The English - and the Scottish for that matter - are both ahead and behind. But can we even imagine in 2012 where the report would come from in Australia that would say the same?
Councils should have a binding duty to develop and implement low carbon plans to help ensure the UK meets its emissions reduction commitments, a high-profile government advisory body has recommended.
A new report by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) to be published today warns limited funding and the current lack of any legal obligation on local authorities to address climate change means many are not taking action to support the transition to a low carbon economy.
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It argues that councils are failing to take advantage of the "significant influence" they have over key emitting sectors, including residential and commercial buildings, surface transport and waste, which together account for around 40 per cent of UK greenhouse emissions.
The report calculates councils have the potential to reduce emissions in key sectors by 20 per cent by 2020 against 2010 levels – which equates to a 30 per cent cut on 1990 levels. Moreover, it claims these savings can be realised using relatively simple measures, such as helping property owners fit energy efficient technologies on existing buildings, ensuring new builds are highly energy efficient, investing in green vehicles, and promoting reduced energy consumption and waste among residents and businesses.
Local authorities can also tackle emissions in the power sector via the planning system, by approving and promoting renewable energy projects, the report states, as well as developing district heating schemes and small-scale low-carbon power plants.
Such action will not only help reduce emissions and position councils as low-carbon champions, but also create jobs and improve resilience to climate change, the CCC predicts.
In addition, the report reveals that in Scotland, where a statutory requirement to act has been introduced, all 32 local authorities have carbon management plans in place – a move the CCC said had helped encourage action across the public sector.
