New research from Climate Emergency UK has found that councils with greater spending power are more effective at delivering climate action.
Analysis of the 2025 Council Climate Action Scorecards, carried out with academics from University of York and Nottingham Trent University, shows that for every £200 per capita increase in funding, councils see a 0.8% improvement in climate performance.
However, the study highlights that public engagement plays an even bigger role. A one percentage point rise in public support for climate action is linked to a 1.9 percentage point increase in council performance.
The findings come amid mounting financial pressure, with nearly 40% of English councils expecting to require bailouts. Researchers warn that without additional funding or a statutory duty, climate action risks being deprioritised.
