Agenda item

            The Commissioner for Resilience submitted for the Committee’s consideration the following report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report

 

1.1       SP&R has requested the All-Party Group on the Climate Crisis recommend a process for producing a comprehensive Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Plan for the Council.  A Council motion approved by SP&R in October confirmed that a fully costed Climate Plan should be completed by mid- 2021 at the latest.  At its meeting on the 18th November, the All Party Working Group approved this document for recommendation to SP&R.

 

1.2       This paper outlines a proposed methodology, governance structure and resourcing for an eighteen-month programme of work to agree targets and produce a Climate Plan.  It was developed in consultation with a number of other cities across the 100 Resilient Cities Network to learn from established practice, and also in consultation with UK cities that are part of the Place Based Climate Action Network (P-CAN).

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

 

·        approve the proposed methodology, governance structure and resourcing for development of a Climate Plan, and establishment of an internal Programme Board to take this forward.

 

3.0       Main report

 

3.1       Many cities globally have developed Climate Plans to set out how to respond to the potential impacts of climate change, and to reduce adverse impacts on the environment, e.g. by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  Belfast’s city-wide climate plan will aim to deliver the vision set out in the draft Resilience Strategy- to transition to a low-carbon economy in a generation. 

 

3.2       The plan will focus on climate adaptation and mitigation.  Climate adaptation is the process associated with preparing for the effects of climate change, e.g. building flood defences.  Climate mitigation is the process associated with preventing or alleviating the impacts of climate change, e.g. reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by reducing an organisation’s carbon footprint.  Many organisations produce two separate plans as they tend to involve distinct disciplines.  However to reflect the level of urgency attached to the climate crisis by Belfast City Council, it is proposed that adaptation and mitigation are planned together within the Council.

 

3.3       Separately from the Council’s plan, a city-wide Climate Plan amounts to a substantial piece of work, and some cities have spent several years developing plans.  Given the urgency of the climate crisis, we are proposing a parallel process; (1) that Belfast City Council develops its Climate Plan by mid-2021, overseen by the All-Party Group on the Climate Crisis, for approval by SP&R and Council (2) a city-wide Climate Plan is developed by stakeholders across the city using existing community planning structures through the establishment of a Resilience and Sustainability Board, which will commence its work in November, and is Chaired by the Commissioner for Resilience.  In steering the development of both plans, the Commissioner for Resilience will have responsibility for ensuring they are aligned. 

 

3.4       This document recognises that the core business of Council cannot stop as we put the plan together- therefore the plan must have sufficient in-built flexibility to be applied to a complex organisation.  Existing work on climate change will continue as the plan is developed- e.g. progress on air quality, on urban forestation etc.

 

3.5       Belfast City Council Climate Plan- Proposed Objectives:

 

1.      To establish a science- based set of targets for decarbonisation (e.g. BCC arriving at a net-zero carbon position and milestones to meet as we progress towards a net zero carbon target)

2.      To set out how Belfast City Council will protect its assets from the impact of climate change

3.      To agree a range of measures which the Council can take to ensure an inclusive and just transition to a low carbon city –alignment with our Inclusive Growth Strategy.  As a core principle, we must ensure that those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change are protected.  

4.      To identify as far as possible the projected costs to the Council associated with climate mitigation and adaptation measures, and to identify financial models and sustainable funding structures in response.

5.      To use our existing networks and partnerships effectively to drive this work, e.g. Global Resilient Cities Network (100RC), Place Based  Climate Action Network (P-CAN), Eurocities etc. 

6.      To agree a broad range of costed measures which the Council will take to ensure Belfast is climate resilient (our contribution to the wider city plan)

 

3.6       Developing the Plan in Three Phases

 

            Phase One (January- June 2020): Understanding the Problem

 

            In recent months, significant work has already been undertaken to understand the scale and nature of the climate challenges for Belfast.  This work should be completed by the middle of 2020, and includes the following:

 

1.      Research and Data Collection

 

-       Use the completed ‘mini-Stern’ to identify a range of priorities for decarbonisation

-       Commission an external review, to consider the range of ways the Council can reduce its own carbon footprint (following the Edinburgh model)

-       Commence work to agree a Carbon Budget for Belfast City Council

-       Complete a climate risk assessment of Belfast City Council assets

-       Undertake adaptation research- examining how climate change will affect Belfast [work through P-CAN network]

 

2.      Governance and Structures

 

-       Establish a Resilience and Sustainability Board to bring together a range of agencies in the city to agree a collaborative adaptation and mitigation plan for the city

-       Establish an internal officer Programme Board within BCC to develop the adaptation and mitigation plan for the Council – board will bring papers to All Party Working Group and SP&R for approval

 

3.      Legal and Policy Levers

 

-       Identify and map the legal and policy levers available to Council on climate adaptation and mitigation.  For example, how to urgently reduce our own greenhouse gas emissions (e.g. changes to procurement criteria) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the wider city (e.g. planning regulations), and to improve water conservation (e.g. public education and campaigns).  This should include opportunities arising from transformational programmes e.g. City Deal implementation. 

-       Identify legislative constraints which might inhibit climate adaptation or mitigation approaches (e.g. charging policy and impact for adoption of EV infrastructure).

-       Map existing climate related policy and programmes across the city

-       Identify funding opportunities – EU Commission funding, Innovate UK etc.

 

3.7      Phase Two (July- December 2020) Agree targets and priorities

 

           Set targets

 

-       Carbon budget: Using the data from the Mini- Stern and other relevant tools and sources (e.g. the Tyndall Carbon Targeter[1], used by Manchester City Council) to agree a maximum carbon budget for Belfast, as well as projected emissions reduction pathway, interim carbon budgets and average emissions reduction rate.  This will be done in partnership with agencies on the Resilience and Sustainability Board as the target will apply city-wide[2]. 

-       Identify global standards to work towards (e.g. Destination Sustainability Index, working with Visit Belfast and ICC)

-       Based on data from the external review of BCC assets and other sources in Phase One, agree a target to arrive at a net zero carbon position for Belfast City Council’s assets/estate.  This should include energy efficiency of existing buildings, energy transition and decarbonisation across BCC fleet/transport, decarbonisation of our new build properties/projects etc.

 

            Co-design with communities

 

-       The development of a climate adaptation and mitigation plan is an opportunity to ask communities to shape the future of their city, and to build community resilience to climate change.  Many cities globally are currently engaged in community-led climate adaptation and mitigation planning, so there are lessons for us to learn, and models we can adopt from elsewhere.  [Learnings already identified from Wales, London, Rotterdam, Gothenburg, Dublin.]  Furthermore, the involvement of young people in climate activity at a community level provides an opportunity for proactive engagement with Council, and to build civic leadership among young people.  This work should also include capacity building where relevant, and where possible to enhance the capacity of the voluntary community sector in this area.  It should also include where possible engagement with schools across Belfast. 

 

            Focus on Air Quality, Transport, Energy, Circular Economy and Water

 

-       Take account of/ align with the development of revised Air Quality Plan for the city by 2020- led by City and Neighbourhood Services directorate and ensure appropriate level of ambition in setting strategic goals on air quality. This may include consideration of, for example, Clean Air Zones for the city. 

-       Take account of/ align with development of Belfast City Council Transport Plan – led by Economy and Place directorate and ensure that solutions are driven by principles of sustainable development

-       Align with ongoing implementation of the Belfast City Centre Regeneration  and Investment Strategy- led by Economy and Place directorate- in particular considering ways to decarbonise the city and design and build sustainable and green solutions for the city centre.  This work includes an important focus on sustainable economic development. 

-       Produce an energy plan for the Council aimed at setting and delivering targets on energy transition– led by the Resilience Commissioner and an opportunity to transition to renewable energy as well as becoming more energy efficient.  The plan should also include ambitions on renewable energy generation by the Council. 

-       Align with the ambitions set within a future fleet strategy- led by City and Neighbourhood Services directorate.  The strategy will outline the future direction for the Council’s fleet in terms of type, number of vehicles.  The fleet strategy will include medium and long-term ambitions for transition to low-carbon options, powered by renewable sources of energy.  It should necessarily include a fully costed range of options and a timeline for transition.   The strategy will be informed by piloting/testing of a small number of low-carbon vehicles currently being added to the fleet. 

-       Take account of/align with the Circular Economy strategy.  Led by led by the City and Neighbourhood Services Directorate, the work aims to achieve a more sustainable pattern of consumption, production and reuse/recycling in the city, thereby supporting the Belfast Agenda. 

-       Align with Living with Water Programme Board priorities on water resilience for the city and undertake work to identify ways in which BCC can drive greater levels of water conservation and water re-use

-       Develop a plan for urban forestation – which could potentially encompass a ‘One Million Trees’ initiative- a possible collaboration between resilience, culture and CNS teams and city stakeholders- currently in early development following discussion at People and Neighbourhoods Committee, with future proposals to come before CMT in due course.  

-       Agree actions arising from the blue and green infrastructure strategy which could enable climate adaptation opportunities.  Align with work ongoing by DFI to build sustainable urban drainage systems across the city, as identified by the Living with Water Programme Board

-       Identify a range of measures BCC will take to improve our climate resilience through protection of the city’s biodiversity

-       Consider potential actions BCC can take to contribute to a city-wide focus on sustainability and food

 

            Exploit existing partnerships

 

-       Using existing partnerships and networks (e.g. P-CAN and Dialogue on European Decarbonisation Strategies- DEEDS), identify external funding opportunities to support the delivery of the adaptation and mitigation plan. 

-       Using our existing city networks, such as Belfast’s Economic Forum, and relationships at a global level (such as Resilient Cities Network, Eurocities, World Economic Forum), identify and secure a major global city partner to work alongside Belfast in the development of our adaptation and mitigation strategy. 

 

            Climate Finance

 

-       Supported by climate finance expertise in the P-CAN network, put in place a financing strategy for investment in climate mitigation and adaptation- led by Deputy Chief Executive.

 

3.8       Phase Three: Finalise Actions for Implementation (January – June 2021)

 

-       Ensure a range of planning policies are reviewed/designed to deliver on the targets agreed in Phase Two.  This may, for example, include:

 

o   using plan making and development management/building control functions to enforce energy efficiency standards in new buildings and extensions

o   reduce transport emissions by concentrating new developments in existing areas and/or ensuring communities are well served by public transport

o   work with developers to make renewable energy projects acceptable to local communities;

o   plan for infrastructure such as low-carbon district heating networks, green infrastructure and sustainable drainage systems;

o   Managing Belfast’s risk to climate change impacts by considering the location of new developments relative to areas of flood risk.

 

-       Finalise changes to corporate policy as relevant to give effect to the targets outlined above, e.g. changes to procurement frameworks etc.  Consider implications for our grant-making function, i.e. requiring prospective partners to demonstrate commitments to sustainable development. 

-       Use the data gathered from the range of studies in Phase One to establish a city wide single source of data of climate adaptation and mitigation (in collaboration with QUB, UU, Belfast Met or other relevant institution)

-       Arising from the plans completed in Phase Two, identify and agree positive campaigns on behaviour change as part of public education on climate adaptation and mitigation. 

-       Map out fully costed action plan for decarbonisation of BCC assets- including potential revenue streams and financial models

-       Seek peer review/external challenge on the draft Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Plan from P-CAN cities (e.g. Leeds Climate Commission).

-       Develop a coherent approach to communication of BCC priorities and in particular find ways to enhance public knowledge and public education on the issue of climate adaptation and mitigation in an accessible way.

 

            It is proposed that a programme board will be established to take forward early planning.

 

3.9       Financial & Resource Implications

 

            This paper has been produced as part of the budget estimates process with Climate Resilience identified as a potential growth area for the Council.  It is being proposed to establish a small permanent team working to the Commissioner for Resilience to lead the development of the BCC Climate Plan and coordinate the development of the wider city plan.  The team as proposed would include the following functions:  project management and support; research and statistics; climate adaptation technical advice and climate mitigation technical advice.  A programme budget of £150k for the financial year 2020/21 has also been proposed.  The total annual cost proposed is £610k. 

 

3.10      Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

 

            The Climate Plan will be equality screened during the development process for Good Relations and Rural Needs Impacts.”

 

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.