Council leaders have proposed setting up a national taskforce with Whitehall departments to tackle climate change.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said it would coordinate policies to deliver zero net carbon emissions by 2030.

The proposal is part of a package aimed at enabling councils to help deal with climate change.

It says they are key to tacking the issue but are being held back by a lack of funding and powers.

So far 230 councils, along with the LGA, have 'declared a climate emergency'.

LGA environment spokesman David Renard said: 'Councils are already doing significant work to mitigate and support communities to adapt to climate change, and can play a leading role in delivering a better environment for everyone.

'We can achieve faster progress by taking the lead on harnessing national initiatives at a grassroots level to benefit local communities and the environment.

'But local government cannot work alone. To achieve the ambition of net zero carbon emissions, councils will need further powers and sustainable funding, including easier access to government funding streams, to deliver national policies which impact on climate change locally.

'A joint national taskforce led by councils would harness the critical partnership between local and national government to coordinate and drive climate change action for the benefit of communities, the country and the planet.'