Norwich has been a success story for almost 1,000 years. It is a modern city with a historic heart; it is vibrant and growing fast. Its economic, social, cultural and environmental influence is out of all proportion to its size, and extends far beyond its boundaries. Norwich’s importance to the people of Norfolk and the wider region is clear.
Until recently, it has been possible to challenge the proposition that human activity has added to the natural process of climate change since the beginning of the industrial revolution. This is no longer the case. Climate change is happening and poses a long term threat to prosperity and the well being for our city. We have had highest rainfall records, highest temperatures, warmest months and wettest years all happening in the last decade.
The global challenge of climate change is significant and requires a ‘decarbonisation’ of the economy and a move away from the use of fossil fuels. Attention is focusing upon the role of local government in helping to meet this challenge. The Local Government Association (LGA) recently established a climate change commission, which has looked at this question. It has focused upon ways in which authorities can make a real difference through work on existing homes, planning, transport, procurement and by adapting to the effects of unavoidable climate change.
The government has also set challenging targets to reduce carbon emissions by 26-32 per cent by 2020, and at least a 60 per cent reduction by 2050. Councils need to respond to these challenging targets through both mitigating the causes of climate change and adapting to the effects.