Key green role for councils – MPs

More than four in five MPs believe councils have a key role to play in tackling climate change – and nearly 70% say their local authority is already taking positive action.

But one in five MPs do not believe, or do not know whether, climate change is happening and can be directly attributed to man-made greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new opinion poll.

The poll, carried out by ComRes for the LGA, found that of 168 MPs 11% said they did not believe climate change is occurring and can be directly attributed to human activity and 8% did not know.

The survey also found that 65% of MPs agree that ‘councils should introduce financial incentives to encourage people to reduce greenhouse gas emissions’ and 54% agree that councils should force their residents to take action on climate change. However, just 35% agree that councils should introduce penalties to encourage green behaviour.

Of the MPs who see a key role for councils in tackling climate change, 97% see that as ‘helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their area’ and 86% as ‘ensuring their area is adapting well to climate change already taking place’.

The LGA, which carried out the research as part of its ‘Small change, big difference’ climate change campaign, is throwing down the gauntlet to MPs to take the issue as seriously as local councils.

Cllr Paul Bettison, chairman of the LGA’s environment board, said: “With councils being on the front line against climate change and a large minority of MPs still unconvinced by the evidence that global warming is due to human activity, ministers should give more powers to local authorities so that they can help businesses and residents cut down their carbon footprints and their fuel bills.

“Councils working with local people are best placed to take the tough decisions needed to tackle climate change and, with the backing of legislation, would be able to turn the country into a flagship for green technology and innovation.”

• See LGA media release