The biggest local authority climate and environment stories of 2024
It’s been another big year at the coal face of decarbonisation and the frontline of adaptation, mitigation, and restoration. We round up the biggest headlines every pro should know.
2024. So much to answer for. A second term secured for Donald Trump. An impotent COP29 at which last year’s big commitment – phasing out fossil fuels on a global scale – was notably absent, along with most world leaders. And that was just last month.
It’s not all been bad news, though. Over the past 12 months we’ve seen the UK advance its lead in the race to develop sustainable fuel, with developments benefiting a number of regions earmarked in the previous government’s levelling up agenda. And we finally saw some progress on bringing Britain’s maligned water companies to order and upgrading the ageing pipe network that’s one of the root causes of sewage pollution events.
Simpler recycling was introduced just before the Conservatives lost their 12 year grip on power, leaving small businesses confused. And in other circularity news, we also saw a significant rise in demand for refurbished IT equipment among organisations looking to bring their footprint down while still keeping pace with technological developments.
On that note, we’ve seen exponential growth in climate science-aligned artificial intelligence, not least in terms of energy management, distribution and efficiency. This as the UK finally started getting more than 50% of its electricity from renewable sources and became the first G7 country to completely abandon coal after more than 140 years relying on this highly polluting fuel.
Sadly, though, will is not the same as opportunity. With billions pouring into solar and wind, the latter now free from a de-facto ban on onshore turbines in place for a decade, the issue is not investment but connections as the National Grid continues to suffer from a lack of skilled workforce to physically plug in the facilities.
It’s a situation that echoes the lacklustre rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in most council areas, although we were hugely impressed to hear about Trafford Council’s approach that has seen the authority surge ahead in the leaderboard.
Transport also saw big changes. Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure launched its North West Transport 2035 consultation, the UK Government unveiled £88million to develop new zero emission transport solutions, and news hit that the next generation of electric buses are likely to reach 97% charging efficiency in the coming years.
On the climate front, 2024 was a year of bleak statements. Most major cities on the planet are now threatened by extreme floods and heat. The alarming rate at which the Arctic is heating is now understood, emphasising the reality of environmental tipping points, Downing Street’s climate plan was found to be unlawful, now pending a long overdue update, and the crackdown on protestors and campaigners in Britain was scrutinised and criticised by human and civil rights organisations across the world.
If there was a clear winner in all this, domestically at least, it’s the regulatory revolution catalysed by new biodiversity net gain rules for construction and development projects. One of the most far-reaching pieces of ‘green legislature’ in any country, coupled with the far-reaching European sustainability directives, it does show what is possible if politicians can agree on technicalities to push forward in the right direction.
But which were the most important stories for local authority environmental, net zero and climate teams? Thankfully, we’re rounded them up below.
Resilico: the flood defence app regulating mitigation, insurance and recovery
Port Talbot: an omen of environmental and economic policy disconnect
Government funding cycles, confusing campaigns, and inflexible policy obstruct net zero
Essex County Council plants huge meadow for Biodiversity Net Gain
Almost half of UK business transformation plans driven by net zero
Inside the exhibition using poetry and photography to restore nature
Quantum algorithms win £1.2m UK Government funding for energy optimisation
UK issues zero single use plastic fines since introducing ban
How county councils are developing Local Environmental Improvement Plans framework
Mersey Energy Centre to get ‘game-changing’ water sourced heat pump
Greater Manchester Combined Authority uses OS data for groundbreaking nature recovery
How to spot climate misinformation and disinformation, and counter both
Data centres are transforming into key contributors to the future power grid
The Rivers Trust publishes data following landmark national water study
Green skills shortage is an opportunity for local authorities
Updated methodology released for Council Climate Action Scorecards
Trafford Council’s simple solution to EV charge point shortfalls
Most at risk British habitats revealed through conservation mapping
You can now search for environmental information by postcode and constituency
Essex County Council publishes free Climate Action Advice Packs
National Lottery Heritage Fund confirms £150m for UK landscapes
Suffolk’s Carbon Charter brings net zero within reach of county businesses
New ‘glider’ transport unveiled by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
63 ‘success stories’ identified from 1,500 climate policies over 24 years
AI more important than insulation and renovation in reducing building emissions
UK schools secure billions in public-private financing for energy efficiency
Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure begins North West Transport 2035 consultation
UK Government waste & recycling datasets fell by 50% under Conservatives
Bradford’s £75m decarbonised heat network is a blueprint for the UK
Gridlocked: UK renewable goals demand competition in the energy transmission network
Image: NASA