TOUGH PLANNING AND BUILDING RULES ARE VITAL TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

28 November 2007
Topics: Energy, Climate

A new report published by the UK government‚s Renewable
Advisory Board shows that urgent improvements to Scotland‚s planning and
building regulations are vital if Scotland is to stay on course to meet
climate change targets [1]. Commenting on the report‚s implications Friends of the Earth‚s
Head of Policy and Research, Stuart Hay, said:

„If Scotland is to deliver tough climate change targets [2] these must be
matched by tough planning and building controls to ensure all new buildings
generate some of their power from on-site renewables. This report shows
that unless we take serious action now, we won't be able to deliver
zero-carbon buildings during the next decade.‰

„In theory planning guidance should mean that nearly every new building in
Scotland should already be reducing their emissions by 15% through
small-scale renewables [3]. In practice this has not happened yet because
we're still waiting for councils to adopt the policy at a local level and
we're waiting for a review of building regulations to report.‰

„The research shows that Scotland could miss out on a £200m market in
renewables if we don‚t take sufficient steps to require new buildings to
include technologies like solar panels. With Ministers calling for the
construction of more new energy efficient homes [4] and a major independent
review of building standards [5] it is vital that steps are taken to ensure
microrenewables become standard for all new developments‰.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The Renewable Advisory Board Report Can be found at
http://www.renewables-advisory-board.org.uk/vBulletin/showthread.php?p=123#p
ost123

[2] The Scottish Government target is for an 80% reduction in carbon
emissions by 2050. Much of this will need to met from more energy efficient
buildings.

[3] New Planning Guidance on Renewables March 2007
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/03/22095556

[4] Scottish House Building Targets
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/This-Week/Speeches/futhousing

[5] Details of the Scottish Executive's Expert Panel
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/09/18082827

[5] Friends of the Earth Scotland will be holding a seminar on the 18th of
January to assist planning authorities in setting higher standards for
renewables in new buildings.

JOIN US

Working for positive change...

REAL WORLD RADIO

Listen to Friends of the Earth Internationals' radio station

GET ACTIVE

Get involved with our campaigns

Free e-newsletter