Government must provide more powers to councils and provide clarity, capacity and funding to address the climate crisis, a national cities network has urged.
Key Cities, representing 27 UK urban centres, calls on Government to clearly define the responsibilities of local authorities, provide devolved funding with net zero powers to local areas and support in upskilling the workforce.
Its report, Levelling Up, Emissions Down, reveals how cities are driving positive climate action, despite a huge disconnect between local action and national policy.
It says many cities are already implementing a range of environmental initiatives.
These range from harnessing hydrogen for business to building solar farms; instigating partnerships across the public sector, business and community groups, and facilitating knowledge sharing across councils.
John Merry, chair of Key Cities and deputy mayor of Salford City Council, said: ‘Local authorities must be at the centre of efforts to address the climate emergency, which can only be achieved if we are given more powers, clarity, capacity and funding.
‘The Government’s own Net Zero Review highlighted that significant action is required if we are to meet national and local net zero targets, but to do this devolution needs to go further and deeper.’
