Climate change: Implications for Green Space

1. Kevin Jones Head of Environment Strategy December 2007 Climate change: Implications for Green Space

2. Outline • Climate Change • Mitigation and adaptation • Interaction with green space • A way forward

6. River flooding • Storm drains backing up • Soil water-logging • Damage to property from driving rain • Soil loss (water erosion) • Fungal growth/disease Wetter Winters and Heavier Rainfall

7. Drier Summers • Irrigation water shortages • Conflicts over water use • Insufficient water to dilute pollution • Contraction of clay and peat soils • Increased run-off - soil won’t absorb rainfall • Soil erosion by wind • Wild fires

8. Temperature: Human Systems • Fewer winter deaths, lower heating bills • Comfort in buildings, vehicles, and outside • (Urban heat island effect: ~ +2 - 9°C) • Heat effects on elderly, vulnerable • Disease vectors and food poisoning • Implications for work environment • Outdoor lifestyle

9. Temperature: Infrastructure • Tarmac (roads, runways) soften • Expansion allowances exceeded: • Rails buckle • Transmission lines sag • Electrical equipment fails • Cooling systems overload • Cement sets too fast

10. Need for Adaptation and Mitigation Adaptation is needed as we are already committed to some degree of climate change irregardless of mitigation efforts. Influenced by historic emissions Mitigation is needed to reduce the amount and rate of future climate change – avoiding dangerous or unacceptable climate change Determined by current and future emissions

11. observations Medium-High emissions (modelled) Projected Changes to Extreme Events

12. HPI 2050: carbon efficiency? Resource efficiency to improve by over 80% Life Expectancy 80yrs Life Satisfaction 8/10 2050 60 - 80% reduction in CO2 emissions

13. New critical threshold Vulnerability Critical threshold New coping range Coping range Past Present Lag Decision to adapt Implementation of adaptation Planning time horizon Climate Sensitivity, Vulnerability & Adaptation Future

14. Three Facets to Local Authorities • Corporate Role • Commission, own & manage assets • Employer • Have pension fund investments • Service Provider • Planning • Environment • Waste collection and disposal • Community Leader • ‘Shaper of place’ • Duty of care • Welfare of community

15. Functions of Green Space • Quality of life • Local environmental quality • Sense of place • Healthier lives • Moderates climate • Biodiversity

16. Working with Climate change Examples from Westminster Council include: • An increase in the planting of exotic trees and shrubs • Mediterranean Garden in Regents Park • Olive and Palm trees in Connought Square and Hyde Park Square Need to reflect holistic impact building in adaptive capacity

17. Way Forward • Resilience will be crucial • Need to revisit purpose and focus of green space • Consider community needs and interaction • Build in adaptation methodology to decision making • Balance between existing and future requirements “Developing woodland as an alternative to grassland provides a recreational open space which benefits a wider range of people” National Urban Forestry Unit

18. Thank you Kevin Jones Head of Environment Strategy Essex County Council Tel: 01245 437524 Email: kevin.jones@essexcc.gov.uk