Back to Basics

This section provides you with some quick answers and links so that you feel up to scratch with what planning for climate change is all about.

What is climate change?

To find out more about climate change please visit our Climate Change page.

How does the English planning system work?

Friends of the Earth is campaigning at all levels of Government to try and ensure that planning policy plays its part in tackling climate change. For a brief overview, see Local, regional and national planning campaigns.

A Local Campaigners Guide to the New English Planning System This guide provides advice on the new planning system. It aims to inform campaigners on how best to engage with the new structure. It also provides a summary of Friends of the Earth's key local planning policy.

Is this website relevant to Northern Ireland and Wales?

Not yet. We have tried to keep the content of this page as generic as possible but the terminology applies to the English planning system. There are a few briefings about planning for Wales here. Please visit the Friends of the Earth Wales or Northern Ireland sites for more information.

Why is it important to link climate change and planning?

The planning system is one of the key ways we can implement our vision for sustainable development and help deliver environmental justice. Friends of the Earth is campaigning at all levels of Government to try and ensure that planning policy plays its part in tackling climate change.

At present only a handful of councils have policies in their planning documents that require new developments to have high energy efficiency standards and embedded renewable energy production. And yet the potential is enormous. Does your council have progressive policies? Now's the time to ask.

What is a climate solution?

A climate solution tackles the problem of climate change. This ranges from research on climate change to campaigning for energy efficiency policies in Local Development Plans to installing energy-efficient light bulbs in your home.

The information on this page concentrates on working with local authorities to implement local climate solutions.