CAG Consultants has been appointed by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) to support with: “Developing local area advice for climate change mitigation and adaptation.”
This work will help translate national climate change targets and risk assessments into practical guidance for local authorities and other regional bodies across the UK.
The Climate Change Committee is currently preparing its advice to the UK Government and Devolved Administrations on two significant pieces of work:
- The Seventh Carbon Budget (CB7), which will define the UK’s emissions reduction targets for the period 2038-2041 as part of the journey to Net Zero by 2050.
- The Fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA4), which will assess the risks the UK faces from climate change, both now and in the future.
While the CCC’s advice is generally aimed at a national level, this new project with CAG Consultants recognises the vital role local government plays in achieving these climate goals and preparing for climate effects. The aim is to make the CCC’s evidence and analysis more relevant and usable for decision-makers at a local and regional level.
CAG Consultants will carry out qualitative and quantitative analysis, along with engagement with local stakeholders, to gather the evidence needed for this new advice. The research will:
- Be aimed at sub-national actors (such as regional, city, and local authorities).
- Present carbon budget pathways and climate change risks in an accessible way.
- Help with strategy and practical decision-making on reducing emissions (mitigation) and preparing for climate change (adaptation).
- Support the aims of CB7 and CCRA4.
- Use an ‘archetype’ approach to create indicative emission reduction pathways for a sample of different types of local areas.
The project will build on previous work done for the Sixth Carbon Budget, updating it to align with the new CB7 pathways and including advice on climate change risk and adaptation. It is planned in two phases to match the different timings of the CCC’s CB7 and CCRA4 analysis. There may be an opportunity for the project to be extended to use the outputs of the CCRA4 analysis to produce indicative pathways for adaptation and more detailed advice for local areas on managing climate risks.
This project will help ensure that local areas have the information they need to contribute effectively to the UK’s climate targets and to prepare for the changing climate.
About the Climate Change Committee (CCC): The Climate Change Committee is an independent, statutory body established under the Climate Change Act 2008. Its purpose is to advise the UK and Devolved Governments on emissions targets and to report to Parliament on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for and adapting to the effects of climate change.
For more information about the project, please contact Derek Morgan dm@cagconsult.co.uk