Title

CLIMATE CHANGE

Councils need more 'funding and powers' to tackle climate change

Progress needs to be accelerated in every local area if the UK’s climate and nature targets are to be met, campaigners have said.

Progress needs to be accelerated in every local area if the UK's climate and nature targets are to be met, campaigners have said.

A new report from the charities Friends of the Earth and Ashden argued local authorities were ‘crucial' to helping the UK tackle the climate emergency.

Most councils have now declared a climate emergency and 85% have created climate action plans.

However, the study warned that the quality and scale of ambition still varied greatly across the country - in large part because of a lack of clarity from the Government about the role of councils in the journey to net zero.

Friends of the Earth campaigner Sandra Bell said: ‘Whether it's declaring a climate emergency or producing a plan to curb climate and nature breakdown, most local authorities have shown they want to do more to protect our planet.

'But, in spite of this, we're still not seeing local progress at the rate needed to halt the worst climate impacts.

‘For many councils it's a question of funding and powers - both of which are in short supply.'

CLIMATE CHANGE

Fiscal devolution: Roadmap is a good starting point

By Alex Walker | 04 November 2026

Alex Walker says fiscal devolution has started to take shape. But the destination should be more local freedom over tax rates and more revenue growth kept lo...

CLIMATE CHANGE

Translating ambition on rough sleeping into action

By Jack Shaw | 03 November 2026

The Budget offers hope on rough sleeping, but big questions remain, says Jack Shaw.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Turning devolution and reorganisation ambition into something tangible for residents

By Caroline Green | 03 November 2026

Councils need clarity, partnership and certainty to deliver successful reorganisation and devolution, says Caroline Green.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Local government reorganisation and devolution: Where is the Government's bigger picture?

By Pete Robbins | 02 November 2026

Fiscal levers, strategic geographies and simpler local structures are a genuine piece of the jigsaw, but the Rewiring the State White Paper has to paint a mu...

Popular articles by William Eichler

-->