How the Lake District National Park Authority is tackling climate change

What are the things that your NPA considers it is strong on in relation to climate change mitigation and/ or adaptation?

Partner Engagement:

• The North West Development Agency’s Climate Change Action and Adaptation Groups;
• Cumbria Strategic Partnership’s Climate Change Task Group;
• Cumbria Futures Forum;
• Tourism and Conservation Partnership;
• Business Task Force;
• Cumbria Green Business Forum.

Track record:

• Active engagement in Natural England’s Cumbria High Fells Joint Character Area Pilot Climate Change Adaptation Strategy – one of four English pilot areas, which covers over 60% of the National Park;
• Ten year Fix the Fells Programme for upland landscape restoration and path repair with Natural England and the National Trust;
• Integrated research and associated upland management through the European-funded Mountain Massifs programme;
• Cumbria Wildfire Group with Cumbria Fire Service, Forestry Commission, National Trust, United Utilities and Moorland Association.

What are the 3 main things your NPA is doing on climate change?

1. Integrated catchment management:

a.Implemented the Bassenthwaite Lake Restoration Programme (BLRP);

b.Implemented the Bassenthwaite Reflections Initiative comprising community engagement, arts and skills development;

c. Extending the principles of the BLRP to all catchments, initially Windermere.

2. Learning, Engagement and Inspiration:

a. Delivering over 500 tutored modules each year through the Field Studies Council, focusing on the actions young people can take to protect the environment;

b. Re-directed the Sustainable Development Fund to promote innovation in measures that adapt to or mitigate climate change;

c. Reviewed our own carbon footprint and implemented action based on audits by the Carbon Trust and Energy Savings Trust.

3.Policy Review:

a.Climate Change-proofed our Preferred Options in the Core Strategy of the Local Development Framework;

b. Commissioned a Sustainable Transport Strategy for the Lake District with Cumbria County Council, the North West Development Agency and Cumbria Vision including review of parking provision and pricing;

c. Commissioned a ‘Low Carbon Lakeland’ Report and associated Conference in June 2008 to establish opinions of key regional decision-makers, capture a picture of current policies and programmes and identify case studies of best practice in business, communities and the public sector.

What are the 3 things your NPA aspire to do on climate change over the course of the CSR period (2008/09 – 2010/11)?

1. Complete preparation of catchment wide ecosystem adaptation management plans across the National Park;

2. Implement all aspects of the Cumbria Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan and specifically for the National Park Authority to remain on target to become carbon-neutral by 2012;

3. Grow the funding available for promoting and supporting climate change adaptation and mitigation from £200,000 a year to £1 million a year.

What are the main obstacles that you currently face to do more?  

• No definitive research or guidance on what specific and cost effective measures will enable National Park Authorities to become carbon neutral;
• Difficulty in augmenting SDF funding from other sources such as NWDA Climate Change Action Plan, Regional Economic Strategy or Rural Development Plan for England to make a significant National Park-wide difference;
• Lack of research into carbon stores in the National Park and how they can be best managed.