Climate change must be the most important long-term priority for councils. It is as important now as public health and sanitation were to our Victorian predecessors. Inaction is not an option. The public expects leadership. That is why the Local Government Association has launched a climate change campaign, Small Change, Big Difference, which will encourage the sector to do more, seek greater powers for councils and aim to influence public opinion and behaviour.

There are a whole range of actions that all local authorities can take to reduce carbon emissions and prepare for the consequences of more extreme weather. The LGA wants to turn commitment into real action. We are calling on councils collectively to commit to:

  • all local area agreements containing at least one target relating to climate change;
  • all signing the Nottingham Declaration or its equivalent by the end of 2008;
  • reducing their carbon footprint by 1.5million tonnes;
  • reducing emissions by 32million tonnes
  • having an understanding of how climate risks affect core service delivery, infrastructure, assets and the well-being of local communities by end 2011.

UK emissions of greenhouse gases fell by only 0.5 per cent in 2005–06 and carbon emissions stayed virtually the same. The implication is quite stark. Without radical action, the UK will not meet its targets on emissions. There is an urgent need for the Government to give councils the freedom and resources to make the dramatic changes necessary. The LGA is calling for:

  • reform of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) programme to ensure every home in the country is insulated would drastically cut carbon emissions, lift half a million people out of fuel poverty and slash household energy bills
  • all main political parties to make a clear commitment to giving councils greater powers to combat climate change, recognising the important role local government plays in connecting national aspiration to individual action;
  • a step change in the supply of renewable energy, working towards partnerships between national government, the energy suppliers and local government to establish a major renewable energy project in every area.

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