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A green recovery: local authority climate emergency actions

As we start to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, there are widespread and justified calls to build back better and lock in a green recovery that fully supports the Government’s commitment to net zero. There is expectation on national and devolved governments to demonstrate leadership, however we believe this has already been evident at a local level for some time now.

In November 2018, Bristol City Council became the first local authority to declare a climate emergency and since then authorities up and down the UK have been joining up. There are now more than 280 climate emergency declarations nationwide with every level from county councils to parish councils drafting climate action plans and committing to target dates for net zero emissions.

Whilst the majority of local authorities (LAs) aim to be net zero carbon by 2030, well in advance of the 2050 target for net zero emissions across the UK, there are some local authorities who have been more ambitious. Nottingham City Council, for example, aims to reach net zero carbon by 2028, and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets aims to achieve this by 2025. Others have assumed an ‘as soon as possible’ target, whilst others are still to confirm their target dates. We have analysed them all and the ambition and action is evident with common examples including:

• The establishment of Climate Advisory Committees to oversee the council’s response and implementation of policy
• A direct and more focused review of existing and new planning policy and planning applications to ensure new development is playing its part
• A commitment to pedestrianise town centres and radical action to reduce car use and associated emissions
• Urgent feasibility work to understand how existing building stock can be decarbonised through new insulation and technologies
• A rapid greening of cities and infrastructure to enhance climate sequestration and resilience

With the impact of COVID-19 reducing town and city centre traffic dramatically, many local authorities have been taking the opportunity to action pedestrianisation plans and enhance walking and cycling routes, not just in the short term but with a view to these being permanent changes.

Bristol City Council, having declared its climate emergency ahead of others, has developed its One City Climate Strategy which sets out key actions to reduce emissions from new buildings, decarbonise heat across the city, create a smart electricity network, support local businesses and ensure climate resilience.

As we move into a ‘green’ recovery, there are a number of actions that could be considered which would further enhance a response to the climate emergency. These include:

• Incorporating net zero into spatial planning policy. It is self-evident that co-locating new development with places of work, shopping and recreation is one of the most effective mechanisms to reduce carbon emissions, but in some cases this might support Green Belt release if measured alongside means of generating energy, minimising travel and other environmental considerations.
• Support local deployment of renewable energy infrastructure. We need to radically increase the generation of renewable energy, and for those LAs that have declared a climate emergency they should be very supportive of schemes such as wind and solar energy generation. Clearly such schemes still have to pass policy tests, but where some LAs have been quick to ask more from the built environment, equally they should be happy to accept more renewables within their district.

For those authorities that have yet to declare a climate emergency, the pressure to do so must now be greater than ever and we anticipate others will follow suit.

For the private sector, there is opportunity to work with local authorities and demonstrate how development can respond positively to the climate emergency. We have many clients doing just that right now and many more making public commitments to construct to net zero standards.

There has been a quote circulating social media since the beginning of the pandemic, “Before we rush back to normal, consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to.” Whilst it can be applied to many aspects of our lives, this is particularly pertinent to the environment and Green House Gas emissions.  Reflecting on local authorities’ actions in response to climate emergency, we believe these will translate and continue to be weaved into a post COVID-19 world.

Perhaps this really could be the start of a locally-led green revolution.

Please get in touch with a member of our Sustainability team for more information on climate emergencies, net zero and local authorities and their recent strategies.

7 July 2020