Planning for changes in the law: what is essential is the definition of 'sustainable development' | Damian Carrington

Property developers have warmly welcomed the proposed changes in the Government planning laws. Photography: David Goddard/Getty Images

Planning Act rare time accelerates the blood of the media. But every day, above and below the Earth, planning decisions are giving way to the country, bringing joy to some and they despair for others.

Publication on Monday of the Government's plans for a radical reform of planning of the United Kingdom - tearing nice lawyer up to 1000 pages and putting in place - only 52 pages was received with coverage of minimum immediate press (including Guardian, Telegraph, BBC excluded).

What of it? Simplification and less work for the lawyers, is a good thing. And as Julian Glover in the guardian (an acute observer of planning laws), Great Britain will have to build if our population growing, aging will have a roof over his head.

But consider these two ministerial takes on the new national policy planning framework (NPPF). First of all, business Secretary Vince Cable, which says that the plans are "sensitive to business" and "an important step forward in the creation of conditions for business start-up, invest, grow and create jobs".

Then Secretary of environment Caroline Spelman. She said that the plans "will give local communities the power to protect green spaces that mean so much to them, but giving the maximum protection to our landscapes treasured national parks and areas of Natural beauty."

Can they talk about the same? The key here is a sentence which did not appear until paragraph 7, of the press release: "a presumption for sustainable development".

"Presumption in favor" means development plans - homes, supermarkets, highways, business premises and so - give green light, unless there is good reason for not doing so. It is a major shift in the balance of decision-making.

So what is essential is what the Government means by "sustainable development". NPPF (p3) project defines the term as follows.

Delivery of sustainable development means for planning system:

? planning of prosperity (an economic function): use the system of planning to build a strong, sensitive and competitive economy, to ensure that there is sufficient land for the right kind and in the right places allow growth and innovation...

? planning for individuals (social role): use the planning system to promote
strong, active and healthy communities by providing a greater supply of
housing to meet the needs of present and future generations...

? planning of places (an environmental role): use the planning system for
protect and enhance our natural, built and historic environment, using natural
resources with prudence and to mitigate and adapt to climate change...

This definition, combined with the presumption in favor - feel me weighted to say yes to every building and pretty light on how to avoid adverse events. The bias of the definition of "sustainable development" for short-term gains allow a kind word probe applicable to all types of construction projects.

But we will see that she was satisfied with the plan and that it is not. The Government, rather helpfully, relays the views of the Chairman of the main group of developers, Sir Stuart Lipton - "we are delighted" - and the peace of Liz, Executive Director of the British Federation of property: "will have no problems to our resounding support framework of today." So the constructors are more than happy.

But, the nation, the National Trust's largest landowner. "Planning is for individuals, non-profit," says the director-general, Dame Fiona Reynolds. "This sounds like finally death sentence the principle established in the 1940s used the planning system to protect what is most special in the landscape, creating a tool to promote economic growth in its place."

The campaign to protect rural England are not happy either. Director Executive Shaun Spiers, said: "the new framework will make the field and much less safe from harmful and unnecessary development local character." And the RSPB, the largest group of voluntary membership in United Kingdom, is concerned about too much. Martin Harper, Director of conservation of the RSPB, says: "the planning system is there to represent the interests of the public to the complex decisions, and all of us will fail if one of the factors: economic growth: is higher than any other". (There are many more reaction in the history of my colleague John Vidal news.)

So that the developers are satisfied, that many others are not. That, I think, says all you need to know about the orientation of the new planning regime. Plans are now being consulted until 17 October, so make sure you give your opinion.

PostScript: I wondered what that would mean the NPPF large infrastructure projects, such as new power plants and wind farms needed to clean up our power supply. The answer is not too much, as I find out. Currently, independent infrastructure planning Commission has responsibility for deciding on projects defined by the Government as a national priority. Local communities may object to specific parts of these plans, but not to the overall desirability. Commissioners of CPI then balance these factors and make a judgement. The next changes you will probably see the abolished CPI, but still there will be a process independent of projects regarded as national priorities. The big difference is that a Secretary of State will take the final decision, not a Commissioner CPI.

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French to say au revoir engaged in trees

Logging of these trees of plane 200 years together with the Canal du Midi is seen as a national tragedy. Photography: Travelpix Ltd/Getty Images

If you want to indulge in the shadow of the most beautiful plane trees Motley Europe canapé, go now. It is likely that in 20 years, not one of the 42,000 trees currently stretches along the banks of the Canal du Midi, which meanders from Toulouse to the Mediterranean, will still be standing. An unstoppable fungal disease has left the French State there is no choice but to reach for the chainsaw, get off the roof of leaves covering the most romantic waterway of the nation.

Logging of these trees 200 years is seen as a national tragedy. Cyclists, walkers and shipowners channel was destroyed and local politicians are panic that it revoke the canal Unesco World Heritage status, destroying the tourism. The President, Nicolas Sarkozy, smelling an opportunity to make election campaign, has promised to heal the "sadness" and the trauma and the channel to "Save".

"It is heartbreaking," says Jacques Noisette of Voies Navigables de France, which extends to the waterways.

UNESCO not still threatens to remove the channel their qualifications. But the French authorities must try to quickly can be planted in an avenue of young trees to recreate the magic of a historic canal dating from the reign of the Sun King, Louis XIV.

Two thousand trees along the channel so far have been hit by the microfungus Ceratocystis platani - which came to France via the wooden ammunition boxes contaminated American GIS in World War II. But the disease has been disseminating constantly along the canal since the it was first discovered there in 2006. It extends through the water and perhaps canal for mooring boats and transfer the fungus between the trees.

They should be chopped down and burned diseased trees, but so must the healthy surrounding. At the end of this year, 1,000 trees have been felled. Next year he will go to 4,000 and the axings number will increase steadily each year for more than one decade.

Replanting will begin at the end of this year, with a mixture of new varieties of trees more resistant to disease. But it will take 30 to 40 years to return to planting the famous leafy Lane which runs for more than 200 km for the historic centre of the South of France.

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Conservative, white men most likely climate change skeptics, study shows

Conservative, white men are more likely to be those who deny climate change, say the researchers. Photograph: Getty

"The more that you think you know more I think you're right," is an old saying. Now comes a study of sex, skin colour or political ideology which suggests that almost sums up how some white male conservatives in the United States respond to climate change.

"Even casual observers" who argue that climate change is not a serious problem "is likely to see an obvious pattern," Aaron M. McCright of the Michigan State University in East Lansing and Riley e. Dunlap, of the State University of Oklahoma at Stillwater instead write environmental Global: "the most prominent denialists are conservative white men" - of media Rush Limbaugh expert politicians as Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe. But the pair wondered: "is there a similar pattern in the American public?"

Namely, the researchers analyzed ten annual surveys on environmental issues carried out by the Gallup Organization from 2001 to 2010. Together, they include responses from more than 10,000 adults. After cut and break up the numbers, the trends are clear: "conservative white men are significantly more likely than other Americans to endorse denialist views", write. And "these differences are even greater for the conservative white men it Autoinforme global understanding of global warming very well".

In general, while 29.6% of conservative white males (CWMs) believes that the effects of global warming "will never happen", only 7.4% of all adults shared that view. Similarly, 58.5 per cent of CWMs, but only 31.5% of all adults, denied that the recent increases in temperature are primarily caused by human activities. The pattern shows that CWMs "are more likely to change for other adults to reject the scientific consensus on climate change", the authors point out. As well, "not surprisingly," 58.8% of CWMs "deny the existence of scientific consensus," compared with 35.5 per cent of other adults.

CWMs also were over twice as likely than other adults to say that the media exaggerated the seriousness of climate change (65.1% to 29.9%). Finally, 39.1% of conservative white males, but only 14.4% of all adults: not worried at all about global warming, he said.

In particular, the researchers say CWMs also used to assert a stronger global warming than other adult understanding - and who says they understand better were more likely to be the strongest deniers. "This, certainly seems untenable self-appraisal," the authors write, "as conservative white men are more likely than other adults to reject the current scientific consensus."

However, previous research, can help to explain the pattern, they speculate. Psychologists and scientists have suggested that WCMs often identify themselves as more risk tolerant and less willing to support ideas that challenge the existing economic, social and political hierarchies.

"The intersection of conservative, 'male' and 'white' is important to explain the distribution of the denial of climate change in the American public," the authors conclude. But "denialism is sufficiently diffuse in the American public that obviously cannot be attributed solely to conservative white men," they say. "What is more serious, especially by the scientific community and the climate change communicators, is the denial of climate change has increased public U.S. between 2001 and 2010, although mainly due to a significant increase in the past two years which may be abnormal in the long term." - David Malakoff

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US eco-activista imprisoned for two years

Activist Tim DeChristopher marks a hero for environmental colleagues and left-wing activists. Photography: Douglas C. Pizac/AP

An activist who became a hero to activists to stop an auction of the Bush administration for the industry of oil and gas with $1. 8 m (￡ 1. 1 m) in false bids was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday.

Tim DeChristopher was immediately ordered custody and a fine of $10,000. It has been facing a potential sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of $750,000.

Environmental activists and leftists, actress Daryl Hannah to Naomi Klein, author and filmmaker Michael Moore reported immediately as excessive sentence.

At a vigil outside the Salt Lake City Hall, where he carried out the ruling, supporters of the movement of peaceful civil disobedience uprising of the DeChristopher shouted: "Justice is not here."

As a bidder not 70, DeChristopher interrupted what was seen as a final gift to the oil and gas industry by the Bush administration by bidding $1. 8 m (￡ 1. 1 m) did not have the right to drill in remote areas of the State of Utah. He was found guilty of defrauding the Government in March.

In a telephone conversation with The Guardian, a day before the ruling, said he hoped the penalty of imprisonment: "I think that I will serve some time in prison." "That's what I believe to be the next chapter in my life."

DeChristopher lawyers had argued that his actions in December 2008 were single-use, and that the judge must show clemency. They argued that dechristopher had no intent to cause damage.

However, Judge Dee Benson said beliefs the DeChristopher policies does not excuse his actions.

DeChristopher said he had no plan clear when fulfilled at the auction in Salt Lake City, in December 2008.

"" The time I went with a type of direct action of thinking mode of thinking that if I can cause enough delay, stop this action and keep oil in the ground, then that could be worth the effort, he said.

He had come directly from write one of their finals, shaving, and in an old down jacket. "Certainly does not look like someone who was there," said. "Not to be an Executive of oil or anything else".

The federal Bureau of Land Management officials asked if he wanted to bid. DeChristopher said yes, still thinking at that time that he just wanted to shout something or cause a disruption.

But when the auction ended, DeChristopher had driven prices in some plots and winning bids by 14 pieces of land: some of which close to national parks. I knew that he had no money to pay for it.

The administration of Obama later cancelled the majority of sales, due to doubts about the Bush leasing plan.

DeChristopher defense was complicated from the beginning when the judge refused to hear the arguments that had been forced to act, to prevent a greater evil. In this case, the climate change.

But while the argument do not move to the Court, won DeChristopher track on the campus and a greater generation of activists. He also founded a group of civil disobedience, peaceful insurrection.

"Tim is a hero to me," wrote Peter Yarrow, American folk singer and member of Peter, Paul and Mary, in an article in the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday that DeChristopher compared to the leaders of the civil rights movement.

"American history, acts of civil disobedience have led to change." Thinking on the underground railroad helped slaves to freedom, or on the courageous actions of people like Rosa Parks, who refused to stay at the bottom of the bus simply because of her skin color. "Without this kind of challenge unjust laws our country would probably still denied fundamental freedoms to people of color."

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National Trust warns planning changes could cancel field

(NPPF) national planning policy threatens the green belt, warn environmentalists. Photography: Richard Saker

London green belt could be sacrificed to urban expansion of Los Angeles-style of low economic growth gave radical planning system reforms announced by the Government this week, the National Trust has warned.

3.6 Million member organization expressed its "serious concern" Tuesday by the Government's proposals to cut 1,000 pages of policy planning to only 52 pages in a move that has won the backing of timbre of developers.

Opponents argue that the new draft policy effectively eliminates the national goal of recycling brownfield land and allows local communities to support the building in the green belt. It is set to be the biggest change in the planning system in more than 60 years and guidance notes decreases detailed planning and circulars. Instead, the Government insists that there should be a presumption for "sustainable development" to House a growing population.

(NPPF) national planning policy framework seeks to accelerate and simplify the often complex laws at the same time as encouraging economic growth. In a foreword to the new policy, Greg Clark, the Minister of decentralization, said: "we must accommodate new forms that will earn our living in a competitive world..." "Sustainable development must go forward, without delay".

Fiona Reynolds, director general of the National Trust, warned that the policy could lead to growth that is excessive in the field on a scale not seen since the 1930s.

"The Government's proposals allow financial considerations dominate and this is huge risk in our field, the historic environment and precious local places that people value", said.

"This sounds finally death sentence the principle established in the 1940s used the planning system to protect what is most special landscape."

The new policy was developed with the help of a "consultative group of professionals", whose members include a conservative Councillor, director of the firm of Taylor Wimpey housing construction, a consultant for planning representing major developers at Government level and a staff member of the Royal Society for the protection of birds.

"Through the replacement of more than a thousand pages of national policy with around 50, written clearly and simply are enabling individuals and communities in the planning," said Clark.

But the changes to planning are likely to produce a popular reaction, according to environmentalists. The National Trust is asking its members to sign a petition urging the Ministers to reconsider.

Shaun Spiers, Executive Director of the campaign to protect rural England, said the Government have declared "open season" field not designated as green belt or an area of natural beauty.

"The new framework will make the field and much less safe from harmful and unnecessary development local character," he said. "If it is not changed, there will be battles against the development throughout the country that will make the public revolt against the sale of forests as a tea party."

The campaign for better transport and friends of the Earth have also attacked the plans.

The activists said that if the proposals were not amended could be counterproductive in the Government in the same way that plans to sell the forest estate in England, this year has resulted in an embarrassing turn of 180 degrees.

Ominous for the Government, many of the same groups opposed to the sale of the forest are at the forefront of criticism of the project NPPF, published Monday by the Department for communities and local governments. Most of the groups object has strong representation in constituencies held Tory.

Britain's largest property companies welcomed the proposals, saying it would help boost economic growth and create jobs.

"It is refreshing to have a concise national planning framework which supports and promotes the growth and at the same time protect our heritage," said Francis Salway, Executive Director of land securities.

"Focus on economic growth is very welcome, recognizing also the important role which the planning has to protect the environment," said Chris Grigg, Executive Director of British land. "We welcome the presumption for sustainable development".

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Hey Congress! Hot enough for you?

A mother feels expels water to refresh their daughter playing in a waterfall during hot weather in Washington, DC. Photography: Larry Downing/Reuters

If you've had the pleasure of spending time in our nation's Capitol this week, feel me: is really rough out there. Report local weather on Monday, he said it hit at 95 degrees, but that it felt like 105, but really wasn't need a weatherman to tell me that. Forecast today said will be wanting to 110 and 103 degrees. So it was not a big surprise that the Weather Channel had called only of Washington, one of the six hottest cities.

The links in the history of Meteorologist Jonathan Erdman Mr. who missed a few weeks; It highlights the fact that the heat is the biggest cause of deaths related to the climate at United States. Last month posted a graph of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showing that United States were in pace of record for the number and cost of extreme weather events. There have been 575 deaths of weather events of this year, most of the tornadoes in the Southeast and the Middle West. But the heat still kills more people in the United States in an average year, claiming more than 1,500 lives.

The big problem in DC, of course, is humidity, due to the fact that our fair city was built on a swamp. This is what puts us there with cities such as Laredo, Texas, and Yuma, Arizona, experience more days where the actual temperature reaches or exceeds 100. But while DC normally average 1.2 days of 100 degrees with each year, as the band's Capitol time reported Monday, if hits DC 100 on Tuesday, which will be two for 2011, with plenty of summer left to bear.

We had a nice hot summer, at least. I'm supposed to include the mandatory line that any day or time event cannot be attributed directly to climate change, which are long-term trends that matter, blah blah blah. But if care you to listen to the scientists of the climate, we are in for more days of rising heat in the future, not to mention the heat-related deaths. So perhaps this should serve as a good reminder that climate change has fatal consequences, even if legislative DC residents have not felt particularly inspired to deal with this issue of late.

Justin Kenney, director of communications of the NOAA, provides more information about how hot is via Twitter. According to the Agency, only July has seen 349 maximum heat records broken across the country and bound 320, and we are not even in the middle of month. You can view records of temperature here.

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Pakistan floods: a year - in pictures

Last year floods were the most severe Pakistan has experienced, flooding an area the size of England and the displacement of 11 million people from their homes. The number of affected people, the floods were more devastating earthquake in Kashmir, Haiti earthquake, the tsunami in the Indian Ocean and Hurricane Katrina combined photography: Islamic relief

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