Are we on the right pathway to meet the climate change challenge?

TCPA 'planning for sustainable energy' seminar - are we on the right pathway to meet the climate change challenge?
Monday 1st June 2009, TCPA, London

The climate change agenda poses developers, planners and local government with challenges that go far beyond simply inserting a policy on climate change or energy into a Local Plan. It requires a fundamental refocusing of outputs and decision-making towards the achievement of climate change objectives, serious investment as well as enabling mechanisms in low and zero carbon energy generating technologies.

The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) is running a half day seminar on the 1st June in London to look at the current policy environment and question whether more needs to be done ensure integrated, effective and efficient climate change strategies are adopted by local authorities.

Structured into two distinct sessions the first half of the seminar will focus on the key recommendations of the Foresight ‘Powering our Lives: Sustainable Energy Management and the Built Environment’ Project. The project explored how the UK built environment could evolve to help manage the transition to secure, sustainable, low carbon energy systems that meet the needs of society, the requirements of the economy, and the expectations of individuals.

The second session will be an interactive panel debate, drawing upon the lessons from the Foresight project, and looking at whether we have the right planning policy framework to create a clear strategic pathway for renewable and low carbon energy provision.

Speakers include: Dr Jim Watson, Director of the Sussex Energy Group based at SPRU, University of Sussex, and Deputy Leader of Tyndall Centre's Energy Programme; Professor Yvonne Rydin, Professor of Planning, Environment and Public Policy, Bartlett School of Planning, University College London and Co-Director, University College London Environment Institute; Hugh Ellis, Planning and European Policy Manager, TCPA and National Planning Advisor, Friends of the Earth; Robert Shaw, Associate Director, Sustainable Development Group, Faber Maunsell; and David Green, Chief Executive of the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy (UKBCSE)

Interested and want to know more? Visit http://www.tcpa.org.uk/conference_files/Foresight_Brochure_A4.pdf for a booking form and to reserve your place or contact Alex House for further information at Alex.House@tcpa.org.uk or call 0207930 8903.

For further information about the Foresight 'Sustainable Energy Management and the Built Environment Project' visit: http://www.foresight.gov.uk/OurWork/ActiveProjects/SustainableEnergy/ProjectHome.asp