The latest Climate Action Scorecards are out, with Greater London, Greater Manchester, Winchester and Bristol City Council top scorers.
Compiled by Climate Emergency UK, the second edition of the analysis frames local authorities as environmental laggards. The average score for a UK council was just 38%, only 6 points higher than the last assessment in 2023.
While measurements and metrics are complex – with 90 expert consultations, a three-stage marking process based on public data, and reviews of around 90 indicators – in lay terms this means the vast majority of British authorities have not taken half the steps available to improve resilience, mitigation, air quality, biodiversity and nature protection.
Of 391 councils and combined authorities, Climate Emergency UK has awarded just 62 an overall score of 50% or more. This is an increase of 21 authorities compared with the last results, but emphasises that budget constraints and knowledge gaps mean the vast majority are not on track to reach net zero. The first self-declared deadlines are currently set for 2030.
‘We’re pleased to see councils using the Scorecards to improve, especially as the effects of climate change hit closer to home with wildfires already happening and a predicted drought this summer in the UK,’ said Isaac Beevor, Partnerships Director at Climate Emergency UK.
‘However, the UK Government must make climate action a fully-funded legal duty for all UK councils to remove the national barriers councils face,’ they continued. ‘This would support councils to step up their climate action by more than 6 percentage points over almost 2 years and at the emergency pace needed by providing increased funding, powers and guidance to cash-strapped councils tackle the climate and cost of living crisis.’
The highest scores were seen in the capital, where the Greater London Assembly has already set itself a legal duty to act on climate change. Greater Manchester combined authority was also a clear leader, alongside Winchester City Council and Bristol City Council.
19 authorities scored less than 20%, all of which are in England and Northern Ireland, where the lowest overall performers were found, with an average score of just 23%. This compares with 36% for Welsh councils, and 38% across English and Scottish local governments.
‘The continuing lower scores in England further show the need for a legal duty for climate action for councils. Scotland and Wales already have this requirement in some form, and we’re pleased to see Northern Irish councils have to start reporting on their climate action later this year too,’ Beevor continued.
‘With devolution set to change council powers, we want to see a legal duty to tackle climate change embedded in the new regional mayoral authorities, as the Greater London Authority already has,’ he added. ‘Doing this would ensure councils will have the funds and powers to protect residents from flooding, air pollution and rising energy prices that we know that residents care about, and allow councils to work beyond the next election cycle.’
You can view all the results and methodology here.
Image: Brett Jordan / Unsplash
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