Climate change


Sturgeon announces £27m to promote walking and cycling 16/10/2019 More than 200 ‘active travel’ projects across Scotland are set to receive a multi-million pound investment, Scotland’s first minister has announced.
Cities offered over £875,000 to support innovative climate change solutions 14/10/2019 Europe’s largest public-private partnership has called on cities around the world to join its ‘Climathon Global Awards’ to find new systems level solutions to tackle climate change.
Queen's Speech 19: Brexit, health and devo at the heart of Government plans 14/10/2019 Brexit, the NHS and devolution are at the heart of the next round of Government legislation as outlined in the first Queen’s Speech today.
Manchester CC joins campaign to plant 50 million trees 09/10/2019 Manchester City Council has thrown its weight behind a campaign to encourage the Government to support the planting of a large forest in the North of England.
Climate change targets ‘unlikely to be met’ without funding, council chiefs say 03/10/2019 National climate change targets are ‘unlikely to be met’ unless local authorities are given long-term funding and more powers, council chiefs say.
Councils call for new taskforce to tackle climate change 25/09/2019 Council leaders have proposed setting up a national taskforce with Whitehall departments to tackle climate change.
New online tool to help councils calculate carbon footprint launched 23/09/2019 Climate scientists have developed an online tool that can help local authorities calculate their carbon budget and cut down on emissions.
Whitehall announces £400m for rapid charging points 10/09/2019 The Government has launched a £400m fund to help develop rapid charging infrastructure points for electric vehicles.
APSE to launch Local Government Commission 10/09/2019 A new commission to develop a practical vision for local government in 2030 will be launched by APSE later this month.
Council to pilot electric bin lorries powered by waste 04/09/2019 Electric bin lorries that are powered by the waste they have collected will be trialled by Sheffield City Council.
Lawyers warn 100 local authorities over climate change plans 02/09/2019 Environmental lawyers have threatened legal action against 100 local authorities across England unless they introduce new climate change plans.
Council hits carbon reduction target early 28/08/2019 Herefordshire Council has hit its 2020 carbon reduction target early, an outcome the authority says shows their ‘commitment to tackling the climate emergency’.
Whitehall carbon emission target ‘undeliverable’, MPs warn 22/08/2019 MPs have warned the Government that there are no policies in place to deliver the net-zero carbons emissions target by 2050.
Declaring a climate change emergency 09/08/2019 Local authorities can play a key role in tackling climate change – and there is plenty for them to do. Never before has thinking globally and acting locally been more important, says Mark Whitehead.
Over half of councils declare ‘climate emergency’ 31/07/2019 More than half of UK councils have committed to reducing carbon emissions by declaring a 'climate emergency'.
Liverpool submits £230m ‘Green City Deal’ 30/07/2019 The mayor of Liverpool has submitted a proposal to the new prime minister for a £230m Green City Deal to tackle climate change and boost the economy.
Local government's relationship with Extinction Rebellion 23/07/2019 Several cities throughout the UK have been hit by protests involving climate change protestors. Mark Whitehead assesses how councils are dealing with it.
New toolkit launched to help councils go green 20/06/2019 A new toolkit designed to help local authorities reduce their carbon footprint and ‘trigger the wider benefits of bold climate action’ has been launched.
Keeping road networks running 10/04/2019 Manish Jethwa explains how councils can use IoT technology to mitigate the impact of climate change on highways.
Councils declare a ‘climate emergency’ 26/02/2019 A climate emergency declaration has been made by 27 councils across the country following a campaign by the Green Party.
Leeds aims for zero carbon energy economy 17/12/2018 Leeds City Region could become one of the world’s first zero carbon energy economies thanks to a new energy strategy.
Council pension funds at financial risk from climate change, report warns 09/11/2018 Local Government Pension Funds (LGPFs) are failing to protect themselves from the financial risk posed by climate change, a new report has warned today.
Councils must ‘act now’ to tackle carbon emissions 09/10/2018 Councils must ensure all plans have carbon-reduction targets, charity says after report warns global warming will lead to ‘unprecedented changes' in society.
Councils begin judicial review against Heathrow expansion 07/08/2018 Five London councils, Greenpeace and the mayor of London have started judicial review proceedings against the expansion of Heathrow airport.
Guide launched to help councils cope with climate change through planning 16/05/2018 Planning experts have joined forces to offer councils practical advice on how to cope with climate change.
London council approves £150m low-carbon pension investment 26/01/2018 Southwark Council has agreed to move £150m of its pension fund into a low-carbon investment.
Council pension funds benefit from climate change investment policy framework 13/11/2017 The first climate change investment policy framework has been launched for local government pension funds.
Councils investing £16bn of pensions into fossil fuels 09/11/2017 More than £16bn of council pension funds have been invested into fossil fuel companies, new research has revealed.
Council launches ‘pioneering’ climate commission 07/09/2017 Leeds is launching today a ‘pioneering’ new Climate Commission to encourage investment in low-carbon, climate-resilient developments.
Local authority pension funds ‘ratcheting up’ climate change engagement 06/06/2017 Local authority pension funds are going to ‘ratchet up’ their efforts to encourage companies to be more aware of climate change and how it will impact the value of their stocks.
Creating resilient cities 20/12/2016 Giles K Bailey and Stefano Mainero explore the challenges for UK cities in considering resiliency planning.
Campaigners call for increased protection for Green Belt 12/12/2016 Campaigners have called on the government to prioritise investment in the Green Belt in the forthcoming 25-year plan for the environment.
Scottish pension fund rated a world leader in tackling global warming 11/05/2016 A council pension fund in Scotland has been rated one of the best in the world for addressing climate change.
Public sector failing to prepare for climate change 11/02/2016 The UK is 'largely unprepared' for the effects of climate change, according to the Carbon Trust.
Heathrow third runway recommended, yet council fears remain over noise 01/07/2015 Recommendations that a third runway be built at Heathrow on the condition of stricter noise and environmental demands have failed to assuage concerns in local government.
$Lancashire rejects fracking application image$ Lancashire rejects fracking application 29/06/2015 Lancashire County Council has rejected a planning application to frack at Preston New Road, in an unexpected move following months of deliberation.
$Legal warning over fracking issued to Lancashire councillors image$ Legal warning over fracking issued to Lancashire councillors 26/06/2015 Lancashire councillors have been warned the town hall risks being fined if it blocks local fracking as the move could be considered ‘unreasonable’.
$Landmark Lancashire fracking decision postponed image$ Landmark Lancashire fracking decision postponed 25/06/2015 Councillors in Lancashire have postponed a decision on giving the go ahead to a controversial plan for fracking.
Hundreds of planned wind farms likely to be scrapped, admits government 23/06/2015 Around 250 planned wind farms are now unlikely to be built because of the early termination of subsidies, the Government has said.
$Protest grows as Lancashire ponders key fracking decision image$ Protest grows as Lancashire ponders key fracking decision 23/06/2015 Protesters have been gathering in Preston ahead of a decision by Lancashire County Council on controversial plans for fracking.
$Council stalls again on key fracking decision image$ Council stalls again on key fracking decision 24/04/2015 A landmark council decision on whether to allow fracking in Lancashire has been delayed until after the General Election.
England's climate disadvantage 'hot spots' mapped for first time 04/02/2015 An online map charting the effect of climate change and social disadvantage in England has been launched to support local decision makers.
$MPs call for halt on UK fracking image$ MPs call for halt on UK fracking 26/01/2015 An influential committee of MPs has called for a moratorium on fracking because it could hamper climate change efforts and pose significant health risks.
£97m weather supercomputer will make regions ‘more resilient’ to flooding 28/10/2014 Local areas could become more resilient to flooding and snowfall under Government plans for a new £97m Met Office supercomputer.
Climate change goals wil be missed, warns charity 22/10/2014 The Government will fail to meet climate change targets unless it ramps up efforts to create warm, affordable low-carbon homes, campaigners have warned.
Low carbon vehicles projects get £6m funding 17/09/2014 Two projects to help develop low carbon vehicles technologies have been awarded £6m funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Low-carbon economy could increase UK GDP says report 17/09/2014 Reducing emissions from road transport, in line with the carbon budgets set by the Committee on Climate Change, could reduce healthcare spending by £96m by 2030, according to a new report.
MPs ‘red card’ green policies 16/09/2014 The Government’s green polices have been handed a ‘red card’ by the Environmental Audit Committee, who is calling for an overarching Environmental Strategy be implemented.
Invasion of the bees: 120,000 descend on Glasgow 28/08/2014 Glasgow City Council has told people not to be alarmed by the 120,000 bees currently 'invading' the City Chambers.
Government inaction puts thousands at risk from flooding, Labour warns 11/08/2014 Some 330,000 more properties will be at serious risk of flooding in 2035 thanks to Government inaction over climate change, Labour will warn.

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