This is a report on the first stage of a feasibility study commissioned to examine the changes that would be necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions arising from, or as a result of activities in the Thames Gateway. The report reviews definitions used in the existing literature such as “carbon neutral”, “zero carbon” and “low carbon”, to understand the basis for these definitions and how applicable they are to the study. It then sets out the scope of the feasibility study, and reviews local policies and the technical evidence needed to identify metrics, standards and targets likely to impact on the determination of a baseline and scenarios for an Integrated Resource Management model. The final section identifies the next steps in the study.

Communities and Local Government commissioned Turner & Townsend and Arup to undertake a feasibility study to examine the changes that would be necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions arising from, or as a result of activities in the Thames Gateway. The Thames Gateway stretches for 40 miles along the Thames Estuary, with large areas of brownfield land. The government's targets for the Gateway include 120,000 new homes and 180,000 new jobs by 2016.

The research for this stage involved a review of the literature to identify definitions of the terms used. There was also a review of local policies and technical evidence to identify metrics, standards and targets. The policy documents examined included: regional spatial strategies; saved structure plans; saved local plans; draft local development frameworks; non statutory frameworks; national planning policy statements; national policy guides; and technical evidence related to these documents.

The term carbon neutral is found to describe offsetting of carbon emissions through renewable energy projects, but it has also been used to describe developments where carbon emissions are reduced through sustainable practices on site. Zero and low carbon definitions typically refer to buildings only. ‘Zero carbon’ is used when there are no net greenhouse gas emissions, whereas ‘Low carbon’ developments achieve at least a 50 per cent reduction in emissions. Since the study extends beyond energy use in buildings, to include waste, water, transport and logistics, it is concluded that the use of these existing definitions is not appropriate.

Communities and Local Government
Phone: +44 20 7944 4400
Contactus@communities.gsi.gov.uk

01/11/2006

Turner & Townsend; Arup

research

Urban Policy > Urban environment > Environmental sustainability

Greenhouse gas emissions