommendations to Government;


   2. It should support UK domestic policy on climate change impacts and adaptation by synergy
   with the inter-departmental process and other activities as appropriate;


   3. It should address climate change impacts as part of the wider sustainable development
   issue;


   4. It should seek to address issues identified as important by business itself in a way
   accessible to business people;


   5. It should increase the capacity of business to address its own needs;


   6. It should ideally use existing mechanisms for delivery that have earned some trust from
   business;


   7. It should focus as much on engaging the community and on raising awareness as on the
   development of research agendas.


   ONGOING ACTIVITIES

   UKCIP has been working with the private sector for a number of years. This includes:


   a. Almost 50 private sector organisations have funded, or been on the steering committees
   of regional scoping studies;

   b. There are water companies on the steering committees of the studies Regional Integrated
   Assessment of Climate Change Impacts (REGIS) and Climate Change and the Demand for Water
   (CC:DEW);

   c. The Crown Estate is a major funder of the Marine Biodiversity and Climate Change project
   (MarClim);

   d. Anglian Water and Nottcutts Nurseries are funders for the Gardens study. A list of
   businesses with UKCIP links is provided in Annex 1.


   Water Industry

   UKCIP is working with the water companies on both the supply and demand sides. The industry
   has used UKCIP climate change scenarios to look at water supply changes, and UKCIP and the
   water companies are engaged in a study CC-DEW looking at water demand changes due to
   climate change. The results of this study will be used in the fourth periodic review of
   water prices. A final stakeholder workshop is scheduled for Spring 2003 to coincide with
   the publication of the CC-DEW report. Subject to resources, UKCIP intends to produce a
   separate leaflet for distribution based upon the executive summary of the report.


   Built Environment

   UKCIP has entered into a major three-year research initiative, in partnership with the
   Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC), which aims to provide an
   assessment of the impacts of climate change on the built environment. The programme will
   address impacts on: urban areas; the construction sector; transport infrastructure; the
   energy sector; coastal and river engineering and water resources; and cultural heritage.
   This provides a major new opportunity in developing research linked to the needs of
   stakeholders in this very large sector. The initiative represents the start of a new mode
   of operation by the research councils, and UKCIP will need to continue to be very actively
   engaged within the process to ensure ongoing stakeholder involvement.


   Businesses have been engaged in the following ways: The 2001 research fora in London and
   Edinburgh were attended by about 180 built environment professionals. Of these, approx 80%
   of the London attendees were from the private sector, compared to 30% at the Edinburgh
   event. Railtrack, Scottish Water, National Grid , the Association of British Insurers and
   Buro Happold were on the shortlisting panel that reviewed expressions of interest to EPSRC.


   It was made clear to researchers that projects would only be funded under the initiative if
   stakeholders were committed to being project partners. The projects chosen by EPSRC include
   numerous private sector organisations as collaborators, from engineering firms, energy
   producers and distributors, transport companies, water companies, port operators,
   professional institutes and the insurance industry. These have all committed time and in
   some cases, data and resources, to the projects. Details of the projects, in the context of
   a wider research agenda, are outlined in a short report available from UKCIP.


   A Stakeholder Forum, to be set up by UKCIP, will oversee the portfolio will have a majority
   of private sector organisations.


   Tools, Data and Communication

   Guidance on handling risk and uncertainty in decision-making will be published in Spring
   2003;


   A methodology for costing the impacts of climate change will be published shortly
   afterwards;


   UKCIP will prepare a document that describes how to undertake a UKCIP study and use the
   UKCIP toolkit;


   UKCIP is preparing a checklist for individual organisations/companies to use to assess
   their vulnerability to climate change, to be available via the UKCIP website. (This would
   complement ACBE's "Sector specific risk and opportunities from predicted changes to UK
   climate"). It will be illustrated with concrete examples of impacts, either already present
   or anticipated and planned for.


   These tools should prove very useful for UKCIP stakeholders and in particular should help
   to engage the business community, as the risk and uncertainty guidance is framed around the
   "normal" project decision-making cycle that many businesses use; the costings methodology
   will enable businesses, for the first time, to begin to attach a monetary value to climate
   change impacts and compare them to the costs of adaptation.


   PROPOSED COURSE OF ACTION

   A three point course of action is proposed:


   1. UKCIP will work with a selected Pilot Partner Group of Trade Associations to enable them
   to deliver useful, accurate and sector-relevant information to their members;


   2. Repeat the methodology developed in 1 to access Other Routes into Business;


   3. Manage the ongoing programme;



   1. Pilot Partner Group of Trade Associations

   UKCIP are working with the Department of Trade and Industry, the Confederation of British
   Industry, and the devolved administrations to identify a small number (20?) of Trade
   Associations suitable as UKCIP partner organisations, based on previous experience and
   expressed interest.


   UKCIP would like to build on the work already done by ACBE in this area, possibly using the
   same group of Trade Associations that ACBE has had contact with.


   The intention is then to ask the Pilot Partner Group of Trade Associations to each identify
   an individual who would come to UKCIP (for a few days together or over several visits?)
   for:


   a. An introduction to the UKCIP programme;

   b. Training in climate impacts, UKCIP methods, quality control;

   c. Assistance with mining existing study reports and library materials;

   d. Assembly of a set of impacts/adaptation options relevant to their business.


   The partners would then return to their host Trade Associations to write/lead a team
   writing business- and sector-friendly factsheets. UKCIP will check the technical content of
   the factsheets. These would then be distributed by the Trade Associations. Many of these
   bodies already provide fact-sheets; some will have provided climate change fact-sheets,
   often from a mitigation viewpoint. Others already have house newsletters, magazines,
   websites, etc. The issue of intellectual property rights and branding will need to be
   addressed.


   At this stage it is probably best not to emphasise the ensuing links from any preliminary
   scoping study to a more expensive and off-putting full research project, but a factsheet
   would advise that UKCIP can help with further work. Over-emphasis on the science and
   research interest will put off many business readers.


   For this first group, individual or very limited numbers would be hosted at each time, in
   order to build up experience. Organisers of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Summit
   requested such access and help with producing fact-sheets on 14 issues to be covered at the
   Summit, so we have some experience of how this can work. A parallel exercise to build
   understanding of climate change impacts and increase adaptation capacity among local
   authorities is being undertaken by UKCIP in conjunction with the Improvement and
   Development Agency and the Local Government Association. Useful lessons should be learnt
   from these two exercises.


   2. Other Routes into Business

   Once the methodology is thus trialled and evaluated, further groups of bodies could be
   selected or invited to undertake similar work. At a national level, such bodies are the
   Trade Association Federation, British Chambers of Commerce, Business in the Community,
   Trade Unions, large individual companies and others; a further set of Trade Associations
   and the professional Institutes would cover other business sectors while at a
   regional/local level there are Regional Development Agencies, Chambers of Commerce, and
   other business-focussed groups. Individuals engaged in the first pilot group could provide
   the basis for an advisory panel, if this was useful.


   This stage would have to be decoupled physically from UKCIP premises to allow more
   individuals to participate, but each would receive less assistance, and arrangements for
   wider access to existing material would have to be provided.


   3. Manage the ongoing programme

   At this stage it would be worth approaching all Trade Associations and Chambers of Commerce
   to publicise the existence of a package consisting of:


   a. Guidance on the training available;


   b. Templates for paper and web-based fact-sheets;


   c. Core presentation material and a Q&A briefing for use by the named person;


   d. Information on the network of partners who have undertaken this task, and who would be
   able to assist further iterations;


   e. Limited access to a named individual at UKCIP for assistance. This package could, given
   sufficient resources, form another tool in the UKCIP toolbox entitled "How to assemble a
   climate change impacts factsheet for your members".


   There would be a gradual and open process of moving from tight UKCIP control of quality
   where its own brand is involved to a situation where partners have more autonomy to produce
   their own brand of product.


   Continuing enquiries about producing further member fact-sheets will be referred to the
   tool above, while UKCIP will deal constructively with any intention expressed to undertake
   further work. The provision of ongoing assistance to the network of partners will have
   resource implications. In parallel with this awareness-raising stream, there will be
   opportunities to press for some sectoral or generic business-relevant studies into the
   impacts of Climate Change and Adaptation Options.


   COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY TO SUPPORT WORK WITH PRIVATE SECTOR

   UKCIP sees its work with business as being primarily about communication, and much is
   already included above. However a number of specifics can be highlighted:


   a. An initial meeting with the Trade Association would be needed to gain their support;


   b. UKCIP would supply the UKCIP logo for production by the trade association. Factsheets
   would be branded by the trade association;


   c. UKCIP and each Trade Association would issue a joint news release to their trade media
   to announce that  they were working together to provide information to a given sector, and
   that a fact-sheet and advice was available from both;


   d. The UKCIP e-newsletter will announce plans for the initiative and publicise the
   factsheets as they become available. The Trade Association would do the same via their own
   newsletters and communications;


   e. A new business page on the UKCIP Website will be created in the first instance, with
   links to ACBE and the Trade Association factsheets, outlining our plans to work in
   partnership with businesses, explaining that we recognise that different sectors will have
   different levels of concern and impacts.


   f. Depending on the level of take-up, we could develop the site to become a gateway for
   business, with links to each partner organisation's site;


   g. UKCIP will provide introductory leaflets to the Trade Association, and reference copies
   of other tools and reports;


   h. Consideration will be given to a display panel outlining these partnerships. UKCIP could
   provide material for Trade Association production of display panels on climate change
   impacts and adaptation;


   i. As UKCIP stakeholders, the partner Trade Associations would receive details of events
   and the UKCIP e-newsletter and would be invited to user fora. The format for the next user
   forum will be determined in 12 months' time, but a business slant has already been
   proposed.


   Annex 1 - Some Businesses and Organisations involved in UKCIP studies

   Acordis

   Anglian Water

   Arla Foods Plc

   Arkleton Trust

   Asda Stores Limited

   Associated British Ports

   Association of British Insurers

   Association of Electricity Producers

   Atkins

   Avesta Polarit

   AXA Insurance

   Cadbury Plc

   Carlton TV

   CBI

   Country Land & Business Association

   Country Life Magazine

   Crown Estate

   Duchy of Cornwall

   East Midlands Airport

   Federation of Small Businesses

   Food Technopole

   Humber Growers Ltd

   London Electricity

   London Tourist Board

   Manchester Airport

   Marsh UK Ltd

   Midlands Environment Business Club

   NatWest  Bank

   Northumbrian Water

   North West Water

   Norwich Union

   Notcutts Nurseries

   PROSPER

   Rolls Royce plc

   Severn Trent Water

   Shepherd Building Group

   South West Tourism

   South West Water

   St George plc

   SWEB

   SWEL

   Tarmac plc

   Thames Water

   Toyota UK

   TXU Europe Power Ltd

   Wessex Water

   Westcountry Television

   Westcountry Tourist Board

   Wilkinson

   Welsh Water

   Yorkshire Electricity

   Yorkshire Tourist Board

   Yorkshire Water Services

   ___________________________



   Stephanie Ferguson
   Administrative Assistant
   UK Climate Impacts Programme
   Union House, 12-16 St Michael's Street, Oxford OX1 2DU



   Tel. 01865 431254  Fax. 01865 432077
   email [8]stephanie.ferguson@ukcip.org.uk
   [9]www.ukcip.org.uk

