Current and planned programs in Climate Change mitigation / adaptation within Gwynedd Council

1. Current and planned programs in Climate Change mitigation / adaptation within Gwynedd Council Dewi W. Jones Strategic Policy Manager – Sustainability and Environment PATHFINDER OFFICERS - 1/3/11

2. Council 3 Year Business Plan (2008-11) Climate change mitigation and adaptation has been identified as a Strategic Priority within the Environment and Infrastructure Strategic Programme. The following issues and plans have been identified as priorities: • Climate Change • Changing Climate: Changing Places • Flood Risk Management • Pwllheli Pilot Project • Carbon Footprint Reduction • Gwynedd Local Services Board Carbon Footprint Reduction Plan. • Gwynedd Council Carbon Management Plan.

3. Climate Change Adaptation – Changing Climate Changing Places 3 year UK pilot project – started 2008 Primary focus on adaptation Project Aims: To improve the resilience of local communities to the impacts of climate change To improve the capacity to address this issue To enhance strategic planning

4. Local Climate Impacts Profile (LCLIP) outcomes - Gwynedd Rain Waterlogged graveyard School closures Slippery pavements Coastal Debris Weed control Landslides Events cancelled Library flooding School Transport Heat School closures Noise Pollution Rat/Wasp/Fly populations Littering/rotting rubbish Soil drying-tree damage Melting Road Surfaces Grass Cutting Funerals (morbidity) High Winds School closures Landfill site closure Debris on rail/roads - closures Fallen trees Infrastructure damage Events – structural damage Traffic lights Insurance Claims CCTV -security Cold Day Centre closure School closures Refuse collection Road closures Gritting Pitches icy School Transport

5. Changing Climate: Changing Places • Used the BACLIAT process with Heads of Departments to assess corporate Threats and Opportunities. • Further detailed BACLIAT work undertaken with Services responsible for care of the elderly, transport infrastructure, strategic direction and Local Development Plan. • Identified opportunities and threats and findings of the LCLIP were considered as part of the business planning process for relevant Services and Departments. • Used UKCP09 to look at the likely scenarios for different areas within the County.

6. Pwllheli Pilot Project • Produce a long term, integrated flood risk management, mitigation and adaptation strategy • Identify consequences of sea level rise and changes in rainfall over the next 100 years • Identify long-term sustainable solutions and assess their feasibility along with delivering a sustainable strategy • The long-term requirements will be used to define the short and medium term management needed • A key aspect of the study is the involvement of the community in understanding the risk and supporting future options • To influence and inform policy-makers and funding bodies, particularly the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG)

7. Pwllheli Pilot Project

8. The Gwynedd Carbon Footprint Reduction Project proposes to ensure a quantifiable reduction in CO2 emissions in Gwynedd by: Reducing the use of energy in non domestic buildings based on 2005/06 baseline by the following amounts: Reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill by the LSB member organisations by 603 TCO2e by 2012/13 based on 2007/08 baseline (comparative waste diversion target – 39%) Reducing CO2 emissions derived from business travel 20% by 2012/13 based on 2007/08 baseline Consider carbon emissions when purchasing goods and services. Gwynedd LSB Carbon Footprint Reduction Project Targets

9. What’s already been achieved? Non domestic buildings carbon footprint

10. Extending the Project to the Community and Private Sector • The next step of the Plan is to consider how the project can be extended from the “public sector” establishments to the community at large • A conference was held on 18 January 2011 in Plas Tan y Bwlch, Maentwrog arranged jointly with the Gwynedd Environmental Partnership in order to present the context, identify gaps and prioritise action steps in order to reduce Gwynedd’s carbon footprint • The conference was open to individuals and groups who are interested in reducing the carbon footprint of our communities which also encompassed business, agriculture and tourism • The Gwynedd Environment Partnership is now considering the action points identified at the conference and their views on the relative priority which should be given to the various initiatives • From the results of the discussions an action plan will be produced and implemented as part of the Project

11. Indications of likely priorities and projects for the Community and Private Sectors • A local community fund to enable householders, businesses and communities to access finance for carbon reduction projects • Assistance for businesses to improve their carbon footprints possibly through support for Environment Management Systems • Improved information sources for householders, businesses and community groups • Pilot community green village / town projects developing both energy efficiency schemes as well as renewables projects encompassing householders, community groups and businesses in the project areas

12. Gwynedd LSB Carbon Footprint Reduction Project

13. Gwynedd Council’s Carbon Management Programme • Reduction of 10,259 Tonnes of CO2 by 2015 • 79 schemes to be implemented • Investment of £7,431,915 • Gain £585,000 of loans from SALIX • Pay-back of investment in 10 years

14. Conwy County Borough Council • Low Carbon Activities • Currently, Conwy is working to reduce emissions from public buildings; some baselining work is being carried out with the help of Engineering & Design Services with a view to reducing energy requirements & increasing efficiency • Possible strategies once baselining is complete include smart metering, increasing staff awareness campaigns (i.e. to turn lights off, monitors when not in use etc), upgrading buildings i.e. with better insulation, more efficient heating • Additionally, Conwy is also working towards the ‘Green Dragon’ standard for environmental management: • This includes minimising our use of natural resources and energy and increasing the level of recycling within our Council buildings.  • We've produced an environmental statement outlining our intentions towards environmental improvement and our performance towards this so far.

15. Conwy LSB Low Carbon Project • In addition to the internal projects, Conwy is working with its Local Service Board partners (North Wales Police, Fire & Rescue, BCUHB, CVSC, Snowdonia National Park Authority, Environment Agency, etc) to tackle low carbon across the public sector. A project plan has been approved for submission to WEFO, this aims to achieve the following objectives: - • To work together with the Energy Saving Trust to establish Conwy LSB's current carbon footprint • To utilise this baseline and all current information available in order to establish a blueprint for action in Conwy, including the setting of future targets • To work collaboratively in following the blueprint to make progress against the organisational targets set in LC02. • To work collaboratively to improve the Community's contribution to low carbon • To maximise any potential social and economic benefits involved in transitioning to a low carbon economy • It is hoped that this project will reduce carbon emissions in Conwy and to also leverage any economic benefits that arise during the project.

16. Ynys Môn/Anglesey • Anglesey has no formal Climate Change adaption or mitigation plans in the sense of a Corporate Action Plan/ Programme or policy. • An Energy Island concept is being promoted in connection with Wylfa B and the former Anglesey Aluminium site (both regulated at UK rather than local authority level) with general plans to boost some green forms of energy.