Our impact

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A decade of delivering change for local climate action

Since 2015, UK100 has grown from 50 councils to 117 ambitious local authorities representing over 41 million people. We've secured major policy wins, influenced government strategy, and helped local leaders create thriving places powered by clean energy. From the corridors of Westminster to communities across the UK, our impact is transforming the country's approach to tackling climate change.

Our impact is nothing without that of our members, who continually deliver for their residents. UK100 members have a nine percentage point gap in the Climate Emergency UK Scorecards, with members averaging a 46% score versus 37% for non-members. Our members are innovative — from Lancaster City Council to Calderdale, their innovations have won them award after award, be it the MJ Award, Community Energy Awards or more. They are not resting on their laurels.

Five transformational achievements

Reshaping national climate strategy

The UK government's flagship climate strategy drew directly on UK100's recommendations for a National-Local Climate Delivery Framework, fundamentally changing how central and local government collaborate on climate action.

In 2021, our sustained advocacy led to the Government's Net Zero Strategy incorporating our framework for national-local collaboration. This breakthrough established the Local Net Zero Forum, bringing local and national leaders together to accelerate climate delivery. The forum was specifically referenced in the UK's Eighth National Communication to UNFCCC, cementing the role of local authorities in international climate commitments.

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Transforming local climate ambition

Our Local Net Zero Pledge served as the gateway to entry for joining our network, galvanising councils across the country to adopt ambitious climate targets.

Launched in December 2020, this innovative political commitment became the foundation for councils to align transport, housing, economic, skills and nature strategies with climate action. To date, we are working with 117 councils that have formally aligned to the pledge and criteria, with many stating that UK100's network led them to take this ambitious action. Since the introduction of the pledge, 97% of councils in the UK have now set climate targets and plans to achieve them.

Creating the first-ever local climate parliamentary debate

In collaboration with UK100, Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse secured a Backbench Business debate in June 2023 in the House of Commons on the role of local government in achieving climate goals.

This was the first debate ever held on this topic, and it utilised our research as a foundational rallying cry for the greater devolution of powers from Westminster to councils. Our evidence and advocacy has been referenced at least twelve times in Parliament, including during critical discussions on the GB Energy Bill, demonstrating how our network amplifies local voices on the national stage.

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Revolutionising local climate funding

Following UK100's detailed recommendations and member engagement, the UK Infrastructure Bank (now the National Wealth Fund) launched pilot projects with Manchester, Bristol and West Yorkshire to develop its local advisory function.

Our advocacy helped influence the creation of the UK Infrastructure Bank, and through sustained engagement with HM Treasury, UK100 secured a key win: making climate action one of the Bank's core priorities. In 2023, three UK100 members were selected by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to pilot a new simplified funding approach, following our Powers in Place handbook which highlighted the scale of local climate barriers posed by short-term, competitive funding pots.

Building local climate leadership at pace and scale

Our Climate Leadership Academy has equipped 80 council leaders, Cabinet members, and committee chairs with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to lead through political uncertainty and deliver on their climate commitments.

Most leading local climate politicians have had to learn on the job — a capability gap we set out to address. The Climate Leadership Academy has trained ambitious local leaders, many of whom credit UK100 as the catalyst for adopting new climate strategies and improving public policy delivery. In 2024, Councillor Peter Schweir of Essex County Council exemplified this impact by providing evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee's clean air inquiry, calling for a national strategy and greater devolution of powers to local authorities.