Meeting the climate challenge

Kent is already being affected by climate change, however part of the climate challenge is recognising the need to take action now to protect our environment from future damage. 

We recognise that climate change is happening and that we have a critical role in helping Kent's businesses, communities and individuals understand and prepare for the impacts of climate change, as well as playing their part in reducing those impacts.

We will be developing a new Environment Strategy in 2009. This will set out the actions that we will need to take in Kent to reduce carbon dependency.

Nationally, the Stern Review, published in 2006, considered the economics of climate change, and concluded that the costs of taking early action to reduce carbon emissions were significantly outweighed by the potential long term consequences of failing to act.

Following the Stern Review, the Climate Change Act 2008 incorporates a legally binding target for the UK to reduce its carbon emissions by at least 26% by 2020 (on a 1990 baseline).

The Act also contains measures to introduce financial incentives for carbon reductions. For Unlocking Kent’s Potential (PDF, 2.3mb), meeting the climate challenge means taking action to develop low carbon industries (and to develop the skills associated with them).

The climate challenge also presents opportunities for economic development in Kent, given the potential that the county has to take a lead in some low-carbon sectors.