The human version (we wrote this, not the council)
This section sets out the reasoning behind the low carbon economy policy. Both councils declared a climate emergency in 2019 and committed to cutting district-wide emissions by 55% by 2030, backed by a joint Climate Change Action Programme agreed in 2021. Energy use in non-domestic buildings and industrial processes accounts for 22.5% of the area's carbon footprint. The plan aims to help businesses cut their emissions and to capture the economic opportunities of the move to net zero.
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The text below is extracted automatically from the official PDF and may
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h.
4.1 A Low Carbon Economy
Policies within this section contribute to achieving the following Strategic
Objectives:
SO3. Developing opportunities for jobs and growing the economy
SO5. Contributing towards Net Zero Carbon targets
SO8. Improving the quality of life of our communities
4.1.1 Economic development will play a vital role in driving the UK's transition to net
zero. It is predicted that by 2050, there could be up to 1.18 million jobs in low-carbon and
renewable energy sectors, and this offers great opportunities to the area given our access
to research and talent. The SWLP will encourage low -carbon sectors to South
Warwickshire to ensure that the area is well positioned to benefit from this growth and
opportunity.
Policy EC.1
Low Carbon Economy
New employment development should minimise its carbon footprint through the
incorporation of climate adaptation and mitigation techniques.
The retrofitting of existing employment development to improve energy efficiency and
incorporate low carbon technologies will be supported.
Renewable energy generation must be incorporated into all new employment
development proposals, unless specific justification can be provided that it would be
inappropriate to the location and/or type of development.
Employment development proposals that contribute towards innovation in the low -
carbon and renewable energy sector will be supported in principle.
Policy Justification
4.1.2 The NPPF states that Plans should take a proactive approach to mitigating and
adapting to climate change.
4.1.3 In 2019, Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon District Councils both declared a
climate emergency. Both have committed to reduce district wide emissions by 55% by
2030. A joint 'Climate Change Action Programme' , agreed by both Stratford-on-Avon and
Warwick District Councils in November 2021, sets out ambitions and how we will
achieve them. This requires the rapid decarbonisation of emission sources which falls
outside of the jurisdiction of local authorities.
4.1.4 A further report published in 2021 showed that emissions arising from energy
use in non-domestic buildings and industrial processes represented 22.5% of the total
carbon footprint of the South Warwickshire area.
4.1.5 The SWLP will enable a shift to a low carbon economy within the area in the
following ways:
• Businesses will be supported to reduce their carbon footprint.
• Economic development within Stratford and Warwick Districts will maximise the
economic opportunity presented by the transition to net-zero and the need to
adapt to a changing climate.
• Business resilience will be increased through the pr