Local government, climate change and the environment
This collection brings together information for local councils on climate change and the environment.
This page brings together key guidance and information relevant to local government on topics related to climate change, net zero and the environment.
If you have any feedback on this page or would like to get in touch about the work you are doing locally on climate change, decarbonisation or to protect the environment, please contact LocalClimateAction@communities.gov.uk
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Overview
Latest report published by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
National Audit Office report on local government and net zero in England
Additional reports and publications by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) are available on the Climate Change Committee Website.
Read the government responses to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) annual progress reports.
Ahead of the COP 26 summit, the government launched a new UK climate change statistics portal. The portal provides statistics on climate change and related topics, including energy use and emissions levels.
Adaptation
Defra, in partnership with the Local Adaptation Advisory Panel. and the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT), published guidance for local government on preparing for a changing climate.
The UK Climate Projections (UKCP) provide the most up-to-date assessment of how the UK climate may change in the future.
Air quality
Information is also available on the Air Quality Hub - the free online information and knowledge sharing resource for local authority air quality professionals.
COP26
The UK hosted the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on 31 October to 12 November 2021.
Visit the COP26 website for more information.
Ahead of COP26, the government campaign Together for our Planet was launched, calling on businesses, civil society groups, schools and the British public to showcase how they are going #OneStepGreener.
Campaign toolkits are available for local authorities and mayors, for schools, and for businesses. These toolkits will provide you with the tools and materials to support the Together for our Planet campaign and raise awareness of COP26.
Businesses can also visit the government’s UK business climate hub where they can join thousands of UK businesses tackling climate change. SMEs can sign up to the SME Climate Commitment, pledging to cut their carbon emissions in half by 2030 and to reach ‘net zero’ by 2050. A campaign toolkit is also available for the Business Climate Leaders campaign to encourage SMEs to go #OneStepGreener and make the commitment.
Flood and coastal erosion risk management
Green jobs and skills
Information on the Green Jobs Taskforce
Nature and environment
The consultation on plans for new Local Nature Recovery Strategies in England closed on 1 November 2021.
Applications for the first round of the Discovery Grant under the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme closed on 1 September 2021.
Applications for the Urban Tree Challenge Fund closed on 25 July 2021.
Net zero – housing, buildings, heat decarbonisation and green energy
The Environmental Sustainability Advice to Government: Call for Inputs? closed on 10 November 2021 and the government is currently analysing feedback.
Applications for the Sustainable Warmth competition closed on 4 August 2021.
The Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund Phase 2 application portal closed to applications from public sector bodies on 4 August 2021.
Planning
Additional information is also available on these external sites: Ecosystems Knowledge Network and the Green Infrastructure Partnership (GIP)
Transport and emissions
The government’s Future of Transport regulatory review aims to address areas of transport regulation that are outdated, a barrier to innovation, or not designed with new technologies and business models in mind.
The consultation is closed on 22 November and a government response will be published in due course.
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) currently funds the Energy Savings Trust to run the Local Government Support Programme, which provides free advice to councils on local action to support the transition to electric vehicles. The Energy Saving Trust also provides resources for councils on electric vehicle chargepoints, including webinars, guides and publications, best practice guides and case studies.
Waste and recycling
Additional information is also available on the WRAP local authority webpage and the WRAP LA Portal
Please note that government is currently analysing responses to the Waste Prevention Programme for England consultation and will publish a revised final Programme later this year.
The other consultations included below have also now closed.
Updates to this page
Last updated 22 February 2022 + show all updates
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Updated the page to reflect that COP26 has now taken place. Created a new section on COP26 and added and updated links to all existing sections except Planning.
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First published.