Environment
Councils help Doncaster after sandbags plea
Councils clubbed together after desperate Doncaster MBC put out an urgent request for 20,000 sandbags amid warnings that communities could become cut off by flooding.
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.
Good Growth for Cities 2019: Shaping an inclusive new narrative for UK cities
One of the most interesting things about taking the public’s perspective to measure city success is that the results are not always what we’d expect, says Jonathan House.
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.
Nearly 100 flood warnings in place for South Yorkshire
A major incident has been declared in Sheffield today, with nearly 100 flood alerts and warnings in place across South Yorkshire.
That complex conversation with business
The support of the business voice in helping secure some of 'our more ambitious asks around fiscal devolution' will never be unconditional, says John O'Brien.
Hackney to launch energy company
Hackney LBC is to launch its own energy company in a bid to reduce the borough’s carbon footprint.
It’s time to clean up our act
With more than 230 local climate emergencies declared nationwide, it’s time for our local and combined authorities to take action for decarbonisation and sustainable clean growth, writes Jonathan Werran.
The positive domino effects of emissions-based parking schemes
Peter O’Driscoll argues that emissions-based parking delivers cleaner and healthier cities.
We can change behaviours, hearts and minds on the climate emergency
There are great examples of the good work on climate friendliness by County Councils' Network member authorities, says Cllr Sam Corcoran - but there will be a limit to what can be done unless local government is properly funded.
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.
White Van Man on... air pollution
Don’t give councils even more nannying powers for chrissake. I mean, the poor Queen has to sit there reading out all this election tosh from Boris and halfway through there’s this line that councils will get more powers to reduce air pollution.
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: Councils promised new powers to tackle pollution
The Queen’s Speech promised an Environment Bill which will establish a ‘world-leading’ independent regulator, the Office for Environmental Protection, and hand some new powers to councils.
Pledging to make air pollution a national priority
Ahead of next month's London Councils Summit, Cllr Julian Bell explains how the capital's local government is leading the way by raising awareness of air pollution, and tackling it with innovative projects.
LGA calls for more cash to tackle air polution
The Local Government Association has responded coolly to a ministerial invitation for councils to bid for a slice of £2m through the Air Quality Grant Scheme.
Growing the grassroots - putting communities at the heart of place-making
Graham Duxbury of Groundwork says a new survey of community groups reveals the gap is growing between local need and the capacity to respond.
Suez begins €1bn cost cutting
Waste specialist Suez has announced it will make efficiency savings of €1bn as part of a company restructure.