Drivers for change
| Global Drivers |
| European Drivers |
| National Drivers |
| Regional Drivers |
GLOBAL DRIVERS
Climate change
- The Road Map for Future Action, Bali Conference December 2007.
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) established by governments in 1988 to help understand and build some international consensus on the nature of climate change recognising that it was a critical global issue.
- The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) , Rio Earth Summit in 1992, an international treaty negotiated by countries to start combating Climate Change
- Kyoto Protocol, in December 1997, agreed GHG emission limits for industrialised countries target (1990* - 2008/12)
- The Gleneagles G8 Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development - a major signal of renewed political will.
- Montreal UN climate change conference in 2005
- Bonn Conference, in May 2006
- Clean Energy Investment Framework co-operation with the World Bank, other multilateral development banks and the International Energy Agency to accelerate the deployment of clean technologies, provide incentives for investment in low carbon technologies and adaptation to climate change in developing countries
Sustainable development
- The 1972 Stockholm Conference and the 1987 Bruntland Report first introduced the concept of sustainability
- Local Agenda 21 (LA21), at the Rio Earth summit,1992 led to a global sustainability action plan for the 21st century and beyond
- Millennium Development Goals (MDG), 2000 on Poverty, Illiteracy, Hunger, Lack of Education, Gender Inequality, Child and Maternal Mortality, Disease and Environmental Sustainability
- Doha Development Agenda of the WTO, 2001 agreement to promote trade liberalisation, focusing on the needs of developing countries and progressing the goal of sustainable development.
- Monterrey Consensus on Financing for Development, 2002 agreement to achieve economic conditions for poverty reduction and sustained economic growth
- World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002, in Johannesburg aimed to reinvigorate the global commitment towards the achievement of sustainable development
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EUROPEAN DRIVERS
Climate change
- EU directive on the energy performance of buildings (2002/91/EC): to "promote the improvement of the energy performance of buildings within the European Community, considering outdoor climatic and local conditions, as well as indoor climate requirements and cost-effectiveness."
- 'Towards a European Strategy for Energy Supply': Green Paper (June '02), by the EC stating savings of 100 million tonnes CO2 / year, equating to a 22% reduction can be achieved, if energy consumption targets in buildings is realised
- EU Emissions Trading Scheme and the Clean Development Mechanism are key regional and global tools for emissions reductions beyond 2012
Sustainable development
- The Gothenburg strategy of 2001 led to the EU Sustainable Development Strategy (EU SDS). In 2006, a renewed SDS was adopted for an enlarged EU
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NATIONAL DRIVERS
Climate change
- Kyoto/Burden Sharing Agreement requirement to cut GHG emissions by 12.5% by 2008-12 versus 1990 base year
- Energy performance certificates (EPCs): By October 2008, all buildings that are constructed, sold or rented out will need to have an EPC, which will give an energy rating from A-G and recommendations on how to reduce carbon emissions. Public buildings must get energy ratings and display them to the public from April 2008.
- UK Climate Change Programme -combines both regulatory and obligation based measures with fiscal and support measures to attain targets through a combination of energy efficiency in the short term and renewables in the long term.
- UK Government's Energy White Paper "Our Energy Future – Creating a Low Carbon Economy" in 2003 set an aspiration for the UK to reduce carbon emissions by 60% and create a low carbon economy by 2050 based on recommendations of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP)
- Energy Review "Our Energy Challenge: securing clean, affordable energy for the long-term" – July 2006, looking at progress in achieving the targets
- Stern Review, October 2006
- Climate Change Bill – will, once enabled make legally binding the UK government's goal of 60% reduction by 2050, with real progress by 2020; through establishment of a "Carbon Committee" and commitments for an adaptation programme and a national risk assessment.
- Climate Change Levy and agreements, Renewables Obligation and Energy Efficiency Commitment
Sustainable development
- 'A better quality of life – A strategy for sustainable development for the UK', 1999 the government's first sustainable development strategy(SDS)
- 'Securing the Future - UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy March'05 is the government's new strategy for the UK.
- 'Sustainable Development Action Plans' (SDAPs) - on the integration of sustainable development into core business by central government departments.
- Choosing Health, 2004 requires the NHS to act as a good corporate citizen
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REGIONAL DRIVERS
Climate change
- Climate Change Partnership of public, private and voluntary sector organisations that investigate, advise and inform on the impacts of climate change for the region's economic, social and environmental well-being.
- Regional Climate Change Coordinators assisted by the UK Climate Impacts Programme to drive forward work on impacts and adaptation in their regions.
Sustainable development
- Securing the Regions' Futures - Strengthening delivery of sustainable development in the English regions
- Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) are strategic drivers for sustainable economic development, preparing Regional Economic Strategies (RES) . Regional Sustainable Development Frameworks (RSDFs), Integrated Regional Strategies (IRS) and Integrated Regional Frameworks (IRF) facilitate this process.
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