7 Environment and Natural Resources

Issues and Priorities

  • Climate change is the most important pressure on the South West’s environment and we are already starting to see its impact. Sea level rise could be higher here than in any other region (UKCIP, 2006). During the last 100 years average annual temperature in the region has increased by about 0.8°C - 0.9°C, in line with global temperature trends. Despite considerable action already underway, it is impossible to stop the inevitable climate change that will happen over the next 40 years. During this time the region will experience an increase of  extreme events, such as storminess, flooding, heatwaves and drought, such as those seen during 2006.
  • Over 28.7 million tonnes of municipal waste (from households, street litter and civic amenity sites) was created in England during 2005/06. Of this total, 2.9 million tonnes or 10% was produced in the South West. Municipal waste in the region decreased by 2% between 2004/05 and 2005/06, but remains almost 10% higher than in 2000/01. The sustainable management of this waste represents an ongoing and significant challenge for the region. Around 67% of the region's waste is sent to landfill, slightly higher than the English average of 62%. Although there has been a positive move away from reliance on landfill in the region, from 82% in 2000/01 to 67% in 2005/06, there is still a long way to go. The South West needs to actively reduce the amount of waste it produces to stop continued growth eating into the improving recycling performance. The region also needs to recover more value from the residual waste after recycling as much as it sensibly can.
  • The region remains dependent on traditional fossil fuels for most of its electricity generation and around 25% of carbon dioxide, (the most important greenhouse gas), is thought to come from energy use in the home. Domestic gas consumption in the South West was the lowest in Great Britain in 2004, which may influence the fact that average electricity consumption in the region was higher than in any other region with the exception of the East. 
  • The Ecological Footprint shows that if everyone on the planet consumed natural resources and energy like the average South West resident, it would take three planets to support us. This clearly shows that we are living beyond environmental limits. The South West eco-footprint is 5.24 global hectares (gha), well-above the world average of 2.2 gha and our 'fair share' of 1.8 gha. Home and energy is responsible for 22% of our eco-footprint, food 20%, travel 17%, consumables 11% and services 7%. The footprint for travel and services is currently above the national average. A key objective of sustainable development is to move from a three planet lifestyle to what the World Wildlife Fund calls 'One Planet Living'. This will require decoupling economic growth from an increasing eco-footprint.