NALC event empowers parish and town councils to drive clean energy initiatives
Our latest event on 17 December 2025 explored how parish and town councils can play a pivotal role in advancing clean energy initiatives and driving sustainable community growth.
The event featured the education and localities advocacy consultant at the Carbon Literacy Trust, Linda Foley, the climate action lead at Frome Town Council, Matt Mellon, and the community action on energy lead at the Centre for Sustainable Energy, Harriet Sansom, who shared practical strategies for parish and town councils to reduce carbon emissions, engage communities, and stimulate grassroots action.
Linda Foley emphasised the importance of carbon literacy training as a foundation for climate action, describing it as the "silver bullet" for tackling the climate emergency. She said, "For me, carbon literacy training is about hope. Hope is not a lottery ticket that you sit on the sofa and clutch. It's an axe that you use to break down doors in an emergency". She encouraged individuals and organisations to understand the urgency and take practical steps.
Matt Mellon showcased how his council is driving climate action through engagement, mitigation, and adaptation. Frome Town Council's Solar and Beyond campaign has connected with thousands of households, promoting renewable energy and home retrofits. He also discussed innovative ideas, including solar canopies for car parks and a sustainability dashboard to make environmental data accessible. His advice to parish and town councils was to focus on homes, cost savings, and building a movement through community events.
Harriet Sansom provided a strategic overview of how parish and town councils can act as conveners and facilitators rather than direct project deliverers. She highlighted free tools, including the IMPACT carbon footprint calculator, Solar Wizard, and the Community Energy Go program, which support councils and community groups in developing renewable energy schemes. She said, "Run engagement and awareness-raising events... showcase other examples, even survey and consult residents", encouraging parish and town councils to frame energy improvements around health, comfort and affordability to engage residents effectively.
The event concluded with an engaging Q&A, where attendees were encouraged to interact with the speakers and share their thoughts. In their closing remarks, the speakers emphasised that building momentum for clean energy projects begins with strong community engagement through events and partnerships. They highlighted the importance of presenting practical benefits, such as cost savings and improved comfort, when communicating with residents, as these resonate most effectively. They urged parish and town councils to make use of the many free tools and funding streams available to support local initiatives.
The overarching message was clear. Parish and town councils are primed to lead the transition to clean energy by empowering communities and promoting collaboration.
