Isles of Scilly Climate Change Strategy
Climate Change is an urgent global issue which has already begun to impact upon every nation on Earth, influence the way people live and threaten our very survival. As part of the Council’s commitment to prepare the Isles of Scilly to manage the likely impacts and opportunities of Climate Change, a Climate Change Strategy for the Isles of Scilly has been prepared.
The Isles of Scilly Climate Change Strategy explores what is meant by the term Climate Change, reviews the science of Climate Change and draws on the most recent research to present a consolidated picture to enable us to understand how it will most likely impact on the community of the Isles of Scilly.
Using the latest projections from the UK’s Hadley Climate Research Centre (based at the Met Office in Exeter), this Climate Change Strategy will assess the risks (and opportunities) that UK residents and more specifically Islanders may potentially face as a result of a warming planet and quantify them at a regional and local level. The document will discuss how residents of the Isles of Scilly can adapt to Climate Change in a meaningful way and will seek to define a road map of practical actions, which will build resilience and sustainability into our local environment and community to enable us to face the future with confidence. Unlike many other Council strategy documents the Climate Change Strategy operates to a much larger time scale and therefore must not only fit with current Development Framework, Core Strategy and the management plans of key stakeholders such as the Duchy of Cornwall, Tresco Estate, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), English Heritage, Natural England and the Wildlife Trust, but also look ahead to the long term future of the islands. It must set the process of adaptation to Climate Change in motion, not only for our generation’s welfare, but also for our children and future generations’ welfare, helping them to develop the framework that will create a sustainable way of life on the Isles of Scilly.
Scilly has a unique environment and a unique microclimate compared to the rest of the UK Mainland. It will take unique solutions to adapt to the changes the islands will experience from rising sea level, hotter summers, wetter winters, more frequently occurring extreme weather events and increased energy costs. Island life has always had to respond to extreme weather events and we have a good record of dealing and adapting to unforeseen circumstances. We have already faced many changes in the long history of the islands, so if we start early enough and plan wisely we will be able to create a sustainable environment and a thriving community for future generations to enjoy despite or with the help of Climate Change.
Hard copies of the Climate Change Strategy will be available to the public at the Planning and Development Department in the Old Wesleyan Chapel, St Mary’s and can also be viewed as a pdf electronic copy by clicking on the links at the bottom of this page.
Climate Change Strategy 2011 - Part 1 Opens in a new window
Climate Change Strategy 2011 - Part 2 Opens in a new window
Climate Change Strategy 2011 - Part 3 Opens in a new window
Climate Change Strategy 2011 - Part 4 Opens in a new window
Climate Change Strategy 2011 - Part 5 Opens in a new window
Adapting to Climate Change - Significant Vulnerabilities for Isles of Scilly Opens in a new window
Feed In Tafiffs (FiTS) Opens in a new window
Local Climate Profile Opens in a new window
NI188 - Preparing climate change adaptation Level 1 Opens in a new window
Green House Gas Emissions
Background
The government requires local authorities to work out the quantity of greenhouse gases they emit each year and make the information available to the public. This is to monitor progress towards the UK's environmental targets in particular the 'carbon budget', which is a cap on the UK's total greenhouse gas emissions.
How are Green House Gas (GHG) emissions calculated?
GHG's are calculated by collecting raw data for the usage of oil, gas and electricity from within the council's estate and tons of waste disposed of. These are then turned into CO2 equivalents using emissions factors published by Defra (in line with EU emissions factors).
The link below will enable you to download a summary report for data from 2008 - 2010
