Climate in Asia and the Pacific: a synthesis of APN activities

Posted on: 14 October 2011
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The latest synthesis report from the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), which draws together its scientific research from across the region, has climate change adaptation as a major theme. The APN hope that the report will allow countries to develop “appropriate policy responses to climate vulnerability and impacts”. The report is expected to develop knowledge ahead of both the UNFCCC climate conference in Durban (COP17) later this year and the ‘Rio+20’ UN Conference on Sustainable Development’ in the summer of 2012. The report will also contribute to the work of the current Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s fifth assessment report, due to be released in 2014.  [loaded 14 October 2011]

 

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Everyone needs a home

Posted on: 13 October 2011
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This paper presents the work of a number of Housing Forum working groups, covering issues related to localism, affordable housing, housing for older people and retrofit of the existing housing stock to deliver the low carbon agenda.

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Shelter private rent watch

Posted on: 13 October 2011
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This is the first report in a series using official private rental market statistics to examine rent levels and affordability for average earners at local authority level. Further reports will examine affordability for Local Housing Allowance claimants and trends in rent inflation.

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A guide to the benefits of urban trees

Posted on: 13 October 2011
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Greenleaf Urban Tree and Landscape Products has published a guide on the benefits of urban trees, which will be distributed to councillors and local government officers. The 12-page guide has been created to help educate policy and decision makers on the many ways in which trees can improve urban environments.

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Heritage Counts

Posted on: 13 October 2011
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This year’s Heritage Counts report, prepared by English Heritage on behalf of the heritage sector, shows how individuals, private businesses, local groups and national heritage organisations are working with the public sector to provide a voice for local communities and to promote the understanding and care of our heritage, as well as securing the future of historic buildings and places themselves.  Despite this success more help is needed to give communities greater influence and support them in looking after our heritage, an issue which is particularly important with the rise of localism and reductions in historic environment staff at local authorities. To assist them, English Heritage, on behalf of the Historic Environment Forum, has produced an online guide on how local groups can widen and strengthen community involvement in heritage issues.

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Local green infrastructure: helping communities make the most of their landscape

Posted on: 11 October 2011
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Landscape Institute has published a new report which aims to inspire people to make positive changes in their neighbourhoods by thinking about the potential offered by the natural environment and integrating this into the way places are planned, designed and managed. The current interest in local empowerment and decision-making offers good opportunities for action and the publication presents eight cases studies where green infrastructure has been woven into the fabric of local communities. They reveal the potential of green infrastructure to bring a wide range of benefits, including: enabling wildlife to flourish, reducing our contribution to climate change, reducing the risk of flooding, providing space to grow food and learn, weaving together local communities, and delivering multiple economic benefits.

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Community Infrastructure Levy: collection and enforcement – Information document

Posted on: 11 October 2011
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This document explains how the community infrastructure levy collection and enforcement provisions work in practice. It provides information for local authorities and other interested parties about collecting and enforcing the levy.

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Eco-Cities: A global survey 2011

Posted on: 11 October 2011
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This survey, published by the University of Westminster’s International Eco-Cities Initiative, presents the results of a global survey whose primary aim is to identify and document the scale and diversity of current eco-city initiatives from an international perspective.

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Climate compatible development in the infrastructure sector

Posted on: 11 October 2011
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This report. co-authored by Engineers Against Poverty (EAP) and the ODI Private Sector and Markets Programme, provides a broad overview of the challenges and opportunities at the nexus of climate change, infrastructure and development and includes an analysis of data on climate-related infrastructure funding flows.

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Archinect blogs

Posted on: 10 October 2011
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This provides a blogging platform to all members of the architecture and design community to start and manage a blog that reflects each persons own distinct interests, skills and experience. At the moment, there are 6 different types of blogs: school blogs (by students, instructors, faculty, etc.); professional blogs (discussing issues related to the practice and/or business of our industries); travel blogs;  design blogs (covering issues related to design); technical blogs (nerdy stuff, like CAD tips, Rhino tutorials, programming, etc.); and general blogs.

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