Climate change

• Council launches ‘pioneering’ climate commission

  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

  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

  Giles K Bailey and Stefano Mainero explore the challenges for UK cities in considering resiliency planning.

  

• Campaigners call for increased protection for Green Belt

  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

  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

  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

  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

  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

  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

  Councillors in Lancashire have postponed a decision on giving the go ahead to a controversial plan for fracking.