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Climate change warning for cities | Climate change warning for cities |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Scotland's cities will have to make major changes to meet climate change targets, according to a report. | Scotland's cities will have to make major changes to meet climate change targets, according to a report. |
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in Scotland said Glasgow may need hundreds of wind turbines or more nuclear power. | |
It also said Edinburgh may have to remove a third of cars from its streets. | It also said Edinburgh may have to remove a third of cars from its streets. |
Meanwhile, Jack McConnell said all new building developments will have to make big cuts in their carbon emissions. | |
As part of new planning guidance, the first minister said developers will have to cut carbon dioxide emissions by at least 15% - on top of reductions already required by new building regulations. | |
The bottom line is that we will not have an environment to protect if we do not take action on climate change Jack McConnellFirst Minister | |
Mr McConnell announced the move at the Scottish Renewables annual conference in Glasgow. | |
He said: "No other country in the UK has gone so far but this is just a first step. We will look to increase this condition in the future." | |
The first minister added: "We know that a balance must be struck between protecting our natural heritage and giving the go-ahead to new renewable schemes. | |
"But the bottom line is that we will not have an environment to protect if we do not take action on climate change." | |
Climate challenges | |
The new planning guidance comes into immediate effect and will affect new applications submitted to councils from now - but not those already in the pipeline. | |
All new public and private developments of more than 500 square metres will be covered. | |
The RICS has produced different scenarios for different cities to draw attention to the climate challenges. | |
It commissioned research which suggested that, if nothing else changes, 1,300 large wind turbines, two nuclear power plants or three dozen hydro-electric plants may be needed to reduce carbon emissions in Glasgow. | |
In Edinburgh they looked at pollution from transport and suggested that to help meet a UK Government target of a 60% reduction in CO2 by 2050, almost 60,000 cars would have to be removed from the roads. | In Edinburgh they looked at pollution from transport and suggested that to help meet a UK Government target of a 60% reduction in CO2 by 2050, almost 60,000 cars would have to be removed from the roads. |
The UK Government seta target of a 60% reduction in CO2 by 2050 | |
In Inverness the researchers concentrated on energy efficiency and found that every home would have to meet the current best standards. | In Inverness the researchers concentrated on energy efficiency and found that every home would have to meet the current best standards. |
Even then the city would only be able to expand at half its projected rate. | Even then the city would only be able to expand at half its projected rate. |
Graham Hartley, director of the RICSS, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that their report had been based on the government's own targets. | Graham Hartley, director of the RICSS, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that their report had been based on the government's own targets. |
Mr Hartley said they looked at the implications a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions would have on Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness in terms of transport, energy consumption and buildings. | Mr Hartley said they looked at the implications a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions would have on Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness in terms of transport, energy consumption and buildings. |
He said: "There's actually no house being built at the moment that meets those targets, never mind the existing housing stock, so doing nothing is not the option. | He said: "There's actually no house being built at the moment that meets those targets, never mind the existing housing stock, so doing nothing is not the option. |
"What we hope is that the government will engage with us as chartered surveyors because we are the profession with the skills to help achieve these targets." | "What we hope is that the government will engage with us as chartered surveyors because we are the profession with the skills to help achieve these targets." |
RICSS has called for clearer energy bills to show consumption and CO2 implications, better house design and more work to improve existing stock. | RICSS has called for clearer energy bills to show consumption and CO2 implications, better house design and more work to improve existing stock. |