Campaign update

Tomorrow’s England
CPRE is working with other environmental NGOs on the Tomorrow’s England project. The project aims to help people in the South East region visualise the effects of climate change on their immediate surroundings by 2025 and 2050. CPRE has focused on possible changes in the way characteristic landscapes will look across our regions. Other NGOs are looking at how climate change will affect our built heritage, our wildlife species and the kind of food we will be eating. The project report will be available this autumn.

Making a difference at National Office
We want to reduce the total amount of carbon dioxide generated by our National Office in central London by slashing our energy consumption for computers, lighting, air conditioning, electrical equipment and heating. We are working with our landlords on this, and an Energy Audit has been carried out.

The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition
CPRE has joined the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition. This brings together Britain’s major environmental groups, as well as international development and faith-based organizations. To campaign for mass political engagement to stop dangerous climate change. Find out more at:
> Stop Climate Chaos website

The draft Climate Change Bill
CPRE has welcomed the draft Climate Change Bill. The Bill sets statutory targets for reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 60% by 2050.

CPRE has responded to the consultation on the draft Planning Policy Statement (PPS); Planning and Climate Change: supplement to planning policy statement which was published in December 2006. It aims to ensure that new buildings and accompanying development are adapted so that their emissions are reduced, thereby cutting their contribution to climate change. We have strongly opposed the proposal to remove landscape criteria as a consideration in the assessment of planning applications for renewable energy schemes with the exception of national designated sites such as national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB's).

We have supported the proposals for more spatially efficient urban patterns of development, avoiding the need to travel by car. But we oppose the proposal discouraging local planning authorities from demanding tougher environmental standards for new building than those set out in the Government’s Building Regulations.
> Communities and Local Government website: Planning Policy Statement: Planning and Climate Change (draft)