Adapting to Climate Change

Our Achievements So Far: A successful start with bold ambition

• 100 per cent Renewable Energy for Electricity
• A permanent Climate Change Officer
• Gross council GHG emissions reduced by 37 per cent compared to 2017/18 baseline
• Incentives for Erewash taxis to transition to zero emissions vehicles
• New contracts for procurement including environmental & climate change
• Erewash Borough Council Annual Climate Change Statement.
• Grade II Stable Block refurbishment for Office and Studio space
• Underused property has been sold or leased out
• Planting of 2,250 trees
• Low carbon retrofit measures installed at 139 residential properties
• Solar PV panels being installed at local charity buildings
• Real time air quality monitoring in Long Eaton and Ilkeston
• Pewit Coronation Meadows is now a designated local nature reserve
• Rewilding at eight sites to reintroduce wildflower species for nature conservation.

Planning our Energy Networks:  

Through the Midlands Net Zero Hub, who have received funding from the department of Energy Security and  Net Zero, we will be working with South Derbyshire District Council to develop a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP).

This will assess our energy networks, forecast likely risks and opportunities for the future and develop key  energy projects and programmes for our area.  

The LAEP will:

• Create an action plan for local leaders
• Inform Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs)
• Be a place-centred approach - focussing on the needs of local businesses and communities
• Streamline our energy networks to be more resilient, reliable and cost-effective
• Enable a coordinated energy transition

Our Commitment to Climate Change Learning:

• Senior Staff and Members undertook Climate FRESK training to raise their awareness of climate change and detail personal and service specific targets
• Further e-learning and collaborative workshops will be explored
• Climate Change awareness training will be offered as projects and initiatives are set up
• We are exploring options to provide access to climate change literature with the possibility of a staff book club to encourage discussion, opportunity mapping and future thinking. 

Borough Wide Resilience and Adaptation:

1. Creating an Erewash Climate Risk Assessment:

In accepting that there will be changes we all will need to adapt and create resilience for, we first need to  outline what the likely risks and vulnerabilities there will be in a 2-degree world and current worst case 4 degrees warming. For Erewash these are:

High Heat, Drought & Fire Risk: 

Annual temperature increases between +1.8 and +3.8oC with significant increase in summer days over 25oC + extreme days over 35oC. An increase in summer night-time temperatures over 20oC. Increased cooling demand at home and work. These changes raise the potential for drought and dry fires within the Borough. 

Intense Rainfall & Storms: 

Increase in high intensity rainfall leading to surface and fluvial flooding, with higher frequency and magnitude of storm events.

A Greater Window for Snow 

Although there will be a reduction in severe cold and frost, and less black ice, there will likely be an increased chance of snow. Warmer wetter winters will cause more ‘solid precipitation’ or snow. The temperature for snow formation is between 0 and 2oC. 

Based on the national Climate Change Risk Assessment (CRA3) we will be analysing the likely impacts of climate change and how these changes will affect both people and place. This will include assessment of the health effects of Climate Change in the UK. The Erewash Climate Change Risk Assessment will outline direct and indirect impacts of Climate Change, critical thresholds, and key local concerns. It will then build upon existing Emergency Plans and Resilience Preparation to develop targeted adaptation plans. These will have key measurable targets that will be monitored closely.  
We are keen to be open and transparent and to collaborate with local business and communities lets talk climate

2. Community Climate Awareness

Erewash Borough Council will be seeking to encourage and support communities and businesses where possible to learn about climate change impacts and deliver climate change adaptation and sustainability initiatives.

These could be: 

Carbon Footprint Reduction Challenge

Accounting for emissions from:

• transport, food and household, electricity
• water, waste, recycling, phone & internet
• open fires or log burners, gas heating
• CFCs, ozone, nitrous gases, methane & ammonia. 

5 R’s of Zero Waste Initiative

1. REFUSE – saying no to nonessentials
2. REDUCE – can you limit use of any items
3. REUSE – give items a second life
4. RECYCLE – choose no, or easily recycled packaging
5. ROT – compost all organic waste 

Community Energy Projects

• Heat networks
• Solar cooperatives
• Shared wild turbine

Campaigns to improve home energy efficiency

Check your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

3. Flood Risk: Now and to come

A critical risk in our area is flooding from the Rivers Trent, Derwent and Erewash, and associated tributaries.

We will continue to liaise with Derbyshire County Council in their role as the Lead Local Flood Authority.  

It is likely that once rare flood events will become much more frequent.  

As such we will need to determine the impact of this, and how best we can prepare.  

In short, how we can create as positive a future for us all as possible.  

4. Future Development

A key area of focus is how these risks and adaptation measures will be applied in future development within  the Borough. We will be exploring options to encourage developers to incorporate climate change adaptation measures into future schemes and developments. It is critically important that UK homes are resilient to Climate Change.  

See our warmer homes Erewash page. 

Domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standard - landlord guidance - GOV.UK

Energy Performance Certificates guidance - GOV.UK 

How does snow form?