Inside the Climate Leadership Academy: Part 1

The Climate Leadership Academy (CLA) is one of the many tools in the UK100 toolbox offering members the opportunity to access the skills, knowledge and resources they need to deliver their climate ambitions. 

Now in its fourth year, the residential training programme provides 20 councillors a year with three weekends of workshops, and six months of coaching to help them build the policy and leadership skills they need to deliver their vision for thriving places powered by clean energy — with fresh air to breathe, warm homes to live in, and a healthy natural environment.

The power of the Climate Leadership Academy is its unique intertwining of policy and leadership skills so for our second weekend, hosted in Bristol, we were joined by 17 speakers from the public, private, and voluntary sectors who shared their experience and expertise on a range of topics. As strong advocates for place-based leadership, we were delighted that these included speakers from Bristol City Council and the West of England Nature Partnership. We were also lucky to enjoy a visit to the Castle Park Energy Centre, home to the water-source heat pump powering Bristol’s district heat network and delivered through the Bristol City Leap partnership. 

So much learning takes place during these residential weekends so in the UK100 spirit of knowledge sharing, we’ve summarised the key takeaways from our weekend in Bristol so the wider UK100 network can benefit. 

Bold political leadership should embed climate across the council 

The importance of political leadership shone through repeatedly, especially when it comes to embedding climate ambition across council delivery. For example, our just transition session showcased the London Borough of Newham’s just transition plan, including how they’re training officers right across the council to support delivery of the plan and embed principles of fairness and equity in their own work.

In our nature and adaptation session, we heard how in the West of England, a pioneering local nature recovery strategy (LNRS) has been embedded in other aspects of the combined authority’s work, including the region’s Growth Plan. Meanwhile, our planning session showcased Cornwall Council’s first-hand experience of developing a local plan and supplementary policies to centre climate and nature, and demonstrated the importance of cooperation and integration between elected members and officers to achieve trail-blazing outputs.

Do not underestimate the officer & member relationship

The officer and elected member relationship was put in the spotlight in our working with your officers session, an invaluable opportunity for our cohort to hear candid reflections from a trio of experienced officers, and to understand not just the importance of developing positive relationships with officers, but how to go about it. With speakers highlighting the need for regular communication, respect, and clear understanding of the different roles and responsibilities for each.

Engagement and framing are critical to success

In addition to internal communication and engagement, it was clear that external engagement with communities was equally important to success. Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership for example shared their inspiring work to co-design community climate action plans with local communities and disabled residents, and their work with the council to adopt these plans and ensure climate interventions maintain and increase the accessibility of places. Whilst in our low carbon heat session, speakers highlighted what we all know, but can struggle to do as a sector, and that’s the need to better communicate the benefits of low carbon technologies, making it relevant to the everyday, such as cheaper bills and warmer homes.

There is money available, but it requires bigger thinking

For all aspects of local climate action, one question looms large: how can local authorities finance the transition? According to climate and impact fund manager, camco, aggregating projects is the key, meaning a package of £5m worth of projects, instead of one £170k project. This requires bigger ideas, bigger finances and bigger geography than councils traditionally operate at, but it can be done. As evidenced by West Suffolk Council who shared their journey towards, and lessons learnt from, a successful £17m bid to the National Wealth Fund, including the role of smaller demonstrator projects in laying the groundwork. Other options exist too, such as  Community municipal investments (CMIs), or climate bonds, which offer opportunity to build public support for and engagement with local climate action by raising the funds to deliver it. Bristol City Council recently tested this, as showcased by Bristol City councillor and Climate Leadership Academy graduate Cllr Martin Fodor.