campaigning for a step-change in local action to tackle climate change get serious about co2
TRANSCRIPT
Campaigning for a step-change
in local actionto tackle climate
change
GETSERIOUSABOUTCO2
40%by 2020
Councils from all political parties have signed up to emissions cutsin their area ofat least
and have agreed to draw up a Climate Change Action Plan
BirminghamBrighton and Hove
BristolDurham County
HaringayHarrogate
HarrowIslington
LeedsManchesterPlymouth
SuffolkYork
Local carbon budgets
Local carbon budgets will driveambitious emissions cuts
by helping local authorities to leadeffective carbon reduction strategies
across their local areas.
Councils’ ‘offer’ to Government
“I want to askyou to put forward
an ‘offer’,outlining how
local and central government
can work togetherto meet our national
climate change targets.”
Local carbon budgets legislation
in ‘the last Parliament’
Council income: 2008/2009
Council spending: 2008/2009
Council spending: 2008/2009
Council spending: 2008/2009
“There’s no money”“There’s no money”
So how can councils pay for carbon reduction?
Context 1Cuts
“Worse than Thatcher”
25%... 40%... More?
“extremely challenging”
IFS
Context 2“Localism, localism, localism”
“A radical devolution of power… and a review of local government finance”
Implications
More freedom + Less cash =
• Difficult choices• Get creative about how to pay for things• Seek new ways to bring money in• Make every £ work harder• National Government has to help
Area based approaches: Meeting national carbon targets will need local coordination and leadership – so Government can’t hang councils out to dry
1. Save money
InsulationImprove processes Training (eco-driving?)
“Wasting energy means that money that could be spent on local services is also being wasted” - Chris Huhne
1. Save money
Council’s own premises• Haringey: £5m investment to save £38m
Residents and businesses• Islington’s fuel poverty work• Kirklees Warm Zone programme• Councils delivering Green Deal – ie Stroud pilot
1. Save money
Where to get the £ ?
• Allocate existing budgets • Zero-interest loans • Borrowing
• “prudential” – private • Government / EU funds
Package up programmes of work
2. New income streams
Feed-in tariffs (FITs)Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
• Birmingham Energy Savers
Guaranteedincome to supportborrowing or usefor other council activities
2. New income streams
• Nottingham – Workplace Parking Levy• Congestion charging / road pricing (London) • Electric car points? • Richmond – vary parking charges
Better transport: tackle obesity, social exclusion, air quality
Investment in renewables: generate local jobs, regenerate local economies
Insulation: fuel poverty, save people money
Better transport: tackle obesity, social exclusion, air quality
Investment in renewables: generate local jobs, regenerate local economies
Insulation: fuel poverty, save people money
3. Join things up
Embed carbon into all activities
4. National Govt help
Access to central funds: • don’t slash grants (too much!)• access to borrowing• ensure national programmes are locally focused
• Green Deal • CERT? • Green Investment Bank
4. National Govt help
More freedom to raise money locally – for example• More power over tax and rates to incentivise green investment• More flexibility over usingrevenue money as capital
Guaranteed supportfor climate staffing
4. National Govt help
Back up local carbon budgets by ensuring councils can access the money they need