Climate change
Greening public services
GLL’s Chris Hebblewhite reveals progress on the co-op’s five year sustainability strategy.
Complex funding stymies net-zero push
A ‘complex web’ of hard-to-reach Whitehall funding pots is hampering councils’ net-zero initiatives – with two-thirds of town halls not confident of hitting crucial targets.
A Dynamic win on waste
The Local Government Association’s LG Challenge 2024 kicked off with a focus on recycling, reuse, and waste in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Jenson Kemp reports.
Decarbonisation: from planning to action
Lack of capacity on the electricity grid can present a significant barrier to local authorities’ net zero goals. Ben Taylor explains how partnering with a decarbonisation expert can help to provide the best chance of success.
Getting crucial decarbonisation buy-in
Sean Ranson suggests how local authorities can maximise buy-in and build advocacy for achieving net zero locally
Why climate change is health’s biggest threat
The health risks from climate change are considerable, but directors of public health are ideally placed to ensure initiatives are implemented in the right way, to the right people, say Greg Fell and Darrell Gale.
Creative solution are emerging to enable the leisure sector to thrive
The financial difficulties of the last few years have led many leisure centres to the edge of closure. William Benson sets out the challenges but says there is still plenty of room for optimism.
Good climate governance will net best results
Annie Pickering looks at the results of the first-ever UK-wide assessment of councils’ net zero progress, and warns that rather than spending money rectifying past decisions, councils need to better examine the climate impact of current decisions.
English-Welsh council partnership signed in bid for extra funding
Two English and two Welsh county councils have signed a partnership agreement.
Climate change: combatting fatalism
Groundwork’s new strategy is one for a fair and green future in which people, places and nature thrive, says Graham Duxbury.
Thinking big and delivering locally
Chippenham Town Council may be a parish council, but is structured as and acts like a district or borough council – and that was always the plan, says Mark Smith.
Beware the rise of conspiracy theories in our local politics
Conspiracy theories thrive in the absence of transparency and effective communication, says Jessica Studdert. 'Part of the answer must lie in more, not fewer opportunities for public participation in decisions and building buy-in over trade-offs.'
Adapting to London’s changing climate challenge
London and its residents are already being impacted by climate change, says Cllr Kieron Williams. He shares some of the approaches being taken to ensure the city can continue to thrive.
Dealing with weather’s extremes
Maria Van-Hove and Dr Charlotte Parbery-Clark look at how local authorities in the UK can support actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change, highlighting examples of good practice .
Time to unleash the potential of local authorities on net zero
If Westminster will not provide national leadership on net zero, it should empower ambitious local authorities to forge ahead, says Chris Skidmore MP.
Greens push for divestment
There will be a greater push for divestment in the local government pension scheme (LGPS) after the Greens made a record 200 seat gains this year, a senior councillor has predicted.
Councils underperform in first-of-kind climate study
Widespread low scores in the first study of UK councils’ climate action highlight national barriers, pressure group Climate Emergency UK has said.
Central Government should ‘step aside on net zero if it won’t step up’
If central Government ‘won't step up’ it should stand aside and allow local and regional leaders to forge ahead with decarbonisation, net zero Tsar Chris Skidmore has warned.
Few councils' homes meeting energy efficiency target
New figures have revealed just 18 councils have energy efficient housing stock, laying bare the challenge of tackling the climate emergency for local authorities.
Wales to consider funding bids straddling English border
Wales’ economy minister has said he would consider funding bids from a new council partnership that crosses the Welsh and English border.