As local authorities plan their COVID recovery and reform programmes there is a great opportunity to ensure that they address the climate emergency.
Local authorities should and can be at the forefront of addressing climate change. It should be core to their economic development, planning, service delivery, procurement and everything that they do. As community leaders they can both set an example to others across the public and business sectors, as well local communities by facilitating vibrant social action. They are well placed to avoid the false choice between tackling climate change and boosting the economic recovery.
Local authorities face many immediate challenges including government enforced cuts, the challenges of COVID including its financial impact, and the prospect of the most serious economic recession for centuries.
They are confronted by a government that is lackadaisical in respect of the climate emergency; consistently underfunds local government; and is being half-hearted in its approach to addressing the impending economic collapse and resultant loss of jobs. Local authorities are having to be innovative, bold and focused as they seek to offer hope and protection to their communities.
The Local Government Association’s (LGA) recent report Local Green Jobs – accelerating a sustainable economic recovery highlighted the key role for local government in ‘facilitating technology transitions in homes and businesses, informing constituents, supporting local businesses and the upskilling of the local workforce’ to meet the Government’s net zero target for 2050. Insulated and solar-powered homes and businesses, low-carbon public transport, renewable energy systems and greening the local environment can all create jobs and tackle the climate emergency.
This week’s chancellor’s summer statement commits to expenditure on the green agenda which is welcome but insufficient. It fails to recognise the central role that local government and its partners in the business, public and community sectors can play if real progress is to be achieved at speed. Already some 280 local authorities have declared a climate emergency and many of those are now drawing up action plans to follow it up. These will need to be fully integrated with the economic recovery and discussed thoroughly with local people and key partners.
Economic development, job creation, a fairer society, resilient communities and the green agenda should be seen as part of the same recovery programme. Being ‘green’ is no longer a nice to have add-on – it has to be core to every policy and activity.
According to IPSOS MORI, seven out of ten people say that if the UK Government doesn’t act on climate change ‘it will be failing its people’. But often there is a disconnect between that stated opinion and actual support for the major behaviour changes needed that driving the green recovery may require – hence the critical importance for councils to seriously engage local people on these issues. Otherwise, there is a real risk of alienating the public and possibly setting back the whole process. And time is not something we can afford to waste in tackling the climate emergency.
As they address the economic recovery by adopting local green new deals, what can council leaders be seeking to do immediately and in the medium term to nurture greener accessible places and do so in ways that are equitable, address inequality, secure decent jobs and address sustainability? We propose five actions:
- adopting a place-wide new green recovery strategy including deep engagement with residents, local public sector partners, businesses, civil society, staff and others for the political and executive leadership to champion this strategy at every opportunity and to mobilise community action;
- committing to the local authority being carbon neutral by 2030 and persuading others to adopt the same ambition using procurement and planning powers to secure this end
- initiating a programme of retro-fitting insulation of local homes and businesses, creating jobs, reducing energy bills and carbon emissions, adopting a community wealth-building approach
- focus transport investment in walking, cycling and public transport; reducing car use and creating clean air zones and car free areas in urban areas
- protect existing green spaces and develop good quality new ones especially where people have less access to private gardens and consider developing community land trusts
Of course, every council will be starting from a different base and face slightly different challenges but the principles will be very similar across the country and indeed internationally.
There is a great opportunity to involve local people, local business and civil society in the development and implementation of local green ‘new deals’. It is more akin to long-term community development to boost the capacity of the public and stakeholders to have an increasing role in this process Young people already “engaged”, leading the campaigns on the climate emergency. But councils with little experience of involving young people in their decision-making now need to invest significant time to this.
Many people are distrustful of politicians (even councillors!), and can often feel powerless in the face of the climate emergency. It’s important to stress the potential benefits of a Green Recovery over 'going back to normal'. Involving local people fully in these discussions is key to success.
Davy Jones is a fellow at The Consultation Unit and John Tizard is a strategic advisor and commentator
