In response to today's 'Powering Up Britain' Strategy, Mayor Philip Glanville, London Councils Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Environment, says:
“Local government is essential in achieving the UK’s net zero goals. Councils have a unique understanding of local context and strong local relationships with their communities and businesses, indisputably providing opportunity to drive forward energy efficiency and ensure our transition to net zero is fair and effective.
“While it is positive to see today’s ‘Powering Up Britain’ strategy recognises the key role that local government is already playing in the national shared mission to reach net zero, including our ability to unlock private investment, it is crucial local government is recognised as a vital strategic partner to allow us to do more.
“Local authorities across the country and in London have been stepping up to the net zero challenge, but continue to face huge obstacles.
“London boroughs have long been calling for simplification of the net zero funding landscape, a key recommendation in Chris Skidmore’s Net Zero Review. We welcome the desire to address this barrier in today’s response and stand ready to work with government to collaborate on an effective way to fund local net zero action at a fast pace. Local authorities also need a step change in the certainty and amount of funding that is available to speed up local net zero action.
“Not only will long term, secure funding for net zero carbon projects create a greener, healthier London, but will also drive investment, including the potential for private finance, in the green economy, providing certainty for suppliers, skills providers and delivering good green jobs in key areas like retrofit.
“Climate change is happening now and the impact is being felt by Londoners. Action to tackle it must be accelerated if we want to achieve our net zero goals, not just for some, but for all of London’s diverse communities.”
ENDS