"Government will not reach net zero without empowering councils to deliver local climate action in every village, town and city."
A bureaucratic system of bidding for short term funding pots is hampering efforts to reach net zero targets, a survey for the Local Government Association (LGA) has found.
The survey also found two thirds (67 per cent) of councils were not confident in hitting their net zero targets, putting the Government’s net zero strategy in doubt as councils warn of challenges in achieving local climate action.
The survey found the potential of local climate action is being “strangled” by a complex web of hard to reach Whitehall funding pots, for instance:
- One in four councils are generally unsuccessful in bidding for net zero funds
- 60 per cent of councils have been dissuaded from bidding into a government fund because of the time and resources needed to write bids
- 83 per cent are concerned by an excessive bureaucratic burden tied up with national funding pots
Nine in 10 councils do not think there is a sufficient financing plan in place to deliver net zero by 2050, with three quarters (73 per cent) saying the bureaucracy and uncertainty of government funding is unattractive to private investors.
Councils want to lead local climate action to cut carbon and bring benefits for economies, health, and public services. For instance install rooftop solar panels to cut bills, revitalise green spaces and electrify transport to clean up toxic air, and promote safer walking and cycling for all.
The LGA is calling on all parties to back local climate action, supporting a local approach that can achieve net zero by 2050 for half the cost of national approach and deliver three times the financial returns.
The survey also found councils have little or no confidence in the approach to achieve net zero homes (85 per cent), net zero transport (80 per cent), and in achieving net zero in a way that is fair and inclusive to everyone (95 per cent).
Cllr Darren Rodwell, environment spokesperson for the LGA said:
“Councils are leading transformative projects across the country, but their innovation is being strangled by the national approach to the transition to net zero.
“We must rise to the challenge of climate change. With an impact on over 80 per cent of emissions from their area – from transport and housing to renewable energy, government will not reach net zero without empowering councils to deliver local climate action in every village, town and city.
“With the right support, local areas could deliver net zero quicker and for less money, while boosting the local economy and ensuring local people benefit.”
Ends
View the full climate survey: Net Zero Strategy and Support: Research Report, October 2023 to January 2024