net zero | LocalGov


Welsh councils in need of net zero funding 22/04/2025 Local authority leaders in Wales have called for more funding to help deliver net zero commitments.
Heat pump adoption ‘miles off track’ 09/04/2025 Poorer areas in Britain are less than half as likely to see heat pumps installed than in richer places, think tank says.
North ‘key’ to green industries, says think tank 25/03/2025 New mayoral industrial strategy councils should be established to help drive sustainable manufacturing and boost local areas in the north, think tank says.
Peterborough requires £8.8bn to reach net zero 17/03/2025 An investment of £8.8bn is required if Peterborough City Council is to achieve its net zero carbon emissions target by 2040, according to a council document.
Brighton ditches electric buses for diesel 20/02/2025 Brighton and Hove City Council, which has pledged that the region will be carbon neutral by 20230, has ditched electric buses in favour of diesel power.
Councils awarded decarbonisation funding 07/01/2025 Five local authorities in the Midlands have been awarded grant funding to develop decarbonisation plans for industrial zones in their areas.
Councils 'hamstrung' on net zero 27/11/2024 Councils striving to make their operations net zero by 2030 are being ‘hamstrung by a lack of long-term funding certainty and limited powers', expert warns.
Unlocking supply chain potential to deliver net zero 29/10/2024 Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg, Westminster City Council, discusses how councils can reach sustainability goals through collaboration with supply chains.
Belfast launches Northern Ireland’s first Local Area Energy Plan 27/09/2024 Belfast City Council has launched its first Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) – and the first in Northern Ireland.
Devolution key to net zero transition, think-tank says 10/09/2024 Devolving powers to cities will be critical to the Government achieving its net zero goals, a think-tank has argued.
Devon County Council helps electrify one million miles of road 29/08/2024 Devon County Council’s network of public electric vehicle chargers have electrified over one million miles of road travel two years since installation.
Huge variation in on-street EV charger provision 27/08/2024 A new report has revealed significant disparities between council areas in electric vehicle (EV) charging provision for EV owners without off-street parking.
UK Infrastructure Bank agrees £17m loan for council’s net zero projects 14/08/2024 The UK Infrastructure Bank has announced a £17m loan facility to West Suffolk Council to deliver a programme of net zero projects.
NextGov: Saving the local-national climate covenant 20/06/2024 Christopher Hammond, chief executive of UK100, discusses how the next government should help local authorities along the road to net zero.
Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire to cooperate on net zero 14/06/2024 An agreement between Glasgow City Council and West Dunbartonshire Council has been developed to improve services relating to the net zero transition.
Emissions rise at ‘environment capital’ council 07/03/2024 Peterborough City Council's greenhouse gas emissions have risen by half in a year.
Planning inspectors acted unlawfully over council’s net zero plans 22/02/2024 Planning inspectors were wrong to describe West Oxfordshire District Council’s net zero plans for a garden village as ‘too rigorous’, a High Court judge has ruled.
Nearly 70% of EV owners unhappy with public chargers 01/02/2024 Nearly 70% of electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicle owners who have used the UK’s public charging network have said they are unhappy with it.
Devon and Torbay devolution deal announced 25/01/2024 Devon County Council and Torbay Council are set to enter a level 2 devolution deal with the Government.
West Midlands pilots £24m energy support scheme 16/01/2024 Small businesses across the West Midlands are being offered support to cut their gas and electricity usage.
Skills shortage ‘putting brakes’ on net zero 12/12/2023 The skills shortage is undermining efforts to reduce carbon emissions and effectively tackle the climate crisis, local authority leaders in London have warned.
Londoners struggling to take action on climate change 05/12/2023 Londoners motivated to prevent climate change but are struggling to reduce emissions due to cost-of-living crisis, survey reveals as leaders meet for COP28.
Tidal barrage could be new Wirral-Liverpool link 30/11/2023 A tidal barrage across the Mersey could provide a new link between Wirral and Liverpool, according to a report.
London council launches green investment scheme 17/11/2023 Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council is inviting residents and businesses to invest in green projects across the borough.
Manifesto push for statutory economic powers 07/11/2023 The Institute of Economic Development (IED) has launched an ‘agenda for change’ with a continued call for councils to be given statutory duties on economic development.
Time for local authorities to ‘right-size’ their offices? 26/10/2023 Mobilityways' local authorities lead Graeme Banister asks: should councils reinvent their town halls, or motivate staff to return and fill up these empty edifices?
Councils ‘held back’ on net zero 24/10/2023 The organisations that represent English councils have collaborated in a call for the Government to change its approach on delivering net zero.
Turning pensions into fossil fuel playthings 23/10/2023 Robert Noyes, Platform London, argues that if councils are serious about net zero, then local government pension funds must divest from fossil fuels.
Councils underperform in first-of-kind climate study 18/10/2023 Local authorities are not doing enough on net zero, the first study of UK councils’ climate action across all sectors has found.
New programme to help councils with climate change goals 03/10/2023 A sustainability programme has been launched by the Local Government Association (LGA) to help councils reach carbon reduction targets.
Sunak launches fight for motorists 02/10/2023 The Government has announced plans to discourage English councils from bringing in 20mph and traffic reduction measures.
Government to restrict use of 20mph speed limits 29/09/2023 Local leaders have responded critically to reports that the Government is set to restrict the ability of councils to impose 20mph speed limits on main roads.
Central government should ‘step aside on net zero if it won’t step up’ 27/09/2023 If central government ‘won't step up’, it should stand aside and allow local and regional leaders to forge ahead with decarbonisation, net zero tsar warns.
PM delays new petrol and diesel ban to 2035 21/09/2023 PM Rishi Sunak has delayed the Government's ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030 to 2035.
Council net zero efforts at risk, LGIU warns 19/09/2023 Disputes over London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) and Low Traffic Networks (LTNs), combined with the cost-of-living crisis, put net zero efforts at risk.
‘Landmark’ green energy network gains pace in Bradford 18/09/2023 Plans have progressed for a district heat network in Bradford, which developers say will be the largest of its kind in the UK.
How citizens hold the key to decarbonising Britain 18/09/2023 Jonathan Bradley, head of Business and Practice at Granicus Experience Group (GXG) UK, argues that citizens hold the key to decarbonising Britain.
Empowering local businesses to reach net zero 18/09/2023 Power to Change chief executive Tim Davies-Pugh calls on local councils to empower community business to help achieve their climate goals.
‘Up to’ £129m announced in zero emission bus boost 08/09/2023 The transport secretary has announced ‘up to’ £129m to help local transport authorities introduce hundreds more zero emission buses.
Investment in home improvements could create £10bn boost 23/08/2023 The Government could create a £10bn annual economic boost by spending a ‘tiny fraction’ of housing funding recently returned to the Treasury on improving the nation’s homes, according to a new report.
MPs launch electric vehicle (EV) inquiry 09/08/2023 An inquiry into electric vehicles (EVs) has today been launched to help the Government better understand how the UK will reach net zero.
North East to benefit from £8m hydrogen investment 02/08/2023 The North East is set to benefit from an £8m investment into the Tees Valley to support hydrogen-powered transport.
Now I am become Uxbridge, destroyer of rational climate discourse 01/08/2023 Jason Torrance, UK100, responds to the Government’s criticism of clean air zones, low-traffic neighbourhoods and other net zero schemes.
Greenwich brings in parking charges based on emissions 31/07/2023 Parking charges and resident and business permits in Greenwich are now based on vehicles’ carbon dioxide emissions.
Pace of EV charger installation by councils a ‘real concern’ 31/07/2023 Poor investment at a local level means private investment will be required to meet a target to install 300,000 public EV chargers by 2030, law firm says.
Westminster unveils ‘trailblazing’ fleet electrification 20/07/2023 Westminster City Council and Veolia are rolling out the UK’s largest electric refuse collection fleet, with vehicles powered by the waste they collect.
Whitehall impeding local plans’ potential for climate action 19/07/2023 A lack of clarity on Government policy is undermining the ability of local planners to mitigate and adapt to the climate emergency, a new report has found.
Thousands more green buses needed to reach net zero 28/06/2023 More than 5,800 extra green buses are needed in England by 2030 to reach net zero and support the levelling up agenda, according to a new report from IPPR.
LGA: Councils best placed to lead on climate action 28/06/2023 The LGA has said that only councils can lead the climate action required to meet net zero after a report described Government progress as ‘worryingly slow’.
London’s consumption-based emissions not decreasing fast enough 26/06/2023 The emissions created by the lifestyles of Londoners have decreased each year but more needs to be done if net zero targets are to be met, council chiefs say.
Reducing carbon emissions with data 09/06/2023 Subu Kamal, TRL Software, looks at how councils can work collectively to reduce carbon emissions with data.
North Kelsey oil drilling planning appeal dropped 09/06/2023 A company has withdrawn its appeal over plans to begin exploratory drilling for oil in a Lincolnshire village.
Government rejects call for local net zero delivery duty 06/06/2023 The Government has rejected calls from the Liberal Democrats for local authorities to have a statutory duty to deliver net zero.
Delivering on the local net zero promise 05/06/2023 Ahead of today’s Parliamentary debate on local government and net zero, Patrick Hargreaves, UK100 reflects on the obstacles to reducing carbon emissions.
Active Travel England to consult on large planning applications 01/06/2023 Local planning authorities will now have to consult with Active Travel England (ATE) on all large planning applications.
Skilled worker shortage undermining net zero drive 01/06/2023 A skilled worker shortage means that at the current rate of heat pump and insulation installation it could take ‘several hundred years’ to meet net zero.
Rooftop solar panels should be fitted as standard, charity says 23/05/2023 The majority of the solar panels required to reach the Government’s net zero targets could be fitted on rooftops and car parks, campaigners say.
London boroughs agree first infrastructure framework 17/05/2023 All 33 local authorities across London have agreed an infrastructure framework on a cross-party, pan-London basis for the first time.
Scottish councils ‘uniquely placed’ to assist reform 17/05/2023 Councils are well-placed to deliver the key aims of Scotland’s government – such as tackling child poverty and net zero – but need funding, experts warn.
Councils face ‘Kafkaesque’ barriers to net zero 03/05/2023 Local authorities face ‘Kafkaesque’ barriers to achieving net zero goals, a new report backed by the Government’s net zero tsar has concluded.
Sutton Council launches anti-ULEZ expansion petition 25/04/2023 Sutton Council in south-west London has launched a petition among residents to protest against new restrictions on vehicle emissions.
Yorkshire Dales to see ‘significant boost’ in public transport 31/03/2023 Public transport in the Yorkshire Dales is to expand after the authority running the National Park agreed to encourage a ‘boost’ to bus and rail services.
Why a circular economy is good for local government 23/03/2023 Wayne Hubbard, CEO of ReLondon, argues that green measures can save councils money and help local businesses.
Surrey CC begins roll-out of record 10,000 EV chargers 23/03/2023 EV owners in Surrey will soon have access to 10,000 public chargers as the council announces the largest deployment of charge points by a UK local authority.
Government must grasp opportunity of a climate positive UK 13/03/2023 Mike Thornton of the Energy Saving Trust urges the Government to convert its words about net zero into action ahead of the spring budget.
Retrofitting historic buildings could boost economy by £35bn 07/03/2023 Retrofitting the UK’s historic buildings in order to make them more energy efficient could generate £35bn of economic output a year, according to a new study.
Waverley BC welcomes court’s oil drilling decision 03/03/2023 Waverley BC has welcomed a High Court judgement which allows the council to seek a statutory review of the planning permission for oil and gas exploration.
Delivering net zero targets requires rethink of localities' role 02/03/2023 Delivering the UK’s 2030 target to cut carbon emissions requires a rethink of the role localities must play, according to the Green New Deal APPG.
Private cars exempt as Sheffield finally gets CAZ 27/02/2023 Sheffield’s CAZ came into force on Monday, more than five years after the Government legally directed the council to implement the air quality measure.
MICHELIN’s Connected Fleet leads to nearly 50% drop in engine idling 13/02/2023 Highway Traffic Management (HTM) reports dramatic drop in engine idling, following the installation of MICHELIN Connected Fleet’s on-board telematics system.
Cambridge’s King’s College to install solar panels on historic chapel 10/02/2023 Cambridge CC has granted planning permission for the installation of solar panels on the roof of King’s College Chapel despite concerns.
Public sector pension funds call for ‘Say on Climate’ vote 09/02/2023 Public sector pension funds have written to all FTSE listed companies requesting that they give shareholders a vote on plans for reducing emissions.
Closing doors: saving energy and money in the public sector 01/02/2023 Amy Entwistle, partner in Morton Fraser’s Public Sector Team, looks at how councils can save energy and money on the journey to net zero.
Council launches net zero tourism network 26/01/2023 A new network has been launched to promote collaborative, climate-friendly tourism in East Devon, the local council has announced.
Holyrood urged to empower councils to reach net zero 24/01/2023 Scotland will not reach its net zero targets without first empowering the local government sector, MSPs have warned.