Councils trusted most to tackle climate change

A new poll from the Local Government Association has found that local councils are trusted the most to take action on climate change and make a difference in local areas on reducing carbon emissions.

The survey found that 40 per cent of residents trusted their council most to address the climate emergency, followed by the government (28 per cent) and world leaders (15 per cent). This is because councils know their villages, towns and cities best, and are working with local communities to improve lives on a daily basis.

The results of the survey have been released to coincide with COP26 holding a dedicated local and regional government day – the Cities, Regions and the Built Environment Day. The LGA wants the government to use the summit in Glasgow to enhance the role of councils, providing the powers and funding to decarbonise building stock, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport and deliver clean energy projects.

It has set out an ambitious plan for councils to deliver green infrastructure projects in local communities. With the right investment and support, the LGA’s plan would see councils: retrofit over 1,000 homes a day with low-carbon efficiency measures by 2030, reducing energy bills by nearly £700 million a year; install 2.2 million more heat pumps by 2030 in fuel-poor homes, local authority owned-homes and new council houses; save the NHS £1.9 billion a year with warmer and more comfortable homes and buildings; and support almost 31,000 new, skilled jobs in the construction and retrofitting industries.

James Jamieson, LGA Chairman, said: “Today is an important day at COP26, as attention turns to local leaders who are on the frontline in the fight against climate change. As leaders of local communities, it will be local governments in our cities, towns and rural areas across the world who will be driving the collective action required to address the climate emergency.

“The Prime Minister rightly said we are at ‘one minute to midnight’ and time is fast running out. This is why it is vital the government acts fast and uses COP26 to give councils the powers and resources to deliver the green infrastructure projects that will make a difference in local communities and help achieve net zero by 2050, if not sooner.

“Our ambitious plan shows how councils can go further and faster tackling climate change, and as our polling shows, councils are the ones who are trusted the most to get on and deliver for their residents. Councils are rooted in their places where people live their lives and businesses do their business, and know their communities better than anyone else. This is why they are best-placed to lead the way towards a net zero future.”