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

A system for success

By Heather Jameson | 23 December 2025

Luton Council’s bold 2040 vision prioritises jobs, homes and safety. Heather Jameson talks to chief executive Mark Fowler about taking a systems-based approa...

CLIMATE CHANGE

Scrooge Says: Bah Humbug to Local Elections

By Colin Copus | 22 December 2025

Labour said nothing about LGR in its manifesto and, as well as moving to create 'huge' new unitaries, ministers have made councils responsible for sticking t...

CLIMATE CHANGE

The only constant, other than change, is our ambition for our place.

By Caroline Green | 22 December 2025

Oxford City Council has been focusing on what it needs to accelerate for the city to be in the best possible position to transition to a unitary future, says...

CLIMATE CHANGE

Reorganisation: Never underestimate the power of placemaking

By Jackie Sadek | 22 December 2025

There is plenty of money available for regeneration and economic growth, says Jackie Sadek. Just don’t let reorganisation derail planning and placemaking.

Popular articles by William Eichler