Climate change
The public want to see clear improvements across neighbourhood services
Paul O'Brien says the public will be fairly unforgiving if, having raised their expectations on public spending during the election campaign, they don't start to see evidence of this happening locally..
Harnessing the climate change agenda for our future places
Climate change is a challenge, but the trick will be to harness the agenda to redesign our towns and cities for the future, says Heather Jameson.
‘Greta Effect’ puts climate change on local agenda
Urban council leaders and elected mayors now rank the climate emergency among the most important issues British cities face, a new study has revealed.
XR '12 days of crisis' protests could target town halls
Climate change protesters Extinction Rebellion plan to kick off the next round of protests from 1 December, including plans to target town halls and public buildings.
Reflecting on the Children Acts of 1989 and 2004
The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) president, vice president and past presidents reflect on the successes of the Children Acts of 1989 and 2004, and what has changed since they became law.
Lib Dems to 'end continual erosion' of council funding
Lib Dems would ‘end the continual erosion’ of local government funding if they win power at the General Election, the party’s manifesto has pledged.
Delivering cleaner air in Wigan
Wigan MBC has appointed its first air quality officer. Matthew O’Neill says his appointment is the latest in a long list of efforts made by the council as it aspires to be carbon neutral by 2038 or sooner.
Environment Bill... What next?
As flooding hits Rotherham and other areas, Sharon Kemp says there is real potential for local leaders to be given support for their climate activities by using the Solace network to share the ideas that drive the changes needed within communities.
Taking on the climate emergency starts with community
Brent is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030, ‘but to drive meaningful change we must also bring our communities on the journey with us ’, says Carolyn Downs.
Hackney to launch energy company
Hackney LBC is to launch its own energy company in a bid to reduce the borough’s carbon footprint.
Cornwall Council will help other authorities tackle the climate emergency
Cllr Edwina Hannaford says Cornwall Council will become an exemplar for what regional leadership can do on combating climate change.
4 wheel drive woman on... climate change
Tarquin, do stop waving your re-usable metal straw around. You could have someone’s eye out with that.
Devolution key to tackle climate change
Devolution is crucial to unlocking the potential of local government to play its part in tackling climate change, new reports published this week have concluded.
Solace Summit: LGA to take climate emergency lead
The Local Government Association (LGA) is to assume a leading role in the sector on getting to grips with the challenge posed by climate change.
If politics is local, then so is climate change
Progress in reducing emissions from heating and transport continues to lag well behind the UK's renewable power sources success story, says Michael Burton - but this is where individual behaviour and local government can make a difference.
Councils urged to ramp up climate action
Friends of the Earth have called on all councils to ‘ramp up’ their protection of the environment after publishing a league table of the most climate-friendly authorities.
Queen's Speech: Latest
See all The MJ's coverage of the Queen's Speech, from Brexit to devolution, voter ID and plans to tackle violent crime
Changing Tynes
Heather Jameson talks to Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor, about the main challenges facing the combined authority, the region’s devolution deal, and putting party politics to one side to work with the Northern Powerhouse minister.
We have the power to engage people constructively in local climate emergency solutions
Graeme McDonald says the positive engagement and diversity at a Solace roundtable exploring what role the organisation might play in the climate emergency agenda 'really filled me with energy'.
4 wheel drive woman on... climate change protests
Tarquin, do stop wittering on about Greta Thunberg. You most certainly cannot go on school strike to save the planet – I fail to see how you skipping out on geography and double maths would make any difference to the climate change crisis.