1 Introduction
1. The UK is unlikely to meet its domestic targets
for reducing carbon emissions without greater emphasis on the
behaviours of individuals and communities.[1]
Defra has recognised that action by local, regional and devolved
bodies will be crucial to the achievement of targets.[2]
Local authorities, regional government and devolved administrations
are well placed to play a significant part in reducing emissions;
they manage large estates, provide services and act as community
leaders. We welcome the final report from the Local Government
Association's Commission on Climate Change, published in December
2007, which said that local government was uniquely placed to
tackle climate change.[3]
It recognised that local government had a democratic mandate for
action, close proximity to citizens and a strategic role in leading
public, private and voluntary sector partners. Local, regional
and devolved governments will also have a key part to play in
ensuring that the UK adapts to a changing climate; even if efforts
to reduce emissions are successful some climate change is inevitable.
The Governance of Britain Green Paper said, 'The devolution settlement
across the United Kingdom reflects the Government's wish to ensure
that decision-making is done at the right level: whether national,
regional or in the local community'.[4]
The key question, within the context of the devolutionary agenda
that is being pursued, is whether the policy framework the Government
has put in place will deliver the step change in action on climate
change needed in local, regional and devolved government.
2. We launched our inquiry on 28 November 2007 to
assess the Government's efforts to create the conditions in local,
regional and devolved government where measures to address the
challenge of climate change can be effectively supported and rewarded;
we are grateful to all those who contributed and have acknowledged
them at the end of our Report. The evidence we received and our
Report deal mainly with the areas where there has been significant
change and thus focus to a great extent on local authorities in
England. The general principles underpinning our recommendations
are more widely applicable.
1 Ev 109 Back
2
Ev 55 Back
3
Final Report of the LGA Climate Change Commission, a climate
of change, December 2007 Back
4
Ministry of Justice, The Governance of Britain, CM 7170,
July 2007 Back
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