The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has been advocating for the important role local (parish and town) councils have in reaching Net Zero.
The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Local Net Zero Forum held its latest meeting on 25 January. NALC provided feedback on the recommendations contained in Chris Skidmore’s independent report on Net Zero.
NALC argued that local councils mustn’t be overlooked and should be empowered and supported to do more, such as through funding sharing good practices and new powers, and that the trailblazer Net Zero Community should be led by a local council.
In a House of Lords debate in Parliament, on 26 November, Baroness Scott, NALC president, said: “As the first tier of local government, they should not be overlooked in the delivery of net zero. Many are already providing place-based, locally-led action. Many have put climate change on their agenda and are actively looking for ways in which they and their communities can play their part in delivering net zero.”