Climate change

• Councils must ‘act now’ to tackle carbon emissions

  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

  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

  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

  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

  The first climate change investment policy framework has been launched for local government pension funds.

  

• Councils investing £16bn of pensions into fossil fuels

  More than £16bn of council pension funds have been invested into fossil fuel companies, new research has revealed.

  

• 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.