Climate change
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.
Under pressure
The tragedy of local government is that over a decade of pressure, the urgent has crowded out the important and the big picture has been obscured by the struggle to survive. Dr Jonathan Carr-West asks: how do we move from ‘better’ to ‘different’?
A stitch in time
English cities are trying to deal with the impact of austerity, says Tony Kirkham. But he concludes that 'applying the old proverb "a stitch in time, saves nine" may prove wise and extremely valuable'.
We need to invest in community action to deliver on environmental promises
Graham Duxbury says Michael Gove’s recent speech on the Environment Bill missed out the education, infrastructure and peer pressure that’s needed to make change happen.
Rewards of cross-party collaboration
Kathy O'Leary says that with trust in national politicians at an all-time low, local government is thinking more about its relevance to the communities it serves through collaboration that begins with putting people and place first.
Lib Dem leadership hopeful promises devolution revolution
Liberal Democrat leadership hopeful Jo Swinson has said that if she is elected to the top role this summer ‘ we will oversee a devolution revolution’ .
The clock is ticking on the push for devolution
There will be little bandwidth for local government policy in the coming months, says Heather Jameson. Her lesson to the victor of the LGA's very own leadership election is: don't wait.
Switching focus to the carbon agenda
Rob Barlow says that once Brexit has been put to bed, the focus needs to be on carbon reduction. Anticipated Government direction could include a raft of radically different planning policies,a tightening of building control regulations, and more.
Mapping out a bright future for Hampshire
Cllr Roy Perry outlines the work of the Hampshire 2050 Commission of Inquiry and its focus on maximising the benefits of technological advance and managing the impact of climate change so everyone can continue to enjoy a good quality of life.
The time to act is now
The volume is going to continuously increase on the climate change public policy agenda, according to Paul O'Brien - and local government could and should lead the way.
Amazon rejects pension fund climate calls
The shareholders of one of the world’s largest companies have voted against council pension fund calls for it to adopt a group-wide climate change plan.
21st century leadership, technology and climate change
A number of councils in the UK have declared a climate change emergency. Max Wide says that while better technologies will help, what’s really needed to change behaviour is ‘bold, artful and technologically aware leadership’
A simple and effective local approach to the climate emergency
South Lakeland DC has recently adopted a climate change policy - and it's on one page, says Lawrence Conway. The focus is on simple, effective actions.
Councils lose legal bid to halt Heathrow expansion
The High Court has dismissed arguments against Heathrow expansion and found that the Government is free to ignore the Paris agreement on climate action until it forms part of UK law.
Powering ahead on sustainability
Geoff Raw explains how Brighton & Hove City Council is working across councils and other partners to tackle climate change
A climate for change
Environmental activists including young campaigner Greta Thunberg have been hitting the headlines - but what is local government doing to mitigate the impact of climate change? Ann McGauran finds out
Councils should have a planner in top team
Cuts to planning authority budgets have left them unable to compete with the private sector for the best in leadership talent. It's time for local authority chief executives to put planning back at the top table, says Victoria Hills