climate emergency
The pathway to net-zero
Rachel Toresen-Owuor of Local Partnerships says when developing climate response action plans, a programme of works delivered through a Re:fit Energy Performance Contract offers a tangible first step with rapid impacts.
Salford is the greenest council in 2020 Thriving Places Index
Salford City Council has emerged as the greenest in an index of quality of life in 363 local authorities in England and Wales.
The troubled world of off-setting and sequestration
Jo Wall says Local Partnerships' work on carbon sequestration, place-making and carbon accounting 'mean we have the skills to help assess the best options to adopt in order to select robust, practical and defensible plans for carbon off-setting'.
Budget should prioritise local resilience to climate change
The first Budget of a new Parliament provides an excellent opportunity to prioritise the mitigation of the impact extreme weather events have on our people and our places, says Sharon Kemp.
Budget must provide clarity on infrastructure priorities
This month’s Budget must focus on providing more detail on how the Government’s approach will support the levelling up required for the country to prosper in a carbon-conscious, post-Brexit world, says Will McWilliams.
Westminster’s vision for the 2020s
Rachael Robathan outlines Westminster City Council’s vision for the City, with climate and environmental initiatives, digital communications and infrastructure at its core.
Climate emergency: the role of renewables
Many councils are developing or buying solar farms of their own. If successful this can cut carbon and emissions, and produce a good income through sound and ethical commercial ventures, says Jo Wall.
Council votes for climate change referendum
Warwick DC has voted to hold a referendum on a 34.2% rise in its share of council tax to fund a climate emergency action programme.
Some local lessons from the Far East
Heather Jameson finds that while local government officers in Japan are grappling with similar challenges to those in the UK, there is one stark difference – Japanese authorities have the power to make their own laws and raise their own taxes.
Climate emergency: know where you are
The UN Climate Change Conference – COP26 – will take place in Glasgow in November, where more than 200 world leaders are expected to meet to agree a new, long-term deal on rising temperatures. According to organisers of COP26, the UK has ‘one shot’ at making it a global success.
There’s no quick fix to tackling climate change
If local councils are to capitalise on the zeitgeist of the climate emergency then they need some serious money and new powers – and time is of the essence, argues Paul O’Brien.
Failure to act on tackling air pollution would be deadly
With more than one in 19 deaths in UK cities and large towns caused by toxic air, the UK Government needs to take action urgently, says Andrew Carter. There are also steps that city leaders can take to improve the air of their constituents, he adds.
Jenrick activates Bellwin after storm
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick has activated the Bellwin scheme, providing emergency financial assistance for councils affected by Storm Dennis.
Climate Challenge - how is the public sector measuring up?
Jason Longhurst asks if the local government sector is genuinely leading on and investing in the climate challenge – ‘or resting on pledges and platitudes, with lists of words rather than actions’.
Climate emergency: competing priorities and tough decisions
Friends of the Earth’s climate action plan for councils identifies 50 steps that councils can take, highlighting specific actions around investment, retrofit, waste, energy, transport and land use.
Local government is a powerful force for change
Last year, people across the UK called on the Government to take environmental action seriously. We witnessed a noticeable shift as local government responded – people and councils, coming together with a shared voice for change.
The pressure is building to talk less about climate change and do more
The incentives to act on tackling climate change are clear and present, but none of us has all the answers, says Anthony May. Learning together as a community of local authorities will enable better, more consistent and coherent plans, he adds.
Responding to the climate emergency
Local Partnerships is leading work to support authorities develop responses to their declaration of climate emergency and take practical steps to face the huge challenge of tackling the climate crisis, says Sean Hanson.
Let’s replace Britain’s ‘old, cold housing stock’
As well as helping to tackle climate change, Adam Cunnington believes creating a new generation of low carbon homes creates a win-win for councils, taxpayers and residents.
Council owned properties must be part of the climate emergency response
Current energy efficiency delivery ‘at least for domestic properties, is at an all-time low’ says chief executive of Community Energy England Emma Bridge.