We expect, following COP21’s ‘Paris Agreement’, to see increased investment in efforts to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

In order to meet the ambitions of the Agreement, countries around the world will need to implement a range of measures to reduce temperature increases, including generating low carbon energy, constructing and retrofitting efficient and resilient buildings, making sustainable transport upgrades and flood defences.

LUC’s Head of Landscape Planning & Management Sam Oxley says: “The Paris agreement will be a catalyst, adding urgency for action against climate change. It’s something to think about as I head off to Cumbria to walk in the flooded fields and contemplate the washed out bridges and the daffodils flowering for Christmas.  LUC has already worked on projects leading to the consenting of in the order of five Giga Watts of renewable energy generation in the UK: we look forward to continuing to play our part.”

The legally-binding Paris Agreement requires:

• We keep temperature increase below two degrees celsius and urge efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees
• Binding commitments to make Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and pursue domestic measures to achieve them
• Commitment for all countries to regularly report on emissions and have NDCs undergo international review
• Commitment for all countries to submit new NDCs every five years
• Binding obligations of developed countries to support efforts of developing countries
• We extend current goal of mobilising US00 billion a year in support by 2020-2025 with a higher goal to be set after 2025
• Emissions trading countries to avoid double counting, and
• The creation of a mechanism to allow emission reductions in one country to count towards another country’s NDC