A new report from the National Audit Office (NAO) suggests that central government has not provided local authorities with ‘clarity’ about their roles in achieving net zero by 2050, and its approach to funding their net zero work is ‘piecemeal’.
Local authorities provide a range of services that have an impact on government’s commitment to achieve ‘net zero’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, such as transport planning, social housing and recycling and waste services.
Central government can direct local authorities to act on its priorities through statutory requirements, or incentivise them to act voluntarily.
Central government has not yet developed with local authorities any overall expectations about their roles in achieving the national net zero target, although a number have started a range of climate work, some as a result of government schemes.
The NAO report found that 91% of local authorities have adopted at least one commitment to decarbonise their activities, or their local area.
There are serious weaknesses in government’s approach to working with local authorities on net zero
More than a third (38%) of single and upper tier authorities have committed to decarbonise their local area by or before 2030. However, central government is yet to decide whether local authorities’ roles in meeting the national net zero target should have statutory basis.
Without a ‘clear sense of responsibilities and priorities’, it says there is a risk that local authority action on net zero is not as co-ordinated, targeted, or widespread as it might need to be.
Gareth Davies, the head of the NAO said: “There are serious weaknesses in government’s approach to working with local authorities on net zero, stemming from a lack of clarity over roles and responsibilities and piecemeal funding. This hampers local authorities’ ability to plan effectively for the long term, build skills and capacity, and prioritise effort.
“Government’s efforts to improve its approach to local action on net zero have been understandably slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is now great urgency to make progress.”
‘Not convinced’
Central government has not yet set out to local authorities how it will work with them to clarify net zero responsibilities. It has committed to outline responsibilities at national, regional and local level in its overall net zero strategy – publishing before the UN climate conference in November 2021.
Departments have carried out some engagement with local authorities to factor in their perspectives on this overall strategy, and the supporting sector decarbonisation strategies.
The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for example, is running a series of workshops on the resources and powers local authorities will need for net zero.
However, the NAO says that it is ‘not convinced’ that overall engagement has been sufficiently strategic or co-ordinated to ensure that the role of local authorities in meeting the national net zero target is clearly defined.
The NAO says that it is ‘not convinced’ that overall engagement has been sufficiently strategic or co-ordinated to ensure that the role of local authorities in meeting the national net zero target is clearly defined.
Local authorities told the NAO that they find it hard to engage with central government on net zero, and that there is a lack of coordination between departments on their specific net zero requirements.
In March 2020, in an informal stocktake, MHCLG, found approximately 45 policy areas across government that are likely to impact local action on climate change, and recognised that this posed a significant risk of inconsistent goals and messages.
In April 2020, MHCLG set up a new cross-department local government policy group to discuss local government action on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Neither MHCLG nor HM Treasury has assessed the totality of the funding available to local authorities for net zero, or whether the balance of different types of funds is likely be effective.
Local authorities can use core funding from MHCLG, they can bid for grant funding, or they can access wider funding targeted at more general outcomes such as social or economic growth.
From late summer 2021, the UK Infrastructure Bank will also be able to lend up to £4 billion to local authorities to help them achieve the net zero target and support economic growth.
Grant funding
Grant funding for local authorities’ net zero activities increased from £74 million in 2019-20, to £1.2 billion in 2020-21, but remains ‘fragmented’, according to the NAO.
NAO analysis of 21 grants available to local authorities for net-zero work suggests that local authorities have received very different amounts from these funds: 17 local authority areas received £20 million or more each, while 37 received less than £2 million each.
Per person, 14 local authority areas received £50 or more, while 67 received less than £12.50.
Local authorities have varying levels of capacity to engage with net zero
Local authorities have varying levels of capacity to engage with net zero. In a 2020 survey from the Local Government Association, 79 out of 90 respondents thought a lack of workforce capacity was a moderate or significant barrier to tackling climate change.
In 2013 and 2017, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy set up dedicated organisations to support local authorities on energy decarbonisation, the Department for Transport is now setting up a similar body on active travel.
In November 2020, a ministerial-led Green Jobs Taskforce was set up to develop a green jobs and skills action plan to support the development of government’s strategies for net zero, and a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NAO recommends that central government carries out an analysis of the net zero funding available to local authorities to inform the next Comprehensive Spending Review, considering the cost pressures they face.
System wide approach
A coalition of local government, environmental and research organisations welcomed the National Audit Office report.
The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT), Ashden, Friends of the Earth, the Grantham Institute at Imperial College, Green Alliance, Greenpeace UK, the London Environment Directors’ Network, the Place-Based Climate Action Network at LSE and Solace have come together to highlight the ‘vital role’ of local authorities in addressing the impacts of climate change.
The coalition is supported by the Local Government Association and London Councils.
The coalition agrees with the NAO that because local authorities have responsibility for their local places – particularly in the critical areas of local transport, social housing and waste – their role is essential if we are to meet national decarbonisation targets.
We need government to engage with us to develop a common framework and to move to a system wide approach.
In its recent report, Recognising local authorities as key partners in the Net Zero Strategy, the coalition called on the government to work with local authorities to create a mutually agreed central framework. It also set out four key priorities that the government should adopt to ensure the success of the forthcoming Net Zero Strategy:
- A clear commitment to a mutually agreed central framework to embed local authorities as delivery partners in decarbonisation policies. Local government needs long-term, stable funding, realistic timeframes and sufficient support to deliver at both pace and scale.
- A clear message that a place-based solution is the best approach for several sectors to ensure that local infrastructure, behaviour and partnership activities are aligned to net zero. National policies will only be delivered when supported by local decision making and behavioural changes.
- A cross-departmental approach to working with local authorities. The current siloed approach is a continuous struggle for local authorities and without a collaborative approach, there is a risk that national net zero goals will not be met. Any contradictions in policies and funding programmes must be removed.
- Acknowledgement of the wider co-benefits of delivering on decarbonisation policies, and how local authorities can support these in a way that will also deliver better public health, reduce inequalities, restore nature and build thriving local economies.
The Climate Change Committee’s Sixth Carbon Budget report (December 2020), also recognised the importance of local authorities working together with government, stating that carbon targets can only be delivered if they: “work seamlessly together”.
Paula Hewitt, ADEPT President said: “We welcome the NAO’s recognition of the key role of local authorities in achieving net zero, and also for putting forward how government could work with us to create a more consistent, effective and efficient approach.
“Currently, funding for net zero work is fragmented and local authorities need certainty, resources and the ability to develop the necessary skills. We need government to engage with us to develop a common framework and to move to a system wide approach. We must have effective action at the local level.”
