SLP KDBH Extracts - Flipbook - Page 89
Protecting and Enhancing our
Environment
Introduction
292.
The national definition of sustainable development aims to enable people to meet their
needs without compromising the quality of life of future generations, and includes protection
and enhancement of the physical and natural environment, and efficient use of resources
and energy. The NPPF states that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to
sustainable development, which includes the need to protect and enhance the natural
environment, use natural resources more prudently, and to mitigate and adapt to climate
change, thereby moving to a low carbon economy.
293.
Since the SLP was adopted, the Council has developed a “Climate Change Prospectus”
which captures how the Council is delivering a sustainable, low carbon Solihull. The
prospectus sets out the Council’s vision for the future, along key themes that are essential if
the Borough is to become more sustainable. They are:
Clean Growth
Clean Air
Nature Gain
Communication, Education & Engagement
294.
Climate change is regarded as one of the greatest challenges facing humanity and the future
of the planet today. There is strong scientific consensus 39 on both the causes of
anthropogenic increases of greenhouse gases within the atmosphere, as well as the
impacts.
295.
The UK was the first country to introduce legally binding targets for the reduction of
greenhouse gases in the Climate Act 2008. The Act also established the Committee on
Climate Change (CCC) to ensure that emissions targets are evidence-based and
independently assessed. Following advice in the publication of ‘Net Zero – The UK’s
contribution to stopping global warming’ by the CCC, the Act was amended in June 2019 to
change the target from 80% reduction of 1990 levels to net zero by 2050. A net-zero GHG
target for 2050 will also deliver on the commitment that the UK made by signing the Paris
Agreement to keep global warming below a temperature increase of 2°C.
296.
In July 2019, the West Midlands Combined Authority declared an even more ambitious
target of net zero by 2041. On the 8th October 2019 the Council took action to tackle the
climate change emergency and adopted a Statement of Intent to Protect the Environment40.
To implement the statement the Council has pledged action on a number of fronts, and
where these relate to land use matters they have been included in this plan. Of particular
significance is the endorsement of the target of net-zero emissions by 2041, and this is a key
objective of this plan.
297.
Mitigation means reducing or preventing the causes of climate change, such as promoting
renewable or low-carbon energy sources and reducing energy consumption. Adaptation
39
https://www.theccc.org.uk/what-is-climate-change/the-science-of-climate-change/
https://royalsociety.org/-/media/Royal_Society_Content/policy/projects/climate-evidence-causes/climate-changeevidence-causes.pdf
40
https://www.solihull.gov.uk/Portals/0/Planning/Climate-Statement-Oct-2019.pdf
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