Local action on climate change critical

David Cameron's local election pitch this week boasted of ripping up the rule book for local government. But will he replace it with a serious plan to ensure tackling climate change is a priority for councils?

David Cameron said:

"Layers of central direction and bureaucracy - the unaccountable and pointless bodies, the rules and restrictions, the targets and inspections, we've stripped them away. Comprehensive Area Assessments - gone. Regional Assemblies - gone. And the excessive ring-fencing of council budgets - gone."

All requirements for councils to tackle climate change have been scrapped. This includes cutting emissions from councils' own operations. And coordinating projects in our communities - things like boosting renewable energy, greener travel and energy efficiency in homes and businesses. This is reckless politicking unless there is a serious plan in its place to ensure every council does its bit to cut emissions locally and help meet UK Climate Change Act targets.

All eyes will be on the Coalition's Energy Bill when it is debated in the Commons from next week. After nearly a year in office, this is the Government's first major piece of 'green' legislation. It is set to be a test not just of David Cameron's pledge to be 'the greenest Government ever', but whether the Government's ideological commitment to a small state and localism can deliver the action needed to tackle climate change.

Local action is massively important to decarbonising the UK. Around 80 per cent of emissions come from everyday activities like how we heat and power our homes and how we travel to work. If we're going to slash energy waste, we need councils to coordinate action with local residents, businesses and institutions like schools and hospitals.

The Government's Energy Bill is the perfect opportunity drive the local action needed. Friends of the Earth is calling for two things. Clarity about what councils need to do to help meet UK Climate Change Act targets - through new advice from the independent Committee on Climate Change. And a duty for every council to have a climate change strategy - with plans for green travel, energy efficient homes and businesses, and renewable energy.

Over 40 council leaders from all political parties, the TUC, the Federation of Small Businesses, B&Q and others say a council duty on climate is needed. We've teamed up with Stop Climate Chaos to organise over a hundred public meetings and lobbies in constituencies around the country - making the case to MPs in their own back yard that this Bill needs to be toughened up.

The Coalition's new world is one of de-regulation, scrapping targets, and ending ring-fenced funding. It is for them to demonstrate that this approach can deliver the action needed to tackle climate change. Case not proven.