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Print articleThe Commission's paper sets out the crucial role of councils in spurring local people into action to both use less energy and use it more efficiently. It says climate change must be at the heart every local area's ambitions. The report urges authorities to take a leading role to help people adapt their lifestyles to cut their carbon footprint.
One of the Commission's most significant findings is how important it is for councils to ensure that their areas adapt to changes in the climate. The Commission highlights that the focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions is right, but it also says we must not forget the importance of ensuring that our infrastructure and services are resilient to climate change.
Professor John Chesshire, Chair of the LGA Climate Change Commission, said:
?Climate change has become the focus of much national and international attention over the past eighteen months. Many local authorities have been concerned for some time and have taken positive action to tackle climate change. Now is the right time for all councils to explore what more they can do, and to do so with urgency.
?The interim paper sets out several areas where there is potential for local government to develop its response to climate change. I would highlight the importance of adapting both infrastructure and services to take account of changes in the climate, and to embed realistic assumptions about likely climate change into future plans.?
The interim paper says that local government's response to climate change has often been driven by ?wilful individuals?. It now feels that the ?drivers are now particularly compelling ? climate change needs to be an urgent priority for all council leaders and senior executives. Tackling climate change should be a part of every council's organisational DNA ? not bolted on, but mainstreamed across the council's roles, operations and activities.?
But the local government is not where the responsibility stops, the interim paper says that ?it will need to be a shared ambition, with both citizens and local councils making important contributions, alongside other bodies, from the private and voluntary sectors, and less formal community groups and associations.?
It continues:
?Action by individual citizens needs to be centre stage ? homes and transport account for almost half of the UK's emissions.?
To this end, the LGA is looking at what can be done to extend the ?powers that local government might need to successfully tackle climate change.?
Sir Jeremy Beecham, LGA vice-chair, said:
?The Climate Change Commission's interim paper is a valuable step in the right direction for local government, and I hope that it will be read by councillors and officials across the UK. Councils are on the front line in the fight against climate change. They need to build on the good work already underway in many areas, lead by example and help their communities and citizens make the right choices. This particularly means taking energy efficiency measures in the home that not only cut energy bills but more importantly cut carbon emissions.?
