Cutting through the green tape: the powers councils have to tackle climate change

In their final report, in December 2007, the LGA Climate Change Commission found that while there were some outstanding examples of local government leadership and innovation, a more urgent and consistent authority-wide response was required by each and every local authority.

The LGA welcomed the scrutiny and challenge of the report. We responded in March 2008 with the launch our national campaign on climate change Small change, Big Difference as part of our wider Putting People First campaign.

This campaign encourages councils to take responsibility for reducing carbon emissions; to prepare for the consequences of more extreme weather in their areas; and persuade decision-makers and householders to see councils as central to tackling climate change.

To play this role, councils must lead by example - and exercise a powerful demonstration effect in their communities. The LGA would like to see local authorities given much more flexibility to rise to this challenge. However we must demonstrate that we can do more within the existing legislative and financial framework.

A key area for improvement identified by the commission was for local authorities to make more effective and diligent use of existing powers. there is however a lot of environmental legislation (aka green tape) for local authorities to understand. In recognition of this, and the growing consensus that councils should be leading the national effort to tackle climate change , the LGA and key partners have developed this guidance: Cutting through the green tape: the powers councils have to tackle climate change.

Within this document we:

• highlight the key powers (some popular and some less well known) that local authorities can use to tackle climate change, for both mitigation and adaptation activity;
• signpost some tools, organisation(s) and resources which can offer local authorities further help and support in tackling the green tape issue;
• offer some practical examples of those councils that have successfully applied some of these powers.

This information will be applicable to all member and officer communities not just those focused on environment issues.