environment


Highways England steps in to improve toxic air in Dorset village 12/05/2021 Highways England is to impose a permanent 30mph speed limit in a village suffering high air pollution after a trial achieved an improvement.
Queen's speech: PM's 'live local and prosper' promise 09/05/2021 Levelling up, boosting the economy and backing the NHS are set to be the priorities for Tuesday’s Queen’s speech.
Pollution fears rise as traffic surges in Scottish cities 06/05/2021 New data shows that traffic levels in Edinburgh and Glasgow have exceeded pre-pandemic levels, adding to fears about air quality following delays to Scotland’s planned Low Emission Zones (LEZs).
Calls to declare a climate and ecological emergency 06/05/2021 A climate and ecological emergency should be declared to avoid a health and mental health 'catastrophe', the Royal College of Psychiatrists has warned today.
Building a public EV charging network 05/05/2021 Cecilia Routledge looks at the seven key things that local authorities need to consider when installing EV chargepoints.
Councils' efforts to tackle climate change hindered by 'broken' system, warns report 04/05/2021 Local authorities are leading to way in tackling climate change but are being held back by a ‘broken’ national system, a new report has found.
How local councils can help stop unnecessary plastic ending up in landfill 28/04/2021 Paul Empson outlines three simple ways councils can help raise awareness of the impact plastic food delivery trays have on the environment.
Westminster first UK council to install 1,000 EV charge points 28/04/2021 Westminster City Council is the first local authority in the UK to install more than 1,000 electric vehicle charge points.
Glasgow first to sign circular economy commitment 22/04/2021 Glasgow City Council has become the first in the UK to sign a commitment to raise awareness of the full benefits of the circular economy.
Councils at 'forefront' of climate change action 22/04/2021 To mark Earth Day, the Local Government Association (LGA) has highlighted the work being done by councils to help tackle climate change and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The importance of sustainable waste management strategies for the UK's local authorities 26/03/2021 Peter Vernon sustainable waste management strategies in the context of wheelie-bin procurement and improved recycling rates.
Coventry gets go-ahead for all-electric buses 24/03/2021 Coventry is set to become the UK’s first All Electric Bus City after the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) backed the project.
Government unveils hydrogen transport hub ‘masterplan’ 17/03/2021 The Government has unveiled the official ‘masterplan’ for the UK’s first-ever hydrogen transport hub.
County council approves Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone pilot 17/03/2021 Oxford’s proposed Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) pilot has been formally approved by Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet for launch in August.
MPs to examine the role of local government in meeting 'net zero' by 2050 16/03/2021 The role local government can play in helping the UK achieve net zero by 2050 will be examined by MPs.
Bath's Clean Air Zone goes live 15/03/2021 The UK’s first charging clean air zone (CAZ) outside of London has been launched in Bath today.
Councils urged to set whole-area climate change targets 11/03/2021 Only half of local plans aim to reach net-zero across the entire local area, new analysis has shown.
Councils share £5m in Air Quality Grants 10/03/2021 A further £5m has been awarded to local authorities across England to deliver projects that tackle air pollution.
Schools Streets cutting air pollution, study reveals 09/03/2021 Closing roads around schools at pick-up and drop-off times has reduced air pollution by 23% in London, a new study published by mayor Sadiq Khan has revealed.
UK has broken air pollution law for a decade, top court warns 05/03/2021 The UK has 'systematically and persistently' broken legal limits on dangerous air pollution since 2010, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled.
Pandemic could lead to rise in road traffic levels, data warns 04/03/2021 Traffic levels in some of the UK’s largest cities have nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, new data has revealed.
Campaigners call for £10.6bn investment in ‘green apprenticeships’ 02/03/2021 Environmental campaigners have called for the creation of 250,000 ‘green apprenticeships’ in areas such as renewable energy as part of the effort to address the twin crises of youth unemployment and climate change.
BT Partners with scale-ups on breakthrough green tech 23/02/2021 Tech scale-ups collaborate with BT to develop new services aimed at helping public sector customers transition to Net Zero.
Why green will be the next tick box for procurement 23/02/2021 Richard Lilwall explains how AI can be used to help councils develop their green fleet strategies.
Council pension funds invest nearly £10bn in fossil fuels 23/02/2021 Nearly £10bn of local government pension funds are still invested in fossil fuels, new research has uncovered.
Social housing sector calls for guidance to meet sustainability targets 16/02/2021 Nine in 10 social housing construction professionals believe the sector is in urgent need of new Government guidelines if it is going to meet sustainability targets, a new survey has revealed.
UK set for first hydrogen homes 16/02/2021 The UK’s first homes with appliances fuelled entirely by hydrogen will be built in Gateshead this April.
Council to trial hydrotreated vegetable oil-fuelled waste collections 11/02/2021 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council’s waste collections could soon be run on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) following an agreement with Crown Oil to trial this environmentally friendly fuel in two of its refuse vehicles.
Living in a climate emergency 11/02/2021 Cllr Scott Patient outlines how Calderdale MBC is working with partners and communities to both reduce flood risk and cut the impacts of climate change – but help is needed, and the council is calling on the Government to unlock resources.
MPs call for tougher targets to lower air pollution 11/02/2021 MPs have urged the Government to set tougher targets to lower air pollution in and give councils extra funding to improve local air quality.
Defra announces £10m fund to drive private sector investment in nature 10/02/2021 The Government has announced a multi-million-pound fund which aims to help local authorities attract private investment into projects focused on tackling climate change.
Over half a million face clean air zone charges this year 08/02/2021 Half a million drivers in London and Birmingham could be 'priced off the road' under Clean Air Zone charges this year, according to motoring group The AA.
Government's EV charging plans 'won't be enough', report argues 02/02/2021 The UK needs to install public electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints five times faster than the current rate at an estimated cost of between £5bn and £10bn by 2030, a think tank has said.
Councils urged to bid for extended electric vehicle chargepoints funding 02/02/2021 Local authorities are being urged to apply for a share of £20m funding to help increase the number of on-street electric vehicle chargepoints.
Scottish council launches world’s first hydrogen double-decker buses 29/01/2021 Aberdeen has claimed a world first after a fleet of double-decker hydrogen buses officially launched into service.
Oxford first council to approve city-wide air pollution target 21/01/2021 Oxford City Council has become the first local authority in the UK to approve a city-wide air pollution reduction target.
Councils plan to install 35 on-street EV chargers each by 2025 20/01/2021 Councils are planning on installing just 35 on-street electric vehicle chargers each by 2025 on average, an investigation has revealed.
New homes will need to reduce emissions by at least 75% by 2025 20/01/2021 All new buildings will have to meet tough new energy efficiency standards under plans published by the Government.
Campaigners call on councils to help reduce car use 19/01/2021 Environmental campaigners have called on local authorities to cancel spending on road building and to redirect funds to boost public transport and active travel.
Local authorities can lead green agenda by taking advantage of government incentives 11/01/2021 With the right support, UK local authorities can lead the charge on introducing new energy efficiency measures – but tapping into government funding is key, explains Dr Tanja Groth.
Towards Net Zero 07/01/2021 Join us on 26 January to discover break-through technology supporting the UK’s green recovery
Coventry and Oxford prepare to run UK’s first all-electric bus services 07/01/2021 Coventry and Oxford are set to receive up to £50m to help them become the first parts of the UK to run all-electric bus services, the transport secretary has announced.
How schools can combat waste 22/12/2020 Michael Taylor, general manager at Skip Hire UK, looks at how schools can combat waste.
Top 100: Our most popular local government stories of 2020 16/12/2020 Although the dispute over council pay caused the most stir in the local government sector this year, the impact of dealing with the pandemic obviously dominated the headlines as well.
Coventry named best for EV infrastructure for mainland UK 16/12/2020 Coventry City Council provides the most electric car chargers in mainland Britain, according to new research.
Local authorities need greater clarity and commitment from government to make our homes greener 16/12/2020 Mike Thornton argues local authorities cannot be successful in reducing carbon emissions in their areas without the backing of a clear national policy framework.
Eight in ten councils hit by climate-related incidents 14/12/2020 Eight in ten councils have suffered climate-related incidents in the last five years, new research has revealed.
Councils warned to push ahead with clean air zones 10/12/2020 Air pollution exceeds pre-pandemic levels in 80% of places despite continued lockdown restrictions, new research has uncovered today.
Scope 3 emissions - what are they and why are they so important? 09/12/2020 George Beechener explains how Scope 3 emissions work and why they’re so important.
Whitehall failing to harness councils’ enthusiasm on climate action 04/12/2020 The Government will fail to meet its 2050 net zero carbon target without working in partnership with local authorities, a new report has warned.
Regions urged to apply to host UK's prototype fusion power plant 02/12/2020 Local communities and regions are being invited to put forward proposals to host the UK’s prototype fusion energy power plant.
Big Issue eBikes: Biking for good! 01/12/2020 Lord John Bird explains why The Big Issue has launched 'Biking for Good' with ShareBike to boost employment in the UK.
Flood funding for councils may not be enough, watchdog finds 27/11/2020 The Government is unable to prove councils have enough funding for flood defences, a spending watchdog has discovered.
Council raises £1m for solar panels through ‘community investment’ 19/11/2020 Warrington Borough Council’s first Community Municipal Investment (CMI) has reached its £1m target thanks to investments from over 500 people across the UK.
Creating a greener local government 19/11/2020 Mark Doyle, a senior corporate account manager at Gazprom Energy, looks at how to create a greener local government.
PM publishes ten point plan for 'green industrial revolution' 18/11/2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has published his ten point plan for creating a 'green industrial revolution' for 250,000 new jobs.
Government announces ‘additional’ £40m of green funding 16/11/2020 The Government has announced that more areas are to be designated national parks and a second round of funding will be available to support the delivery of green jobs.
Meeting Government green targets: How to stay ahead of the curve 16/11/2020 Jo Mills argues the UK’s green recovery must be at the forefront of the public sector’s agenda to ensure local authorities are on track to meet 2050 net-zero targets
Councils play ‘critical role’ in fighting climate change but lack resources, watchdog says 12/11/2020 Local authorities play ‘critical role’ in improving air quality and the natural environment but they lack the necessary resources and expertise, watchdog says.
Half of councils aim for zero-carbon 20 years ahead of schedule 12/11/2020 Over half of councils in the UK have set a goal of reaching net-zero carbon by 2030 or sooner, new data has shown.
Labour calls for creation of 400,000 green jobs 10/11/2020 Labour has called on the Government to ‘build it in Britain’ and to support the creation of 400,000 new jobs with a green economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
Volunteers report rise in PPE pollution on beaches 06/11/2020 Discarded face masks and gloves have been found on 30% of Britain's beaches, according to the results of this year’s Great British Beach Clean.
Copeland residents asked to consider new radioactive waste facility 05/11/2020 A Working Group has been formed to start local engagement on whether Copeland could be a suitable location for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) for higher activity radioactive waste.
London boroughs call for £115m to retrofit energy inefficient buildings 03/11/2020 Local authorities in London are calling on the Government to ‘secure London’s environmental and economic future’ by increasing funding for councils to retrofit energy inefficient buildings.
Rethinking local regeneration 02/11/2020 If we to truly 'build back better', local authorities need a new approach to regeneration, argues Hannah Vickers.
Coastal areas call for £1bn to decarbonise the maritime sector 09/10/2020 Local coastal leaders have called on the chancellor to invest £1bn to completely decarbonise the maritime sector.
Birmingham to launch Clean Air Zone in June 2021 09/10/2020 Birmingham City Council has confirmed the government-mandated Clean Air Zone is now scheduled to launch on 1 June 2021.
Air pollution round schools is impacting learning, research finds 08/10/2020 Reducing air pollution levels by 20% could improve a child’s ability to learn within one month, new research has found.
Call for evidence on appointing Air Quality Partners 06/10/2020 The Government has launched a call for evidence on which public bodies should help local authorities to tackle air pollution.
'Dramatic' fall in London's air pollution since 2016, data shows 05/10/2020 Despite dramatic improvements in London's air quality since 2016, air pollution is still a major public health challenge, new data has revealed.
Teesside mayor announces UK’s first hydrogen transport centre 30/09/2020 Teesside is set to become the site of the UK’s first hydrogen transport centre, the Tees Valley mayor has announced.
PM pledges to protect ‘additional 4%’ of UK’s land 28/09/2020 The Government has committed to protecting 30% of the UK’s land by 2030 as part of a global effort to protect nature and boost biodiversity.
New benchmark reveals top five ‘green economies’ in UK 24/09/2020 The top five green economies per capita in 2018/19 were in south east England, Greater Manchester and the Leeds City Region, according to new research.
Manchester councils secure funding for clean energy project 23/09/2020 Funding to develop a clean energy project has been awarded to five councils in Greater Manchester that have declared a climate emergency.
Where do Clean Air Zones fit in the green recovery? 18/09/2020 Laura Thornton and Stuart Thomson, the legal director and head of public affairs respectively at BDB Pitmans, look at Clean Air Zones and the green recovery.
Citizen's Climate Assembly calls for reductions in car and air travel 15/09/2020 The first citizens’ assembly on climate change has called for tough action including limiting the growth of car and plane travel.
Council announces ‘innovative’ nitrate neutral development scheme 14/09/2020 Havant Borough Council has become the first local authority to enable nitrate neutral regeneration and redevelopment.
Over 500 new chargers per day needed to achieve zero emission car market 07/09/2020 Survey reveals that despite billions invested in the development of EVs, UK buyers are still reluctant to buy them and hundreds more charge points are needed.
Scottish Government shells out £10m for greener buses 04/09/2020 The Scottish Government has awarded over £9.75m to 19 bus and coach operators to retrofit 594 vehicle exhausts over the next financial year.
Council chiefs announce net zero innovation programme 02/09/2020 Councils and universities can apply for a new Net Zero Innovation Programme to address climate challenges at a local level, the Local Government Association (LGA) and UCL announce today.
Nottingham agrees governance overhaul 28/08/2020 The council will implement a raft of measures in a bid to improve oversight of its companies after its energy firm incurred a £24m loss.
Council chiefs urge courier services to swap vans for cargo bikes 27/08/2020 Delivery companies should switch to cargo bike schemes where possible to cut carbon emissions, improve air quality and reduce congestion, council leaders say.
Leeds could scrap CAZ as pandemic cuts traffic and pollution 20/08/2020 Leeds City Council could scrap its planned Clean Air Zone (CAZ) if levels of toxic air pollution remain within legal limits.
Government announces ‘legally binding targets’ to tackle climate change 19/08/2020 The Government has set out a series of legally binding targets under the Environment Bill to combat climate change.
Link between polluted air and COVID-19 deaths revealed 18/08/2020 People were more likely to die from COVID-19 in highly polluted areas in England at the start of the pandemic, new research has found.
The ‘Great Reset’: Reshaping transport for a greener future 17/08/2020 Sandra Witzel explores how Mobility as a Service (MaaS) can help local transport authorities encourage active travel.
Government urged to take action on emissions from peatland 07/08/2020 The Government should take radical action on restoring and rewetting peatlands to achieve net zero on land, countryside campaigners have said.
Are enough local governments acting on climate emergency declarations? 05/08/2020 Hannah Callingham says councils must start to develop and deliver climate change strategies in order to meet declarations.
Waste incinerators more likely to be built in deprived areas, research uncovers 03/08/2020 Waste incinerators are three times more likely to be built in poorer areas than in the UK’s richest areas, an investigation has revealed.
More than a thousand sites are breaching air pollution limits 30/07/2020 More than a thousand locations across England are breaching legal air pollution limits, research has found.
The impact of a green recovery on local authorities 21/07/2020 Jon Beasley explains why local authorities are sitting on the precipice of a transport transformation.
Seize the moment for a greener future 13/07/2020 Sue Riddlestone explains why the time is right to re-shape our communities to go carbon neutral.
County set to approve £102m waste contract 29/06/2020 Norfolk County Council is set to approve a new six-year waste management deal with Veolia, worth £102m.
Government launches consultation on accelerating tree planting 19/06/2020 The Government has launched a consultation on ways to accelerate tree planting in an effort to combat the biodiversity and climate crises.
A greener future? 01/05/2020 Steven Meersman warns that transitioning to net-zero must continue to be a priority despite Covid-19.
Getting to net zero 20/04/2020 Bevan Jones outlines what councils can do to achieve net zero.
Councils told to prioritise black bag rubbish collections 08/04/2020 Councils have been advised to prioritise black bag waste collections over recycling during the coronavirus crisis.
Most councils still providing normal waste collections, survey reveals 06/04/2020 The majority of councils have been able to provide a normal waste and recycling collection service, a new survey has revealed.
Coronavirus lockdown has improved air quality, scientists find 01/04/2020 Air pollution across the UK’s largest cities has fallen since the start of the lockdown, new analysis has shown.
Pandemic forces Birmingham to delay launch of Clean Air Zone 25/03/2020 Birmingham City Council has written to the Government requesting postponement to the launch of its Clean Air Zone (CAZ) to help protect the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.

Building a public EV charging network

Cecilia Routledge looks at the seven key things that local authorities need to consider when installing EV chargepoints.

Innovating for a fairer start

Nesta’s Tom Symons outlines how they are partnering with three councils for trial discovery projects to improve school readiness levels.

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Public Property

This issue of Public Property examines how how flexible workspaces can lead the way in regeneration for local authorities, Why local authority intervention is key to successful urban regeneration schemes and if the Government’s challenge of embracing beauty is an opportunity for communities.

The March issue also takes a closer look at Blackburn with Darwen Council's first digital health hub to help people gain control over health and care services.