Climate change blog: Local action on climate - too important to leave to chance?
The Blueprint Coalition - an influential group of local government organisations, environmental groups and research institutions – recently hosted a webinar that tackled a crucial question: is local authority action on climate too important to leave to chance?
Eamon Lally, Principal Policy Adviser at the Local Government Association, reflects on the webinar.
The Blueprint Coalition hosted the event to explore whether introducing statutory duties could help unlock and sustain climate action at the local level. Against the backdrop of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) current consultation on this issue, the discussion brought together expert voices from across national, local and civil society sectors.
The webinar was chaired by Peter Moore, Blueprint Coalition Chair and Head of Portfolio and Strategy at Westminster City Council. The panel featured myself, along with Cllr Adam Hug, Chair of the LGA Local Infrastructure and Net Zero Board and Leader of Westminster City Council, Louise Marix Evans, Quantum Strategy and advisor to the Climate Change Committee and Victoria Marsom, Friends of the Earth.
Councillor Adam Hug
The event was chaired by Councillor Adam Hug. He began by framing the discussion, saying there is an urgent need to understand how statutory duties might support councils in fulfilling their climate ambitions consistently and sustainably. Representing Westminster City Council, Cllr Hug brought valuable insights from leading a central London authority navigating the complexities of urban climate action.
Eamon Lally (LGA)
I opened the discussion by setting out the objectives of the LGAs consultation on a possible climate change duty on local government, noting that the principle of a duty had political backing, but that there was a genuine desire to understand how a duty could be implemented most effectively. I pointed to the vital role that local government already plays in delivering net zero, reflecting that coherent and deliverable plans to act on climate change rely on local delivery. This means sharing responsibility and empowering place-based leadership.
I stressed that any statutory duty must be practical and delivery focused. I emphasised the need for long-term place based funding, clear responsibilities and powers that enable - not constrain - action. I said that in considering a duty it would be necessary to reflect on the importance of place and how to enable flexibility to address local characteristics.
Louise Marix Evans
Next on the agenda was Louise Marix Evans, who explored how local authorities have historically led on climate change initiatives, often voluntarily. From Agenda 21 to climate emergency declarations, she reflected on the power of local leadership, but warned that we can no longer rely on goodwill alone to drive progress.
She argued that the time has come to move from voluntary commitments to statutory duties. Such a duty should require local authorities to assess the climate impact of all their work, be co-designed with the sector and be supported by guidance and resources. Louise also made the case for integrating climate duties into planning and partnership working, noting that responsibilities must be cross-cutting to drive real systems change. Louise said: “Climate action shouldn’t be an add-on. It should shape the very fabric of local decision-making.”
Victoria Marsom
Victoria Marsom spoke from the perspective of both environmental campaigning and her previous experience working in local government. She highlighted how local community groups often encounter major barriers to climate delivery, even where there’s political will, due to lack of statutory backing and insufficient funding. Referring to Birmingham’s financial crisis and recent election outcomes, she warned that without statutory duties, progress could easily and quickly unravel.
Victoria called for duties to be clearly linked to existing climate and environmental legislation, like the Climate Change Act and the Environment Act. She stressed that any new duty must be embedded in broader reforms, such as the English devolution process, and properly aligned with planning and growth frameworks. Above all, she said, duties must be backed by adequate funding, guidance, and community engagement to avoid becoming symbolic. Victoria finished by explaining that statutory duties alone won’t deliver, they need the right foundations to succeed.
Reflections
Audience questions added depth to the discussion. One key theme that emerged was the role of devolution: several panellists agreed that while the English devolution process offers a chance to mainstream climate responsibilities, inconsistencies across areas create a "postcode lottery." Eamon Lally suggested that a core set of devolved functions, including climate action, could help establish a level playing field.
There was also a strong focus on how statutory duties should be framed. Questions highlighted fears that a poorly defined duty could inadvertently constrain ambition or limit councils’ flexibility in using financial levers. In response, panellists stressed that duties should be enabling, not prescriptive, providing a framework for action while allowing room for innovation. Victoria added that capacity building must accompany any new obligations, to ensure councils can act effectively.
Drawing comparisons to the Welsh Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015, Louise reflected that while the legislation had not yet transformed systems, it had helped embed long-term thinking: something vital for climate policy.
The integration of local area energy plans and locally determined contributions into statutory frameworks was another focus. Panellists also raised the critical importance of bridging information gaps, especially between community groups, councils and central government to ensure genuine engagement.
When asked about political receptiveness, Victoria voiced concern that local government leaders may be cautious about new responsibilities unless they come with guaranteed funding. This point fed into a broader concern around fairness: how to avoid repeating the pitfalls of past schemes where higher-performing authorities gained more support than those already struggling. The panel unanimously supported the idea of a funding mechanism that establishes a strong baseline of activity while rewarding ambition.
Final thoughts
The panel concluded by emphasising the importance of cross-sector collaboration, consistent funding and strong alignment between local and national goals. They agreed that a statutory duty could unlock and secure long-term climate action, but only if it is co-designed, clearly communicated and adequately resourced.
The message was clear: climate action cannot be left to chance. It must be built into the DNA of local governance, with the tools, support and accountability needed to deliver a sustainable future.
Further information
- Blueprint Coalition - May 2025 webinar
- Blueprint Coalition
- ADEPT's Climate Change hub
- ADEPT Climate Change Board
- Find out more about the work of the Local Government Association
Authors
- Eamon Lally, Principal Policy Adviser at the Local Government Association.
