During recent years, navigating Parliament Square and Whitehall has become notably more unpredictable. Last week was no exception with the climate strike taking to the streets to protest about the climate emergency. To be honest, these demonstrations have been decidedly more positive and welcoming than many of the others that have normalised disruption across Westminster over the last few years. The ‘Extinction Rebellion’ earlier in the year felt more like ‘Glastonbury in the City’ demonstrating than an angry mob seeking revolution.

With Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough leading the debate, the climate emergency has become a common discussion around the dinner tables in communities across the UK and risen up the political agenda – despite the constant distraction of the Brexit circus. As with so many things, local government has been at the frontline of this groundswell of public attention and councils have responded. A majority have declared climate emergencies and many more have reviewed their approach to better respond to the challenge.