Dear Mr Denham,

The UK is committed to achieving CO2 emissions reductions of 34-42% by 2020. To do so will require radical changes in the way we use and generate energy. We have an ambitious target to generate 15% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. This will require the massive development of new renewable and sustainable energy technologies and changes to our built environment. But in many parts of the UK, progress on meeting renewable energy targets has been woefully inadequate. Changes to the planning system are required urgently to incentivise the construction and implementation of clean and renewable energy. The publication of the Government's climate planning policy (PPS1 Supplement 'Planning and Climate Change') was a positive step forward, but too few local authorities have put climate change at the top of their planning agenda. Some progress has been made, but the majority of local authorities - especially those in rural areas - have inadequate climate and renewable energy planning policies, and renewable energy targets set out in regional spatial strategies have not been met. The current planning policy statement is an excellent enabling policy, but given the challenge of climate change we need more prescriptive measures. I applaud the Government's commitment to publish a new Planning Policy Statement on Climate, which was announced in the renewable energy strategy. This is a very positive step forward. But it is important that this new policy addresses the following issues, to: *Ensure that climate change is the "first amongst equals" of planning considerations and is properly incentivised with grants and reward schemes. * Ensure that local plans and regional strategies have a target to reduce carbon emissions in line with the Climate Change Act. *Ensure renewable energy targets are met by incentivising action and ensure plans positively allocate sites for renewable energy. * Provide full opportunities for communities to participate in the development of renewable energy through setting out guidance for community owned schemes and best practice for community benefit. * Ensure planning contributes to adaptation to climate change by protecting vulnerable communities. Given the urgency of the need to take action it is vital that a new draft Planning Policy Statement is published for consultation in the autumn and that a final version is produced by in February of next year.

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