He acknowledges that Government is making the tough decisions to make Net Zero possible, but also that Government can’t do it alone. As over half the emissions cuts require decisions made at the local level, the biggest challenge ahead is the local delivery of effective projects and programmes that accelerate the delivery of Net Zero.
The empowerment of local leaders and communities is essential, ensuring that they have adequate powers, resources and partnerships to deliver the large changes that are needed to achieve Net Zero and to unite and level up the whole of the UK. While local authorities are already at the vanguard of delivering climate change action on the ground, they know that they need to do so much more.
However, local authorities face multiple plans, strategies and funding pots relating to Net Zero from the UK Government and without a unifying plan or framework - action is being stifled. There is consensus between local leaders and organisations, including the Climate Change Committee (CCC) and the National Audit Office (NAO), that the partnership between local authorities and national government must improve if we are to deliver Net Zero.
Enhancing partnership with a Net Zero Delivery Framework
UK100’s Power Shift report is the most comprehensive examination of the powers local authorities have and need to deliver on climate ever undertaken. It explores the wide range of powers already available to local authorities, the barriers to local authority action and how these could be removed or overcome, and the additional powers local authorities need.
For example, local authority powers to require buildings to connect to district heating schemes in identified district heating zones and to require existing developments to connect would greatly improve the potential to upgrade the UK’s housing stock.
It’s central recommendation was that there needs to be a Local and National Net Zero Delivery Framework that supports seamless working and enhanced partnership between the UK Government and local authorities, if we are to deliver Net Zero.
The efficiency and effectiveness that comes from working in partnership needs to be capitalised on. Working through a Net Zero Delivery Framework - a deal between local authorities and national Government - can increase the understanding within local contexts of the powers they have and build a systematic understanding of where the gaps are.
This in turn will clarify what delivery needs to look like - enabling place-based solutions that work in local communities and progress towards the delivery of Net Zero.
Recommendations
This research presents a potential framework to enable delivery of Net Zero at the local level.
The following steps should be factored into the introduction of the framework:
- A National and Net Zero Delivery Board to deliver the framework and tackle blockages and barriers where the Delivery Unit (see below) notes systemic policy or funding barriers and contradictions. An independent Chair reporting directly to the Cabinet Office with members from across local authorities, devolved administrations and national Government.
- A new National and Net Zero Delivery Unit to deliver the support programme, collect and analyse data and act as a channel between individual authorities and the Board and government departments, with wide representation from across the UK Government and informed by local and combined authorities and national Government.
- A Local Net Zero Local Powers Bill, via new primary legislation designed to introduce the whole framework in a single piece of legislation – which permits, obliges and supports relevant levels of authority to undertake climate change action to satisfy the Climate Change Act, meet carbon budgets and deliver an effective pathway to Net Zero.
