The Local Authority Best Practice Programme on Climate Change
Filed under: Government News Energy
1. The Local Authority Best Practice Programme on Climate Change responds to a commitment in the 2006 UK Climate Change Programme. It will provide support and encouragement to local authorities so that they can deliver effectively against the new climate change requirements of the new Local Government Performance Framework. It will address both mitigation and adaptation to Climate Change and is targeted particularly at those local authorities who identify climate change as a priority in their Local Area Agreements.
2. It is proposed that the new Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships will have primary responsibility for local delivery and promoting the Programme in their regions., A Programme Board consisting of local authority experts, central Government Departments and national delivery bodies such as the Carbon Trust and Energy Saving Trust will guide its development and delivery and the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) will act as national programme co-ordinator.
3. The Programme will draw on existing experience, including that of the Beacon Scheme, which identifies those authorities that are delivering the best services to their local citizens and can teach others to do the same. A Sustainable Energy Beacon Theme has recently been completed and examples of best practice can be found at http://beacons.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1. A new Beacon theme on Tackling Climate Change was launched last year, with the successful applicants announced on 4 March 2008.
4. The 'Energy Measures' report, published by BERR, with input from Defra and CLG, in September 2007, sets out steps that local authorities can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving energy efficiency; increasing the levels of micro-generation and low carbon technologies; and reducing the number of households living in fuel poverty. See http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/environment/measures/page41270.html
A new £4 million programme to help local authorities tackle Climate Change was announced by Environment Minister Phil Woolas and Local Government Minister John Healey this week.
The programme will spread existing best practice on Climate Change among local Authorities, and provide training and mentoring to help them reduce emissions and adapt to the already unavoidable effects of Climate Change.
The programme, jointly funded by Defra and Communities and Local Government, will be tailored to local needs and priorities, with delivery being co-ordinated at a regional level.
From April, Councils' success in cutting Carbon Dioxide emissions will be measured as part of a new performance framework. They will also be assessed on their efforts to adapt to the effects of Climate Change, and to tackle fuel poverty. Many Councils are expected to set specific targets to lead the drive to cut back on Carbon Emissions in their areas.
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