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Challenge 3: Prepare for Climate Change

Prepare for and respond to the impact on Somerset of climate change.

 

Current measures of success

 

  • Reduce carbon dioxide emissions achieved by local authorities’ operations.

 

  • Reduce the amount of carbon dioxide produced per person in Somerset.

 

  • Improve adaptation to climate change.

 

  • Reduce the amount of waste per household that is not reused or recycled or composted.

 

Key facts 

 

Somerset Waste Partnership Crew Members

  •  In 2006, 4,110 kilotonnes of end user carbon dioxide emissions were released in Somerset – an increase of 1% on the previous year.

 

  • Hinkley Point B Nuclear Power Station currently supplies electricity to the equivalent of one million homes. Within the lifetime of this strategy its replacement is likely to be commissioned and possibly a further station added to meet national demand.

 

  • Proposals in the Severn Estuary Tidal Power Project, to provide about 5% of the country’s needs, will have an environmental, economic and social impact on the county.

 

  • More than 50% of the waste produced in Somerset is recycled, reused or composted.  The cost and effect on the landscape of burying what cannot be recycled is getting higher each year. 

 

What we will do

 

  1. Plan together to adapt services to meet the effects of climate change and, wherever possible, to lessen its impact.
  2. Work together to ensure that future energy requirements are met, by managing our existing resources better and making use of renewable sources including waste.
  3. Encourage less waste and promote its reuse, composting and recycling.

 

What will we do first?

 

  • We will start to plan together to start to reduce the potential impact of climate change on the county.

 

  • We will help people and businesses adapt the way they live and work to respond to climate change.

 

 

 

 

Back to Sustainable Community Strategy Aim 2 Living Sustainably