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Open Consultation on the European Tourism Label for Quality Systems Initiative
Posted on: 3 May 2012
By: mackene
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Currently there is a wide variety of public and private initiatives that aim at defining the principles and criteria to be used by European tourism stakeholders for ensuring the development and provision of quality tourism within the EU. However, these quality systems often show little consistency and coordination as they usually focus on individual sectoral or territorial objectives without following a European integrated approach. This fragmentation is a possible obstacle to achieving a EU level playing field for providing high-quality tourism service throughout Europe, which is likely to cause detriment to the competitiveness of the European tourism sector. The European Commission has launched a consultation exercise to obtain the views of a wide circle of public and private stakeholders and individuals on possible EU action in this field. Comment are requested by 13 July 2012.
Measuring the environmental performance of metropolitan areas with Geographic Information Sources
Posted on: 1 May 2012
By: mackene
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This paper presents recent work undertaken at the OECD to produce environmental indicators at the regional level from geographic data sources. New indicators have been tested and produced in five different domains: a) land cover, b) forest ecosystems, c) urban density, d) CO2 emissions, e) air quality. The indicators measure the environmental performance of administrative regions (OECD TL2 and TL3 regions) and of OECD metropolitan areas. High-quality geographic datasets have been combined and harmonized with the objectives of producing internationally comparable results, and of achieving the largest possible coverage of OECD and non-OECD countries. The results show that geographic information data are a key and underexploited resource for monitoring the state of local environmental assets. There are still methodological and measurement challenges in the use of geographic data for the analysis of environmental changes at the local level. More coordination across national and international programs producing geographic data is needed to further increase their policy relevance.
Designing and constructing an exemplar zero carbon primary school in the City of Exeter, United Kingdom
Posted on: 1 May 2012
By: mackene
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Montgomery Primary School is the UK’s first “zero carbon” in use and “climate-change-ready” exemplar school built to the Passivhaus standard. Its design and solar generating electrical power plant enable its electricity bill to be zero each year.
Generating light on landscape impacts
Posted on: 1 May 2012
By: mackene
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In this report CPRE argues that a locally accountable, strategically planned approach which takes account of landscape capacity and steers wind development to the right places, will enable us to promote renewable energy, including some onshore wind, while protecting cherished countryside. The report builds a case for such an approach by examining how onshore wind proposals are currently being treated in the planning system. It uses local examples provided by our branch network and Planning Inspectorate appeal decisions.
The value of station investment
Posted on: 1 May 2012
By: mackene
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Steer Davies Gleave carried out research on behalf of Network Rail to gain a better understanding of the broader benefits of investment in stations. The research demonstrates the role of stations as gateways to the communities they serve and that appropriate investment in stations can create many benefits for local economies and communities.
Delivering transport solutions in times of austerity
Posted on: 1 May 2012
By: mackene
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The latest issue of The Review newsletter from Steer Davies Gleave examines the changes to the way transport is being funded, planned and delivered, and how emerging technologies and the ever evolving economic and social pressures will present both further opportunities and new challenges.
Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction: Briefing note on the implication of the new BS 5837 revision for planning professionals
Posted on: 1 May 2012
By: mackene
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A full revision of BS 5837: Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction, came into effect on 30 April 2012. There are some important changes with the potential to significantly impact on planning applications and the management of sites with trees.
Nothing gained by overcrowding
Posted on: 1 May 2012
By: mackene
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This publication marks the centenary of the publication in 1912 of Raymond Unwin’s pamphlet Nothing Gained by Overcrowding! and is part of a resurgence of interest in one of the most successful stories in Britain’s social and architectural history, the Garden City movement. This re-examination of Unwin’s explanation of ‘how the Garden City type of development may benefit both owner and occupier’ is published as the TCPA embarks on a campaign to remake the case for comprehensively planned new communities as part of the solution to the chronic housing crisis in England.
Taking stock of Durban: Review of key outcomes and the road ahead
Posted on: 1 May 2012
By: mackene
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The Durban Climate Conference in December 2011 represented a significant step forward for the United Nations climate change process. Although its outcomes continue to be debated, the Durban Conference could prove to be a game-changing conference for the climate negotiations. Governments adopted a comprehensive package of decisions, including an agreement to initiate a second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol and the “Durban Platform” to negotiate a long-term, all inclusive future mitigation regime that includes a process to address the “ambition gap” for stabilizing average global temperature increases at 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels. They also adopted a range of decisions designed to implement the 2010 Cancun Agreements, including launching a new Green Climate Fund and developing stronger requirements for the reporting and review of countries’ mitigation efforts.
Edge: Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies
Posted on: 1 May 2012
By: mackene
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The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has launched a Green Buildings Certification System (EDGE) to encourage companies to invest in sustainably-designed buildings. The three main goals of this green building initiative are to: save operating costs by boosting efficiency; reduce companies’ carbon footprints; and create more jobs through green design innovation. The IFC aims to make environmentally sound design more accessible to all companies rather than just those in the high-income bracket. EDGE works as an assessment tool at an early stage in the building design process, providing companies with information on reducing water, energy, and general operational costs.
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