Green and clean. How can local government deliver services and engage citizens for a more sustainable future and a cooler climate?
This briefing looks at the benefits and challenges around fast-tracking active travel and public realm investments in response to government investment and provides examples of some local councils’ responses, particularly into major city centres.
Could the Local Electricity Bill (2020) transform the current electricity regime? The Bill would introduce powers to issue licences to smaller providers of electricity. This would enable local generators of electricity to become local suppliers both to residents and businesses.
The last few weeks saw the release of two important reports from the UK and Scottish Governments concerning the decarbonisation agenda and post Covid-19 green recovery respectively; the UK wide ‘Net Zero Decarbonisation Report’ and the Scotland-focussed ‘Green Recovery Inquiry’. This briefing highlights the key themes and policy recommendations for local government.
In advance of our upcoming bundle this Friday (11 December) marking the anniversary of the Paris Agreement, Kim Fellows writes personally on the prospects of climate conflict, inequality, and whether we might still be hopeful for a green recovery.
The Scottish Land Commission recently released a Protocol on Common Good Land, setting out clear expectations and behaviours for local authorities in managing Common Good land and buildings in line with their statutory duties – a big help for those struggling with clarity on this sometimes-complex issue. In this blog, they tell us more.
Sixteen awards were announced at Chambers Ireland’s virtual awards, with Mayo winning Local Authority of the Year alongside 3 thematic awards. This blog outlines the winners of each category and the great initiatives responsible for their success.
This briefing summarises the Government’s response to the Committee on Climate Change’s annual report, assessing progress in reducing emissions over the past year. The role local authorities can play in meeting this ambitious 2050 target will also be explored, making this briefing relevant to those with roles in sustainability, energy and planning.
Achieving carbon neutrality in the UK within the next twenty to thirty years requires innovation throughout the housing system. This paper examines innovation impacts in embodied, operational and land-based emissions, and explores routes to make yesterday’s innovations tomorrow’s ‘business as usual’.
When Aberdeen City Council was named Local Authority of the Year at the MJ Achievement Awards 2020, judges noted “a pioneering capital programme and significant investments in the social and cultural future of its communities”. In this blog Co-leaders Douglas Lumsden and Jenny Laing share their work, emphasising sustainability initiatives.
Lisa Mclean, CEO of NSW Circular, recently spoke with SGS Economics and Planning’s Jeremy Gill to discuss the implementation of a Circular Economy in the Australian context: the specific barriers, opportunities, and the role of local government. This briefing is based on that conversation.