Fly fishing in a Peak District river

Looking After

How we work to look after the National Park, conservation, ranger services, biodiversity and policies.

Climate change

Climate change is probably the single biggest issue facing society today. That’s why it is becoming a key focus of our work in the Peak District National Park.

National parks play a big role in tackling climate change issues – both in minimising the impact and adapting to any changes. We’re already doing a lot of work but we recognise there is much more we can do.

We want to ensure our efforts are co-ordinated into a comprehensive approach. That’s why we are currently working on a climate change action plan that will look at how we can:

  • Take the lead on tackling climate change issues in the Peak District National Park
  • Encourage everybody – residents and visitors – to play their part in reducing the impact of climate change
  • Reduce our carbon footprint as an organisation

Climate Change Act

From December 2008 the Climate Change Act commits the UK to at least 80% reductions in carbon dioxide by 2050. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) is an independent body established under the Act to advise the UK Government and Parliament on the progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Their first report, which details how the UK could reduce its carbon emissions by up to 80% by 2050, can be viewed at www.theccc.org.uk/reports

ENPAA (English National Parks Authorities Association) has released a statement outlining the wide range of climate change related work that is already happening in National Parks and sets out the English National Park Authorities’ vision for future action - see www.enpaa.org.uk/climate_change_statement

Action Plan

Work with partners and stakeholders within the National Park has led to the creation of the Peak District National Park Climate Change Action Plan 2009-11 (265KB) Adobe pdf document

This document outlines the actions that need to be taken within the National Park to help mitigate the causes of, and adapt to the effects of, climate change in the years to come.

Also see our Peak Sub-Region Climate Change Study (8.3MB) Adobe pdf document  which focuses on the capacity and potential for renewables and low-carbon technology and incorporates a landscape sensitivity study of the area.  Please note we have received comments from our primary data source for hydro which are likely to result in a revision to the Hydro section of this document.

What we are doing about climate change

Many areas of the work for the Peak District National Park Authority have an impact on climate change. Some of the key initiatives we are involved in include:

  • Moors for the Future – this is an internationally important partnership project to restore peat moorlands that could potentially store large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2).
    Damage from pollution, overgrazing and fires means that CO2 stored in the peat is currently leaking out into the atmosphere. By restoring the moorlands, Moors for the Future hopes to stop this carbon being released and, as the moors regenerate, to absorb CO2, from the atmosphere.
  • Sustainable Development Fund – this is a grant scheme, which gives money to environmentally friendly projects or initiatives aimed at making a difference in local communities within the Peak District.
  • Planning advice about renewable energy– one way of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels (gas, oil, coal) is through the use of renewable energy. Not all schemes are appropriate for a national park, like large-scale wind farms. We can offer advice on better ways of introducing renewable energy schemes into the national park through our supplementary planning guidance.

Playing your part

Climate change is such a huge issue that it’s easy to think our individual efforts won’t make a difference. But by working together our individual and group efforts all add up to make a big impact.

Here are some tips on reducing your carbon footprint as:

Staffordshire Climate Change Portal

What are we doing to tackle climate change?

As an environmental organisation we strive to adopt good environmental practices to reduce our environmental impact and carbon footprint.

However, like most organisations, our practices aren’t perfect and can always be improved. That’s why we have produced our Environmental Management Policy which sets out the issues we face and targets we have set to reduce our environmental impact and carbon footprint.

Every year we will report back and let you know the progress we are making – and identify areas where more improvements can be made.