Climate Action 22 – 24
Achieving net zero and adapting to climate change
What is it?
Globally and nationally, the response to addressing climate change has not been adequate. Global warming reached 1°C in 2017, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assesses that it is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to increase at the current rate. Indeed, there is now growing concern that even this threshold will be crossed. Climate change is therefore a universal pressure on, and threat to, the Lake District, its environment, economy and communities. The UK Government passed laws in 2019 to end its contribution to global warming by 2050. This means the UK will be required to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.
Urgent actions to reduce carbon emissions are required and the Lake District must play its part. The impacts of climate change are evident now and will impact all aspects of the National Park. Increasing our focus on adapting to a changing climate and increasing the resilience of the Lake District, particularly around water resources management, is a pressing need.
What we are trying to achieve is set out in the Partnership Plan here:
Climate action – achieving net zero and adapting to climate change
The Lake District National Park Carbon Budget – 2022-23
To enable us to use the latest data and evidence for understanding the current carbon budget for the Lake District National Park, the Partnership has worked with Small World Consulting to re-baseline the consumption-based greenhouse gas footprint assessment made in 2019.
It assessed the full footprint of industry and lifestyles, as well as goods and services related to residents and visitors travelling to and from and moving around the National Park. It also updated the carbon footprint for land use and land management. The budget used a range of data, such as emissions factors for industry and fuels, through to DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) land use emissions for national parks and the Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) habitat baseline map.
The results showed an increase in car journeys and gave us new understanding about how land based non-CO2 equivalent emissions (such as from agricultural methane and nitrous oxide) contribute. The updated 2019 baseline (showing for each sector in the graph below) now totals 2,048,662 tCO2e (tonnes of CO2 emissions) per year. (The tailpipe emissions from a typical petrol car doing average mileage of 7,500 is 2 tCO2e per year, so this is equivalent to the annual emissions from over a million cars). This increase of 349,048 tCO2e per year compared to the original 2019 budget of 1,773,080 tCO2e per year makes our work more urgent and critical. However, it has not changed our ambition for net zero by 2037 nor our commitments and actions in the Plan.
The new budget proposes a reduction pathway, for each of these sectors, shown in the descent curve graph below. These are aligned to the wider Cumbria carbon budget and integrated with the work we do with Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership (ZCCP) to reduce emissions in the county between the Lake District National Park Partnership’s Key Outcome Groups and ZCCP’s sector groups. This will help us deliver actions across the Partnership Plan in:
- Developing and agreeing a pipeline of new Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership sector projects for climate action to move towards addressing the gap identified between our current position and net zero;
- Decarbonising transport;
- Reducing the contributions farming and land management make to greenhouse gas emissions in line with the National Farmers Union net zero goal and support farmers and land managers on adaptation of their land.
We hope to be able to re-calculate our carbon budget on an annual basis in order to monitor our progress.
2019 Baseline Emissions
A possible Net Zero pathway
Carbon Reduction and Community Energy Support for Local Councils – 2022-23
Cumbria Association of Local Councils (CALC) and Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS) are working together to explore ways in which they can help Local Councils (town and parish councils) reduce the carbon footprints of their own operations, their residents and communities.
The two local authorities in Cumbria have acknowledged the seriousness of the climate emergency and have joined the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership whose 85+ members have made a commitment to achieving net zero in Cumbria by 2037.
In March 2023 CALC and CafS created and emailed an online survey to town and parish councils, which focused in particular on carbon reduction and community energy. The results of the survey will be analysed in the hope A possible Net Zero pathway that the knowledge gained will enable both organisations to support town and parish councils to reduce the carbon footprints of their own operations, their residents and communities using a targeted approach.
The intention is to create a support pack for town and parish councils on the topic, as well as organising and hosting an on-line event in 2023 where people can find out more about relevant support and activities in relation to community and renewable energy.
– Sonia Hutchinson, Cumbria Association of Local Councils
Buttermere and Wasdale Shuttle Buses – 2022-23
Through partnership working with the Cumbria Tactical Visitor Management Group (a group comprising senior representatives from Cumbria Constabulary, Cumbria Tourism, Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, National Trust, Forestry England, Cumbria Fire and Rescue, Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, Cumberland Council, Westmorland and Furness Council and the Lake District National Park Authority) the Partnership secured funding to run popular shuttle buses to Buttermere and Wasdale in summer 2022. The aim was to reduce the number of cars travelling into and parking in the two valleys by providing sustainable and low-cost public transport alternatives. The fares were kept deliberately low so as to be attractive to visitors.
The shuttle buses helped to support two Key Outcomes in the Partnership Plan: Climate Action (through reducing the amount of carbon emitted from cars in the valleys) and Sustainable Travel and Transport (though encouraging the use of public transport).
The shuttle buses have returned in summer 2023 with the Buttermere shuttle, run by Stagecoach, operating between Cockermouth and Buttermere via Lorton, and the Wasdale Shuttle, provided by Sim’s travel of Eskdale (as last year), operating between Ravenglass station and Wasdale Head, with a shuttle bus service between Nether Wasdale and Wasdale Head offering a park and ride facility in the valley.
Cumbrian businesses win £1.25m low carbon funding – 2022-23
Ninety-two Cumbrian businesses have received grants totalling £1.25m to reduce their carbon footprint. They have benefited from the Low Carbon Lake District Fund administered by The Lake District Foundation.
Over three years the fund has supported small to medium-sized businesses across the length of the Lake District including village shops, hotels, community-owned pubs, cinemas, breweries and arts venues. They have received funding for everything from electric vehicle charging points, LED lighting, air source heat pumps, solar panels (installation pictured above),
and more environmentally friendly appliances. It is estimated that the resulting carbon savings of all these projects amounts to more than 400 metric tons of carbon. Qualifying groups and businesses were awarded up to 60% of project costs, with all projects completed by spring 2023.
Managed by The Lake District Foundation, the Low Carbon Lake District Fund was led by the Lake District National Park Authority; other key Partners included the National Trust, Westmorland and Furness Council (formerly South Lakeland District Council) and Cumbria Tourism. The Fund was supported by the European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF).
– Dickie Felton, Lake District Foundation
Traditional Building Pilot Project – 2022-23
Traditional barns can be found in every settlement and valley in the Lake District; there are thousands of them across the National Park. Some are still used for agriculture, many have been converted to homes or other uses, but a large number have no beneficial use. Nonetheless, their contribution to the historic environment, cultural landscape and natural environment of the Lake District is invaluable. Traditional barns not only demonstrate the agro-pastoral practices for which the Lake District was inscribed as a World Heritage Site, they also provide valuable habitats for owls, bats, birds and other small mammals. They were often built with owl holes incorporated into the gable wall, and the rubble construction and slate roofs provide an ideal habitat for bats and small birds to utilise.
Repairing traditional buildings is an inherently environmental thing to do; the embodied carbon is often lower than most new buildings as the materials used are natural, sustainable and sourced from the local area. Repairing and, where possible, reusing existing buildings will almost always have a lower carbon footprint than putting up a new one. Conserving and repairing these vernacular buildings delivers multiple benefits for people and wildlife, as demonstrated in the barn repair projects completed over the past four years. Between 2019 and 2022, 10 barns were conserved as part of a DEFRA-funded pilot project jointly managed by Historic England and Natural England, with the Lake District National Park Authority leading delivery.
As we think about ways to reduce our carbon footprint the historic environment is often not at the forefront of everyone’s minds, but these traditional buildings can offer us some useful pointers about sustainable living which were being practised centuries ago; source local sustainable materials; reduce transportation as much as possible; repair not replace; repurpose rather than demolish, and make space for wildlife.
Action 1: Identify barriers in gathering the evidence to create the conditions for increased renewable energy production
Action2 : Lobbying Government to reduce VAT on the maintenance, repair and retrofitting of traditional buildings as a pilot in the Lake District
Lobbying government on VAT for repair/retrofit – 2023-24
We have lobbied the Government at every opportunity about the consequences of the VAT disparity between repair/retrofit and new build. In our response to all Government consultations (changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, Permitted Development rights etc and Historic England consultations) we have raised VAT as an issue which disincentivises repair and incentivises demolition and new build. It is important that Government acknowledges that the current VAT rules are encouraging developers to look at new build options over retrofit. Despite grants being available for some retrofit measures, if the VAT situation is not levelled up and new build continues to be financially incentivised, we will continue to see large numbers of high carbon developments. These in turn have implications for our housing stock (increasingly bigger and more expensive homes) and cumulatively may cause harm to the Special Qualities of the Lake District National Park.
This action has now (2024) been closed and a revised action written for Climate Action (Built Environment) which will be taken forward in 2024-2025.
Action 3: By June 2022 secure agreement, by all Partners, on significantly reducing carbon emissions through business planning and delivering of carbon savings by integrating climate action into their business plan
Securing agreement, by all Partners, on significantly reducing carbon emissions – 2022-23
The Partnership has committed to delivering carbon savings by integrating climate action into Partner business plans. Partners (surveyed at the time before the creation of the unitary authorities in April 2023) are at different stages in their planning and progress on emission reductions. More than half are aligned to the ambition for Cumbria to be net zero by 2037. Many have published their own net zero date and transparently report on emissions from their own business activities and those which are related to them outside of their organisation. We will be working together to improve progress in this area across the Partnership in 2023 with the aim of all Partners integrating climate action into business plans by 2024.
Action 4: By June 2024 develop and agree a pipeline of new Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership sector projects for climate action to move towards addressing the gap identified that can be feasibly implemented in the next 10, 15, 20 years
Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership’s sector groups: action plans for carbon emissions reduction – 2023-24
The Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership, which the Lake District National Park Partnership is working closely with on carbon reduction, has published its updated baseline report for the county, which can be accessed here: Summary of greenhouse gas emissions in Cumbria and trajectories to net zero
In addition, each of ZCCP’s 4 Sector Groups – which cover Buildings, Transport and Mobility, Farming and Other Land Use, and Consumption and Waste – has also now published an Emission Reduction Action Plan. They set out the key actions and projects proposed for each sector. See: Sector Groups – Zero Carbon Cumbria – Carbon reduction action across the county.
Action 5: Empowering locally led climate action by creating a network of 'climate champions' within communities by working with Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership to support delivery of local projects and community action, including citizen climate juries
Partners promotional/support work to encourage and enable NFM interventions being delivered 24-25
Over the past year, partners have been working in a range of ways to encourage and enable natural flood management (NFM) interventions to be delivered across the National Park.
In November 2024, the West Cumbria Catchment Partnership hosted a conference on the evidence base behind Natural Flood Management with presentations by a range of practitioners and researchers. This was attended by three land managers, the NFU, many land management advisors/agents as well as staff with farmer-facing roles including the Rivers Trust and Environment Agency. Additionally, in the development stage of the Resilient Glenderamackin Landscape Recovery project, the project has worked with 52 land managers to produce individual holding delivery plans including a wide range of potential NFM interventions. The project has also hosted farmer group meetings including support around NFM interventions. Working with Cumberland Council to plan NFM delivery, WCRT have also conducted walkover surveys across Croasdale Beck to identify NFM opportunities and discuss these with land managers.
Throughout 2024/25 South Cumbria Rivers Trust have continued to encourage and enable appropriate Natural Flood Management (NFM) interventions across several of their catchment areas. SCRT have engaged with numerous farmers and land managers across the River Kent catchment through the LIFE R4ever Kent project; introducing and explaining the value of NFM, and discussing how a range of example interventions can deliver benefits for the environment while contributing to a sustainable farm business. In the River Duddon catchment, SCRT have continued to work in partnership through the Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery project, including on several interventions related to NFM. SCRT have engaged with and supported farmers and land managers through the stages of scoping, design and planning over the 2024/25 period, with several interventions including floodplain reconnection and leaky dams planned for delivery in 2025. SCRT have continued to collaborate with partners including Natural England to scope and design NFM interventions through Countryside Stewardship where appropriate, using their experience and expertise to support farmers and land managers throughout the process. Finally, SCRT have continued to monitor and maintain past NFM interventions, as part of our commitment to support farmers and land managers as well as collecting further evidence to justify and encourage new interventions to be delivered.
Additionally the Cumbria Innovative Flood Resilience (CiFR) project is a collaborative initiative delivered by a dedicated Farming and Community Officer from Natural England, administered by Westmorland & Furness Council and supported by Environment Agency, Lancaster University and Cumbria Voluntary Service. It involves the delivery of targeted Natural Flood Management in Rothey, Tom Rudd Beck and Bitter Beck catchments with the aim of reducing the risk of flooding in downstream communities of Grasmere and Cockermouth. Over the course of the last year, the project has undertaken one to one visits to farmers and land managers to highlight the benefits of NFM and look at the opportunities on the ground whilst providing continuing support to ensure all issues and any concerns regarding the agreed NFM interventions are addressed before NFM work commences. This is provided in a coordinated way with other farm advice Natural England offers. Promotional work has also included talks to Farmer groups about climate change and natural flood management with follow up support as required.
Finally, RSPB held a number of Open Days in Swindale Valley during 2024, hosting a total of 173 professionals to learn more about work undertaken there including river restoration, tree planting and sward enhancements which contribute to natural flood management.
Joining up and filling gaps in business and environmental advice for farmers, foresters and land managers
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Landscape Recovery Scheme Shared Learning
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