The Blueprint Coalition: empowering local authorities to lead on climate action

Louise Marix Evans, Director of Quantum Strategy & Technology Ltd, reflects on a recent Blueprint Coalition webinar she chaired, exploring the alignment of new government devolution plans with environmental outcomes.

In recent years, the conversation around climate action has shifted from discussions on a global and national level to focus more on how solutions can be delivered at a local level in practice. This shift has been driven in part by the Blueprint Coalition, a collaboration of local government bodies, environmental initiatives and climate advocates.

At the organisation’s webinar back in September, we discussed our successes, challenges and the way forward for local climate action. As councils across the UK grapple with mounting pressures, our mission is to provide practical, scalable support to help them deliver on tough climate targets, making places better for people to live, work and play in. Discussions during the webinar highlighted the importance of collaboration, innovative funding models and stronger governmental support for localised climate solutions.

The Blueprint Coalition was founded on the knowledge that local authorities are uniquely placed to drive climate action. Local authorities not only understand the specific environmental challenges in their communities but also have the duties, powers and networks to facilitate local action. From the outset, we’ve worked closely with local authorities to help them adopt ambitious climate plans and implement clear, measurable actions.

One of the Blueprint’s notable achievements has been the Coalition’s Framework for Local Climate Action, a strategic resource guiding local authorities through planning, funding, and implementing climate initiatives. This framework has empowered them to take a structured approach to net zero, aligning their efforts with the UK’s national climate goals.

One excellent example is Greater Manchester’s Bee Network, which has seen the c0ombined authority take back control of its buses, bringing more than 100 new zero emission busses online across the city. A figure that will rise to 242 once all parts of the system are linked. The network also includes improved plans and provisions for walking and cycling routes, helping to reduce emissions, improving air quality and public health.

The potential for local authorities to drive climate action is significant, but it requires addressing both structural and financial challenges. At the webinar, we explored the importance of unlocking new funding and aligning local policies with national goals. The recent surge in green funding offers unprecedented opportunities for local authorities to scale up their efforts. Yet many struggle to access and deploy funds due to bureaucratic hurdles and lack of capacity.

One key area of opportunity lies in expanding place-based investment including private finance. By bringing businesses, government bodies and community organisations to the table, we can build a stronger coalition for climate action. Done well, leveraging private investment for public projects, such as retrofitting buildings or expanding green spaces, not only brings in funding but creates jobs and improves community wellbeing.

Despite these opportunities, many challenges remain. One pressing issue raised during the webinar was the need for stronger government support and clearer policy direction. While local authorities have made significant progress, they cannot achieve the UK’s net zero targets alone. National policies and funding must be better aligned with local needs, particularly in areas like sustainable transport, housing and energy.

Many local authorities face capacity constraints, lacking resources to plan and implement large-scale projects. To address this, the Blueprint Coalition is calling for more training programmes and knowledge-sharing initiatives, helping local authorities to make informed decisions so that ambitious projects become more achievable.

The work of the Blueprint Coalition and the progress of the examples we discussed show what can be achieved when local authorities empower themselves to lead their communities into the future.

The webinar reinforced my belief that with the right support, local authorities are ready to lead on local climate action. And with the necessary resources, local authorities across the UK have the potential to turn the vision of a sustainable, well-adapted, net zero future into reality.

Our call to action is simple: we must continue working together—across local authorities, public and private sectors and communities to address the urgent climate challenges ahead.

The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT) is part of the Blueprint Coalition, an influential group of local government organisations, environmental groups and research institutions. 

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