Christopher Hammond, Chief Executive of UK100, the UK’s only cross-party network of local leaders committed to ambitious climate action, responds to the King’s Speech.

LONDON, 8 JULY — UK100 welcomes the new Government’s swift action to lift the onshore wind ban, which comes during Net Zero Week 2024.

Calderdale Council's Zero Carbon Calderdale programme recognised for excellence in climate action.

UK100's Climate Leadership Academy and Local Power in Action programmes supported the council's journey.

Award highlights the impact of local climate leadership in driving national progress towards Net Zero.

On World Environment Day (5 June), a new survey reveals that 88% of local authorities support the next government introducing a statutory Net Zero duty for councils if accompanied by the necessary powers and funding to drive delivery.

77% of those surveyed also feel the upcoming general election is the last chance to support local authorities to keep the UK's climate goals on track.

The surveyed local authorities are part of the 113-strong UK100 network, the UK's only network of local authority leaders committed to ambitious climate action.

Following a challenging local election night for the government and a High Court ruling that the UK's climate plan is unlawful, UK100 is calling on Ministers to abandon their "retreat from climate leadership" and empower local leaders to deliver on the UK's climate ambitions.

The High Court ruling comes just days after UK Net Zero Secretary Claire Coutinho's controversial speech, which argued for a hands-off approach to the Net Zero transition and was disrupted by protesters accusing the government of undermining its climate commitments.

UK100 is urging the government to work in partnership with local authorities to develop a comprehensive Net Zero delivery framework that maximises the potential of local climate action to create jobs, boost economies, and improve lives across the UK.

The "Taking the heat out of local climate action" pledge is being coordinated by UK100, the UK's only cross-party network of ambitious local leaders committed to climate action, and Chris Skidmore OBE, Former Energy Minister and Chair of the Independent Review of Net Zero and Mission Zero Coalition. The pledge sends a powerful message that local leaders are united in delivering an evidence-based, inclusive Net Zero transition.

In an unprecedented show of cross-party unity, local leaders from the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Greens gathered to commit to put climate action above party politics and tackle the rising tide of local climate misinformation.

New Local Government Association (LGA) survey reveals councils face significant barriers to achieving Net Zero targets, with 67% lacking confidence in meeting goals on time and 90% saying current funding is insufficient.

The survey comes on the same day the Government responds to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee inquiry on local authority financial sustainability, which found councils face a £4 billion funding gap.

UK100 Chief Executive Christopher Hammond calls for an end to the "Hunger Games" approach of disjointed short-term competitive funding for local climate action, and for the Government to trust in local leaders to deliver for their communities.

Public wants investment not tax cuts, as fuel poverty crisis deepens.

National insulation scheme is failing, while local-led programmes deliver transformative energy efficiency upgrades.

If tax cuts are non-negotiable, they should be focused on delivering warm homes for all.

Latest data suggests flagship Great British Insulation Scheme will take over 60 years to deliver its target to upgrade 300,000 homes in three years.

UK100 network of local leaders calls for Ministers to empower local authorities to massively scale up local-led energy efficiency upgrades.

UK100 releases new case studies from Leeds and Manchester showing how local authorities are leading on retrofit.

High Court rules planning inspectors acted unlawfully in removing Net Zero policies from West Oxfordshire's Salt Cross Garden Village Area Action Plan.

Planning Inspectors relied on an outdated 2015 Written Ministerial Statement to justify weakening the Net Zero requirements.

UK100 welcomes the ruling but calls for a more consistent national strategy.