Environment, Climate Change, Waste and Recycling

The Environment Module of the South West Observatory and the Environment Agency have produced local environment profiles for the Wiltshire Council and four ex-district areas. These can be downloaded below, and more information is available from the Environment Module website.

A map of current Forestry Commission ownership in Wiltshire can be found on the maps section of this site, along with maps of Environmental Designations and Agri-Environment Scheme Agreements by community area.

A briefing paper describing National Indicator 186, which focuses on per capita reduction of CO₂ emissions in the local authority area, and examining the data for the Wiltshire area can be accessed below.

The Department of Energy & Climate Change publishes a range of sub-national energy consumption statistics. The Regional Energy Consumption Statistics 2008 datasheet below contains information on regional and local electricity consumption, gas sales and number of customers by region and area, and regional and local road transport consumption.

A report outlining the results of the 2010 RegenSW annual survey of renewable electricity and heat projects in south west England can be accessed below. This includes a summary for the Wiltshire County and Swindon Borough areas, showing that these areas combined now have a total renewable electricity capacity of 15.30MW and total renewable heat capacity of 2.70MW, with increases of 8.4% and 47% respectively compared to last years recorded capacity. RegenSW also provide an interactive map of sustainable energy projects in Wiltshire and Swindon, based on their 2009 survey. RegenSW has also commissioned the development of a heat map for the region, which models heat demand down to individual building scale and is intended to inform the scoping of opportunities for low carbon and renewable heat technologies and support planning for sustainable energy. Registration is required to view this map.  

A report examining likely climate changes in Wiltshire has been produced as part of Wiltshire Councils Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan, and can be accessed here. Further information on climate change can be accessed here.

The Environment Agency has produced a report and map showing the hydropower opportunities in England and Wales and the environmental sensitivities associated with exploiting them. The full report, non-technical summary and detailed maps showing the opportunities identified in the south west and south east of England can be accessed below.

Information on agriculture, climate change, air quality, wildlife, waste and recycling can also be found in the Agriculture and Environment theme of the Gateway to UK National Statistics and other further information can be found in the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. 

Natural England, Defra and the Forestry Commission commissioned a new survey called Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE) to provide baseline and trend data on how people use the natural environment in England.

A report describing the benefits of sites of special scientific interest has recently been published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs.

The government, through the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), has produced a set of data that aids the assessment of levels of deprivation across England. These data, known as the Indices of Deprivation, provide information at small geographic levels (LSOA level) and are an important tool for identifying the most disadvantaged areas. This includes an indices of the Living environment. For more information and a Wiltshire breakdown of the indices of deprivation please see the community section.