Agenda item

(A report by Vanessa Strange, Accessibility and Growth Manager, which provides an overview of "Global Warming above 1.5ºC" (the report), which was released in October, by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC))

Consideration was given to a report which provided an overview of "Global Warming above 1.5°C" (the report) which was released in October 2018 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  The report was commissioned by the UN to understand the impacts of 1.5°C, in comparison to 2°C, of warming on a global scale and aimed to strengthen the global response to climate change, alongside the challenge of sustainable development, and the need to eradicate poverty.

Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·       It was commented that this was a valuable document and the messages needed to be put into a form that could be promoted with the public.  If many people made small changes, this could make a difference.  It was queried whether there was a beginning of a strategy to get this into the wider domain.

·       Members were advised that officers were looking at what other authorities were doing.  For example, Manchester had started a carbon literacy programme and were engaging with members of the public, to have those conversations around simple things that people could do every day.

·       It was requested whether a strategy could be brought back to this Committee in three months.

·       It was highlighted that there would be challenges around water management and how sufficient supply would be provided to the agricultural sector.  However, there was already some good work going on through the Flood Risk and Water Management Partnership, the LEP, catchment partnerships particularly in the south of the county.

·       It was commented that the next generation was much more interested in how some of these problems would be solved.  It was thought right that something should come back to this Committee in future.

·       These were issues where community leadership could play a role.  It was important to create a legacy, and it was suggested that this needed to be circulated at school level, to start to change people's behaviour.

·       It was noted that work had started on this with the publication of the revised Waste Strategy, as part of this was about trying to educate the public.  It was commented that an authority could have many strategies, but it was about getting the messages through to the public and the work which had been done previously with schools was good, and there was a need to build in ways of reaching young people.

·       It was also considered important that other generations did not miss out on the messages, due to concentrating on promoting messages to children.

·       It was important to educate people about the importance of properly insulating their home, particularly those on low incomes.  Pressure was being put on private landlords to ensure that properties were insulated.

·       It was highlighted that the report stated that limited warming to 1.5°C was theoretically possible, however, doing so would require unprecedented changes, and it was queried what those changes would be.  Members were advised that this referred to changes in the way that all sectors of life were approached.  There would be a need to decarbonise transport and industry.  The decarbonisation required for industry would be massive.  However, there were a lot of businesses for whom low carbon technology could be a game changer, and those businesses which were innovative would thrive.

·       The importance of message management was emphasised.  For example, if the message with the street light switch off had been that the authority wanted to reduce its carbon and save energy, there may have been a different response from the public.

·       It was noted that the off shore wind farms were starting to produce a lot of energy.

·       It was suggested that there was a need for building companies to start incorporating technology such as solar panels into new houses.  However, it was noted that was a national government issue, and was currently not in building regulations.  If it did become a national requirement for solar panels/flood resilience to be incorporated into new build properties, then the price of these technologies would come down.

·       It was a positive step for the Council to aim to be more carbon neutral

·       There was a need to think about the things which could be done in Lincolnshire, and it was commented that the authority should be doing everything practicable possible for a greener future.  Members were informed that there was work going on in relation to this which would come to this committee in due course.

·       There was a need to ensure the appropriate infrastructure was in place before any switch to renewable technology took place.  If people were given the choice, it was thought that they would switch.

·       There was a need for good homes to be built that were flood resilient and energy efficient.

·       It was noted that if there was going to be a media strategy, it was important that the messages were good, for example, how much carbon had been saved.

·       It was queried whether a list of five things that a person could do to help reduce carbon could be put together which could be included in newsletters that councillors sent out to their residents.

·       It was noted that the authority was about to start engagement work on a new transport strategy for Lincoln, and this would include options for how people could get around the city in a way which used less carbon.

·       It was suggested that the way forward would be for a strategy that was strong for local people but was also recognised nationally.  There was a need for Lincolnshire to lead, rather than have requirements imposed on the authority and other organisations.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee endorse the decision to join the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy 2020 Commitment.

2.    That a report come back to a future meeting of this Committee setting out a Strategy for how Lincolnshire residents could help to reduce the amount of carbon emissions in the County.