As Liberal Democrats, we know the climate crisis is one of the defining challenges of our time. Councils have a crucial role in meeting it, whether it’s retrofitting homes, investing in active and public transport, supporting the green economy, or leading local partnerships to build resilience and cut emissions. But too often, we are expected to lead on climate without the tools or powers to do so.
In my role as Deputy Chair of the LGA’s Local Infrastructure and Net Zero Board, I’ve been working to change that. Last November, I called for the Board to explore how a statutory duty for councils to act on climate change could support and strengthen our leadership. But I also made clear: any new duty must be matched by the funding, resources and powers required to deliver. Legal responsibilities must enable, not constrain.
Following that work, and in partnership with organisations such as UK100, ADEPT, the Climate Change Committee and others, the LGA launched an open consultation in April to seek views on whether councils should have legal responsibilities on climate change—and if so, what they should look like.
There is strong support for change. A recent UK100 survey found that 88% of councils back the introduction of a statutory Net Zero duty—provided it comes with adequate support. Councils influence over a third of UK emissions but lack a clear, consistent legal framework to act. That must change.
This consultation is a critical opportunity to shape the national conversation ahead of the General Election. A statutory duty, backed by proper resourcing, could drive long-term planning, strengthen accountability, and unlock delivery at scale and pace. We want climate leadership to be embedded in every council—not dependent on political will or short-term funding rounds.
I’m encouraging all Liberal Democrat councillors, campaigners and council groups to take part. The more voices calling for an empowered local role in climate action, the stronger the message.
The consultation is open until Wednesday 11 June – tomorrow – at 11.45pm.
You can respond as an individual or on behalf of your council or group. It only takes a few minutes to complete.
Take part here.
* Victor Chamberlain is the Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader of Southwark Council, Vice Chair of Federal Council and Liberal Democrat Vice Chair of the Neighbourhoods Committee at the Local Government Association
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3 Comments
While I don’t doubt the merits of this idea, the prospect of central government coming up with the money at this time seems remote. A decade of underfunding local government leaves councils struggling to fund essential services like social care for the elderly. That government will loosen the purse strings on this one seems a bit politically tone deaf.
So councils will do what they always do : publish their Net Zero plan, pass it through full council with a fanfare in the local press, set up an environmental “forum”, “hub”, or what ever bit of jargon in in vogue. All at minimal cost . Net tangible result will be the square root of nothing.
I wish you luck, but don’t get your hopes up too much.
Placing statutory duties on local government runs very much against Liberal principles. I am totally in favour of the policy behind the suggestion but we should hold to the rule that one should not force local authorities to adopt policies that we cannot secure support for locally. The high point for local government was 1948 and ever since then local democracy has been hugely undermined by successive governments removing services from local control. Today it is a shadow of what it needs to be for a healthy democracy. The latest idiocy is the government doling out cash for potholes – in the midst of massive and urgent global crises.
It is up to elected members in control of a local council to back the right policies and otherwise for the opposition members to highlight the errors, and to campaign on them with a view to replacing the ruling party at the next election. The key role for central government is to ensure resources by an extended Rate Equalisation Grant based on the financial capacity of individual local authorities.
I agree with Michael Meadowcroft. The last thing we need is to burden local authorities with more regulation that forces them to jump through more bureaucratic hoops as they try to serve their residents.
Yes, climate change is a huge problem. A large part of the solution here is to make sure that polluters pay for the pollution they produce – in this case, probably with some kind of tax on carbon emissions. That will automatically motivate local authorities (and every one else) to do things in less climate damaging ways as they seek to minimize their expenditure. No additional regulations required, and therefore no loss of local democracy.