The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) is an independent body established under the Climate Change Act to advise the UK Government on setting carbon budgets, and to report to Parliament on the progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The 'Merton Rule' is the groundbreaking planning policy, pioneered by the London Borough of Merton, which requires the use of renewable energy onsite to reduce annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the built environment.
Every Actions Counts provides advice and support to voluntary and community organisations which are looking to reduce their impact on the environment, tackle climate change and improve their local area.
We are a charity committed to sustainable development.
This means developing an enriching and enjoyable way of life that does not threaten the global environment or rob future generations of resources.
We want to see businesses and communities thriving in a future that’s environmentally sustainable and socially just.
It can be done. In fact it’s the only way businesses and communities will prosper in the long run. But we need bold action, now.
We play our part by:
* Showing organisations what a sustainable future could look like and challenging them to make a difference
* Delivering practical solutions to help organisations change
* Training leaders to bring about change, and educating the leaders of tomorrow
* Communicating success stories
National policy to reduce greenhouse gases includes ensuring local authorities deliver sustainable energy processes and policies. The 2005 ‘Sustainable energy’ beacons have created a benchmark and toolkit to help others to provide local solutions to an international problem.
The LGA Climate Change Commission was established to consider how local government can respond more effectively to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deal with the impact of climate change.
The commission will look at the ways in which councils can tackle carbon emissions in their own buildings and facilities, in the services they provide and decisions they take in housing, transport and social services. It will investigate how authorities go about purchasing green goods and services as well as the most effective way to share best practice. It will explore the leadership role of councils in encouraging individuals, communities and businesses to reduce their emissions. Members will also consult with authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The UK Global Environmental Change Committee (GECC) is an Inter-Agency Committee which provides a forum to coordinate UK involvement in the science and technology of climate change and other global environmental change, both nationally and internationally. It reviews the effectiveness of the national capacity, capability and performance in these areas and makes recommendations, including identification of lead agencies.
The Bill will create a new approach to managing and responding to climate change in the UK through: setting ambitious targets, taking powers to help achieve them, strengthening the institutional framework, enhancing the UK’s ability to adapt to the impact of climate change and establishing clear and regular accountability to the UK, Parliament and devolved legislatures
The Protocol requires developed countries to reduce their GHG emissions below levels specified for each of them in the Treaty. These targets must be met within a five-year time frame between 2008 and 2012, and add up to a total cut in GHG emissions of at least 5% against the baseline of 1990. Review and enforcement of these commitments are carried out by United Nations-based bodies. The Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations under the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities.” This has two main reasons. Firstly, those countries can more easily pay the cost of cutting emissions. Secondly, developed countries have historically contributed more to the problem by emitting larger amounts of GHGs per person than in developing countries.
The Tyndall Centre brings together scientists, economists, engineers and social scientists, who together are working to develop sustainable responses to climate change through trans-disciplinary research and dialogue on both a national and international level - not just within the research community, but also with business leaders, policy advisors, the media and the public in general.
The UK Government is committed to addressing both the causes and consequences of climate change and to that end is bringing forward proposals for a Climate Change Bill.
The Bill will introduce a clear, credible, long-term framework for the UK to achieve its goals of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and ensure steps are taken towards adapting to the impacts of climate change.
The UK is acting now to adapt to climate change and to reduce the risk by reducing our contribution to the causes. These pages explains what climate change means for the UK and what we are doing about it.
The IPCC was established to provide the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. The IPCC does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters. Its role is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic literature produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change, its observed and projected impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. IPCC reports should be neutral with respect to policy, although they need to deal objectively with policy relevant scientific, technical and socio economic factors. They should be of high scientific and technical standards, and aim to reflect a range of views, expertise and wide geographical coverage.
the Wuppertal Institute focuses its work on application-oriented sustainability research, addressing the major challenges related to sustainable development, such as climate change or resource shortages.
The UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) provides scenarios that show how our climate might change and co-ordinates research on dealing with our future climate.
ECI is an interdisciplinary unit administered within the Oxford University Centre for the Environment that undertakes research on environmental issues, teaches an MSc in Environmental Change and Management, and fosters university-wide networks and outreach on the environment. The Institute is currently organized around three major research themes - Climate, Energy, and Ecosystems - the latter two with close links to the OUCE research clusters: Climate Systems and Policy and Biodiversity .