Planning system must tackle climate change, says coalition

The planning and climate change coalition, organized by Friends of the Earth and the Town and Country Planning Association, will launch draft guidance today on how the planning system could tackle climate change.

The proposals included a duty on councils to map green energy opportunities in their area, include community-based schemes, to help them meet their renewable energy targets; a technical body to monitor their progress against the targets and an education programme on climate change for councilors and planners.

The government has already said it will publish a new planning policy statement on climate change. The coalition want the statement to include a commitment to make climate change a major factor in all planning decisions and a commitment to reduce energy demand and promote renewable energy schemes on a range of scales from large projects to community energy generation schemes and micro-renewables.

Friends of the Earth’s executive director Andy Atkins said: ‘The planning system must play a key part in UK efforts to meet its targets for tackling climate change. New guidance is desperately needed to boost green development and prevent carbon-hungry projects from being approved. Local councils have a major role to play in ensuring UK emissions reductions are met - the Government must ensure that local councils get serious about carbon dioxide.’

TCPA energy policy manager Kate Henderson said: ‘The planning system can play a key part in tackling climate change by ensuring we get the right amount of renewable energy, by encouraging carbon zero development and by shaping development which reduces the need to travel by car. But despite some excellent rhetoric, much of the planning system is still locked in the age of stupid.  It allows carbon intensive development and often refuses real solutions to climate change such as renewable energy projects.’

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