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Campaigning for a step-change in local action to tackle climate change

Campaigning for a step-change in local action to tackle climate change. GET SERIOUS ABOUT CO2. Birmingham Brighton and Hove Bristol Durham County Haringay Harrogate Harrow Islington Leeds Manchester Plymouth Suffolk York.

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Campaigning for a step-change in local action to tackle climate change

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  1. Campaigning for a step-change in local action to tackle climate change GET SERIOUS ABOUT CO2

  2. Birmingham Brighton and Hove Bristol Durham County Haringay Harrogate Harrow Islington Leeds Manchester Plymouth Suffolk York Councils from all political parties have signed up to emissions cuts in their area of at least 40% by 2020 and have agreed to draw up a Climate Change Action Plan

  3. Local carbon budgets Local carbon budgets will drive ambitious emissions cuts by helping local authorities to lead effective carbon reduction strategies across their local areas.

  4. Councils’ ‘offer’ to Government “I want to ask you to put forward an ‘offer’, outlining how local and central government can work together to meet our national climate change targets.”

  5. Local carbon budgets legislation in ‘the last Parliament’

  6. Council income: 2008/2009

  7. Council spending: 2008/2009

  8. Council spending: 2008/2009

  9. Council spending: 2008/2009

  10. “There’s no money” “There’s no money” So how can councils pay for carbon reduction?

  11. “Worse than Thatcher” 25%... 40%... More? “extremely challenging” IFS Context 1 Cuts

  12. Context 2 “Localism, localism, localism” “A radical devolution of power… and a review of local government finance”

  13. 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

  14. Area based approaches: Meeting national carbon targets will need local coordination and leadership – so Government can’t hang councils out to dry

  15. 1. Save money Insulation Improve processes Training (eco-driving?) “Wasting energy means that money that could be spent on local services is also being wasted” - Chris Huhne

  16. 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

  17. 1. Save money • Where to get the £ ? • Allocate existing budgets • Zero-interest loans • Borrowing • “prudential” – private • Government / EU funds •  Package up programmes of work

  18. 2. New income streams • Feed-in tariffs (FITs) • Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) • Birmingham Energy Savers • Guaranteedincome to supportborrowing or usefor other council activities

  19. 2. New income streams • Nottingham – Workplace Parking Levy • Congestion charging / road pricing (London) • Electric car points? • Richmond – vary parking charges

  20. 3. Join things up 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 •  Embed carbon into all activities

  21. 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

  22. 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

  23. 4. National Govt help • Back up local carbon budgets by ensuring councils can access the money they need

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