climate emergency
Social value can unlock billions to help communities flourish
A new report from Social Enterprise UK has highlighted a huge opportunity to realise £56bn a year through better public sector procurement, says Chris White.
Green jobs are the route to shared prosperity
Groundwork’s Growing Green Careers report sets out a number of principles designed to address both worklessness and environmental injustice, writes Graham Duxbury.
Is wind power the next step in delivering net zero?
Martin Barnes discusses the intensifying pressures being placed on local authorities to reach ambitious net zero targets, and how these can be achieved through the use of small wind.
Thurrock branded 'irresponsible' over protest publicity
A council has been accused of being ‘irresponsible and unjust’ after it published the full names and addresses of environmental protesters.
Zero progress on climate but devo can keep things on track
The Levelling Up White Paper’s relative silence on net zero represents a huge missed opportunity – unless the devolution genie is quickly let out of the bottle, writes Grace Newcombe.
UK's energy security strategy is missed opportunity
Local government is a vital piece of the UK’s energy security puzzle, but it has been virtually ignored in the new strategy, says Polly Billington.
Reform would help more councils achieve their ambitious targets and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels
The 2021 revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework missed the opportunity to remove existing barriers to onshore wind generation, says Kathy O'Leary.
Think big, act local, start now
Communities will look to their local authority for further support with the cost of living crisis, says Paul O'Brien. Councils will also need to provide leadership in decarbonisation, he adds.
Future Forum North: local government still lacks a plan for delivering sustainability
Local government still lacks both a plan for delivering sustainability and a way of measuring the impact of investment, says a Northern council director.
Southern comfort
Localis chief executive Jonathan Werran outlines a new report setting a possible future course for local government across South East England in adapting to challenges as diverse as Brexit, climate change, COVID and the Levelling Up White Paper.
Estate retrofit is not too big a challenge for the public sector
Daniel Easthope looks at how the public sector can best retrofit its estates to minimise emissions and maximise potential cost savings.
Will the current crises put paid to levelling up?
Local government is used to complexity, but what does the current crop of crises do for the domestic agenda, asks Heather Jameson - and just where are we now when it comes to levelling up?
Blazing the path to net zero
Ben Simcock discusses how government-funded decarbonisation schemes are trailblazing change.
Unlocking the Humber’s growth potential
Krishanthi Carfrae explains how the public and private sectors are working together in the Humber to boost growth, tackle the biggest challenges including decarbonisation, and drive the levelling up agenda.
Government is failing to set out councils' role in delivering net zero, say MPs
MPs have hit out at the Government’s ‘apparent lack of urgency’ in clarifying how it will work with local government to achieve net zero.
What makes a great levelling up project?
As we look towards the second round of levelling up project applications, Anthony Everitt shares his thoughts on what a great scheme looks like and how to maximise chances of success.
Putting Brent’s residents at the heart of climate action
Brent LBC introduced resident-led decision making on how to spend local money to cut carbon emissions. Shazia Hussain explains the thinking behind the trailblazing Participatory Budgeting approach.
Net zero culture war
A localist and levelling up aligned approach to decarbonisation is all that stands between us and the threat of a net zero culture war, writes Jonathan Werran.
Changes to building regulations – what does it mean?
Ben Standing of Browne Jacobson looks at what the new building regulations, due to come into force in June in the wake of the Government’s net zero strategy, mean for local government.
Net zero ambitions yet to be levelled up
The Levelling Up White Paper is a missed opportunity to put housing at the heart of the drive to net zero, says Kathy O'Leary.
