ClimateNE aims to investigate, inform and advise on the threats and opportunities presented by the impacts of climate change in North East England. It brings together a wide range of organisations committed to taking action to tackle the causes and effects of climate change in the North East, working to promote action on both adaptation and the reduction in the North East's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
ClimateNE is a key source of intelligence and support, assisting the move to a low-carbon and climate resilient economy and positioning North East England to avoid risk and realise commercial opportunities.
Our main areas of work are
Providing intelligence and evidence
Supporting action on adaptation
Supporting action on mitigation
Facilitating opportunities
Providing intelligence and evidence
ClimateNE has developed a strong evidence base that helps us to understand the scale of the challenge we face. We will continue to gather and share intelligence and evidence to help ensure that North East England is in a strong position to cope and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The ClimateNE evidence base includes the award-winning Climate Change Adaptation Study - looking at what the future climate is likely to be for North East England and how we will need to adapt; an analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions; and the economic implications and opportunities for North East England. All studies are available here.
Additionally, a ClimateNE survey with North East businesses (2010) found that a significant number of businesses have indicated their wish for a ‘one-stop-shop' of information where they can find climate change related information to help them adapt, manage risk and identify commercial opportunities related to climate change.
Supporting action on adaptation
ClimateNE is working with businesses, communities, the Climate Change Schools Project and local authorities to support them in increasing their adaptive capacity and action.
The adaptive element of the economic implications of climate change study estimated that failure to adapt effectively to the physical impacts of climate change could cost the regional economy a minimum of £600 million (1.5 per cent GVA) per annum by 2050. Costs of adaptation are estimated at £80 to £100 million per year by then - a further business opportunity. This equates to a benefit to cost ratio of seven to one.
Supporting action on mitigation
ClimateNE is providing support to all councils in North East England to ensure that they are at the forefront on energy saving, and leading the way on transforming the region's economy.
ClimateNE is acting as a supportive structure with the 12 local authorities in North East England. All councils have committed to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 by signing the European Union's Covenant of Mayors initiative. All have submitted Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs).
Facilitating opportunities
ClimateNE is a key source of intelligence and support that will assist with the move to a low-carbon and climate resilient economy, and help position North East businesses to avoid risk and realise commercial opportunities.
North East businesses now need to bring their considerable acumen and entrepreneurial skills to bear and begin to develop and exploit the genuine commercial opportunities that tackling and responding to climate change can present.
The ClimateNE survey of businesses in North East England showed that 46 per cent believe that climate change will provide opportunities for them. Additionally, the economic implications of climate change study has highlighted that tackling climate change and moving to a 'low carbon economy' could boost Gross Value Added (GVA) by 0.8 per cent by 2020, and adapting to the physical impacts of climate change could provide a benefit to cost ratio of seven to one.
For more information contact jennifer.atkinson@climatenortheast.com
