Climate Action NOW !!

UK National Planning Policy Framework (the NPPF)

Act Now, before it’s too late….
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Hello Eco-friends
 
I’ll keep this as short as I can. Please forward this email to anyone and everyone you can. If you are connected into national organisations, please see if you can get them to promote this among members. This is a campaign being spearheaded by the Town and Country Planning Association – see this link to Hugh Ellis’s blog: https://www.tcpa.org.uk/blog/last-chance-to-unite-on-climate-action
 
The Government is consulting on a key planning document – the National Planning Policy Framework (the NPPF). 
 
The NPPF is central to the planning system. It is currently very weak on climate change mitigation (cutting greenhouse gas emissions). The consultation is an opportunity to try to get the government to make reference to the 2050 zero carbon ambition. This is, after all, the law. You may think it would automatically be referenced… In fact it would be a massive shift if the government references this law in the NPPF.
 
Try not to be tempted to say ‘this isn’t enough’, and to tinker with the proposal (see below). The more responses we can get asking for this paragraph, the better.
 
The closing date for the consultation is 27th March at 23.45. Completing the consultation is slightly complicated, so please follow instructions below.
 
Thanks
Penelope
 
Instructions:

The link below takes you to the consultation page. You don’t need to answer all the questions. Follow these steps to make it as simple as possible:

  1. Click on the link below
  2. Click ‘respond online’ at the bottom of the page
  3. Click ‘online survey’
  4. Click ‘privacy notice’, tick the confirmation box and click ‘continue’
  5. Click ‘a bit about you’ and complete, and click ‘continue’.
  6. Click ‘Proposed changes to Chapter 2: Achieving sustainable development’
  7. Click ‘no’ in response to the question ‘Do you agree with the changes proposed in Chapter 2?’
  8. Cut and paste the paragraph below into the box
  9. Click ‘continue’ which takes you back to the main page
  10. Click ‘submit’ at the bottom of the page. You do not need to answer any other questions (unless you want to do so)

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/national-planning-policy-framework-and-national-model-design-code-consultation-proposals 

Text to cut and paste:

I do not agree with the changes because they do not go far enough. I support the change to paragraph seven making reference to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. However, the NPPF needs to make explicit reference to the ambition to be net zero by 2050. A new paragraph therefore needs to be inserted after paragraph nine: “Climate change is the greatest long-term challenge facing the world today. Addressing climate change is therefore the Government’s principal concern for sustainable development. For the avoidance of doubt, achieving sustainable development includes securing the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change. All planning strategies, and the decisions taken in support of them, must reflect the Government’s ambition to help business and communities build a zero carbon future and prepare for the impacts of climate change. Accordingly, planning policies and all planning decisions must be in line with the objectives and provisions of Climate Change Act 2008 including the 2050 net zero carbon target.” Thank you.