LGA launches report to help councils tackle climate change

21 August 2020: “The LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales, has worked closely with the Centre for Public Scrutiny and has published a guide to help councils play a leading role in tackling the climate crisis at a local level. The resource, which sets out 10 scrutiny questions, will help all councils and policymakers to embed the necessary environmental, social and cultural changes that communities need to see to build resilience to respond to climate challenges such as investment strategies and transport plans.”

The guide can be downloaded here and is a useful read setting out comprehensive suggestions on routes to develop a robust climate emergency plan including how future scrutiny of plans can be undertaken; including the local community and how to best engage the public in the plan; planning the involvement of local businesses, partners and employers to understand the local growth context. The 10 questions framing the report are as follows:

1. How well does the council understand the need to take action locally?
2. How does the council’s leadership champion and direct action on
   climate change?
3. How is the council adopting a clear and detailed strategic plan, and how is it mainstreaming climate change mitigation and adaptation?
4. Has the council reviewed its investment strategy, supply chains and
   procurement models to give due consideration to climate change impacts?
5. How is the council integrating sustainability and resilience into its transport and energy plans?
6. How is the council planning to understand and act on the need to adapt existing properties and estates to address the impacts of climate change – and to plan for new housing stock which is resilient to these impacts?
7. How is the council promoting climate education, diversifying the labour market and focusing on sectors that are sustainable?
8. What measures are being taken to ensure that health and social care
   systems will be resilient with the extra pressures they will come under due to climate change?
9. How does the council identify those who are most at risk from the impacts of climate change, and what is being done to assist the most vulnerable?
10. How is the council supporting and working with all relevant private and civic actors in the area towards climate change mitigation and adaptation?