The Cumbria Strategic Partnership is taking action to develop a county-wide climate change strategy that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enable people, organisations and industry to adapt to unavoidable impacts of climate change. 

Current national and European policy direction is clear. Existing greenhouse gas emission targets are being reviewed and tightened with an overall emissions reduction target of 60% by 2050 being proposed by the UK Government while the EU has opted for a 20% reduction by 2020. This will have enormous impact on society as a whole particularly when interim targets are set. 

The interim target being suggested for the UK is between 26% and 32% reduction by 2020. The current UK domestic target is to reduce carbon emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2010 and to reduce all 6 greenhouse gases by 12.5% from 1990 levels by 2012 at the latest. 

The challenge of a low carbon future is being taken forward by the Climate Change Action Plan for England's Northwest. It focuses on reducing regional greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change which are unavoidable.

A Cumbrian strategy and action plan will need to fully reflect international and national policy and help deliver regional actions on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. It will also need to identify localised impacts of climate change and provide guidance on adaptation in relation to infrastructure, assets and delivery of key services. 

The Cumbrian strategy/action plan will support Sustainable Cumbria, the Cumbrian Community Strategy, and will guide policy and action by CSP members on adapting to the unavoidable impacts of climate change and on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In summary, the Group exists to:

• develop a climate change strategy and action plan for adoption and implementation by CSP member organisations.
• monitor implementation by CSP member organisations
• climate proof the Community Strategy.

Once the strategy/action plan has been completed and the Group are engaged in monitoring implementation, there will be an opportunity to consider widening the scope of the Group's mandate to incorporate wider sustainability issues to enable the Group to further shape and influence sustainable Cumbria and the Local Area Agreement. This would also enable the CSP to maintain a dialogue with the Cumbria Futures Think Tank, and evaluate and respond effectively to any issues raised through a re-named 'Climate/Sustainability' Group.