The LGA showcases the work of councils who are delivering critical solutions to ensure the sector meets its net zero and adaptation ambitions.
As part of our sector support offer, the LGA is offering a wide range of opportunities to help councils address climate change and environmental sustainability needs.
Our virtual events and roundtables seek to promote the notable practice happening in councils across England. These opportunities aim to support universal learning and the sharing of innovative solutions which councils can learn from and replicate.
Past sessions
This virtual event, held on 3 March 2026, explored how councils can accelerate housing retrofit, develop local capability and support residents through the transition to low‑carbon heating. Speakers from the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC), Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Derby City Council provided expert insights, practical learning and examples of emerging best practice. The event was chaired by Linda Taylor, former Leader, Cornwall Council. It was delivered by the LGA, in partnership with and funded by the Crown Commercial Service.
Linda Taylor introduced the session by highlighting the central role of local government in reaching net zero and tackling fuel poverty. She emphasised that whole‑house retrofit—improving insulation, upgrading heating systems and installing renewables—is essential if the UK is to achieve net zero by 2050.
Climate Change Committee – Decarbonising Homes: What needs to happen?
Dr Sandra Bogelein, Lead Analyst, People and Net Zero and Simon Rayner, Lead Analyst for Residential Buildings
Sandra set out the national context for decarbonising residential buildings. Key points included:
- The UK has met its past legal emission reduction targets, but accelerated action across different sectors is needed to get on track for future targets, including Net Zero by 2050.
- Electrification, particularly of heating and transport, is essential for long‑term emissions reduction.
- While energy‑efficiency measures for residential buildings remain important, low‑carbon heating systems are critical, as the UK will not reach Net Zero if homes are heated by gas or oil.
- Local authorities are central to delivery and have already made substantial progress, particularly in social housing, despite limited resources.
Simon provided detailed modelling insights on the scale and pace of change required:
- Heat pumps will need to scale to around 1.4 million installations per year by 2035 to fully decarbonise the UK housing stock by 2050.
- Most homes are suitable for heat pumps, with alternatives such as heat networks supporting dense urban areas.
- The CCC’s model of residential buildings decarbonisation works out the lowest cost choices to fully decarbonise the UK housing stock. Lower cost efficiency measures (such as loft insulation, cavity-wall insulation, and draught proofing) are cost effective, but more expensive fabric upgrades (such as solid wall insulation) are not part of the pathway.
- Further energy efficiency measures may be desirable in order to reduce bills and tackle fuel poverty.
- Solar PV and batteries may play a growing role in reducing some household bills.
- Reducing electricity prices relative to gas is key to ensuring affordability and making low-carbon heating attractive.
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority – Housing Retrofit, Mayoral Authority Journey
David Colbourne, Housing Retrofit Manager
David outlined how the combined authority is supporting large‑scale retrofit delivery across a varied housing stock:
- Over 10,000 homes have been improved in recent years, with funding secured for a further 10,000.
- A consortium model involving 24 social landlords enables shared learning, consistency and economies of scale.
- The Solar Together programme has supported local solar PV and battery storage and will seek to expand into heat pumps.
- Key challenges include short funding cycles, planning system inconsistencies, skills shortages and high refusal rates for heat‑pump installations due to low awareness and resident confidence.
- Councils require stable, long‑term funding and the ability to plan strategically.
Derby City Council – Retrofit as Prevention
Georgia Pulford, Climate Change Projects Officer
Georgia shared Derby’s work linking housing retrofit with improved health outcomes:
- Derby faces high levels of fuel poverty and increased respiratory illness associated with cold, damp homes.
- A partnership model between housing, public health, GPs, social prescribers and local charities has improved coordination.
- Primary care professionals now ask a simple screening question about home warmth, enabling direct referral into retrofit support.
- The approach has increased referrals, reduced welfare‑crisis contacts and strengthened cross‑organisational working.
- Clear information, trusted local voices and consistent engagement underpin the model’s success.
Key Themes Raised Through Discussion
The Q&A highlighted several sector‑wide challenges and shared priorities:
- Planning policy – Concerns about reduced local powers to set higher energy‑efficiency standards, and the implications for future development.
- Grid capacity – Variation in local requirements for three‑phase supply and uncertainty about electricity network upgrades.
- Public engagement – Low levels of awareness remain a significant barrier to uptake.
- Able‑to‑pay market – Councils need tools, financial products and incentives to support owner‑occupiers who do not qualify for grants.
- Fabric vs. heating sequencing – A shift away from fabric‑first approaches requires careful local consideration, particularly for harder‑to‑treat homes.
Closing Thoughts
Three themes stood out:
1. Electrification must accelerate—rapidly.
Heat pumps, heat networks, and falling electricity costs are central to net zero.
2. Councils need long‑term clarity and investment.
Short funding cycles and shifting policy landscapes slow momentum.
3. Retrofit is about people, not just buildings.
From fuel poverty to respiratory health, the wider benefits can be immediate and life‑changing.
Speakers consistently highlighted the importance of:
- Scaling low‑carbon heating
- Strengthening local supply chains and skills
- Integrating retrofit with wider outcomes such as health and fuel‑poverty reduction
- Providing stable, multi‑year funding to enable effective planning
- Supporting residents through clear communication and trusted engagement
This event was formed as part of the LGA’s wider programme, supporting councils to meet net‑zero and adaptation ambitions.
Tuesday 10 February 2026, 10:00am-11:30am
LGA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Roundtable
The Local Government Association’s Sustainability Roundtable on 10 February 2026 brought together officers and councillors from across England to share practice and explore new approaches to greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting. With a rapidly evolving national landscape and growing expectations around carbon transparency, the event offered participants a rare opportunity to learn directly from practitioners at the forefront of local authority emissions accounting.
Central to the session were two in‑depth presentations: one from Edward Barlow of Local Partnerships, stepping in to introduce the latest developments in LP Greenhouse Gas Accounting Tool; and another from Dan Clayton, Environmental Strategy Manager at Lincolnshire County Council, who shared practical insights from using the Waste Emissions Calculator across a complex two-tier waste system. Together, their contributions gave attendees both the technical foundations and real-world application of emissions measurement.
Introducing the Greenhouse Gas Accounting tool – Ed Barlow
Standing in for his colleague, Ed Barlow opened the session with a clear and accessible explanation of the LGA’s Greenhouse Gas Accounting Tool, outlining its role, methodology and increasing relevance for councils navigating voluntary reporting frameworks.
Grounding the basics
Ed began by reminding the group that, in England, GHG reporting remains voluntary and without statutory standardisation. This means councils must independently determine their reporting boundaries, baseline years, and inclusions or exclusions—decisions which significantly influence emissions totals and year-on-year comparisons.
He revisited the fundamentals of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, emphasising the need to understand the distinctions between:
- Scope 1: direct emissions from boilers, fleet vehicles and on‑site combustion
- Scope 2: indirect electricity-related emissions
- Scope 3: everything else, from commuting and waste to outsourced services.
The tool developed between Local Partnerships and the LGA and is intentionally aligned with these global standards while being adapted for local government contexts.
A maturing tool supporting transparency
Ed highlighted that the tool—launched in 2020—is now in its sixth year of annual updates, incorporating the most recent emissions factors from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). He stressed that the electricity emissions factor shifts significantly each year, making it crucial for councils to use the newest version.
He showcased new features including:
- Integrated guidance notes within each worksheet
- Improved user experience for data entry
- Enhanced graphs and summary tables for reporting
- Expanded treatment of waste and outsourced Scope 3 emissions.
However, the most pressing message was the perennial challenge of data quality warning that “nonsense in, nonsense out” applies as strongly to units as to completeness—citing common errors such as reporting cubic metres where kilowatt hours are required.
Boundary setting: the hidden challenge
One theme Ed returned to repeatedly was boundary setting. He described it as “often more important than the number itself”, because decisions about what is included or excluded fundamentally shape the story councils are able to tell.
He encouraged councils to:
- be transparent about assumptions
- keep detailed notes on inclusions/exclusions
- share completed datasets to LGA Inform, enabling anonymous comparison and peer learning.
He also acknowledged user requests—such as year-on-year graphing within the tool—and committed to exploring potential improvements, provided they do not compromise usability.
Practical application in waste emissions – Dan Clayton
Following Ed’s technical overview, Dan Clayton provided a practitioner’s perspective by describing Lincolnshire County Council’s experience using the Waste Emissions Calculator.
As the Environmental Strategy Manager, Dan has spent years navigating the complexities of waste emissions—particularly challenging in a two-tier county with seven district collection authorities and a centralised disposal authority.
Understanding a complex waste landscape
Dan began by outlining Lincolnshire’s integrated waste system:
- a major Energy from Waste (EfW) facility at North Hykeham
- multiple composting sites
- a recently expanded paper and card recycling scheme
- partnerships with anaerobic digestion (AD) operators for food waste treatment.
He explained that waste data is “one of the hardest areas” to quantify, with challenges including:
- inconsistent district-level transport reporting
- gaps in operational data from composting sites
- variability in waste composition across urban and rural areas.
Using the Waste Emissions Calculator to model scenarios
Dan demonstrated how the Waste Emissions Calculator has helped Lincolnshire:
- Identify the massive dominance of EfW emissions—sometimes 84 per cent of their reported waste-related footprint.
- Understand the carbon impact of different waste compositions.
- Model the effect of removing food waste from residual streams.
- Compare one‑centre vs two‑centre treatment models for future food waste collections.
- Explore long-term implications of legislative changes such as the Environment Act 2021.
A particularly striking insight emerged when Dan modelled the impact of taking out organic waste: emissions from the EfW plant fell significantly, but so did electricity generation—a trade-off the council must weigh carefully.
Looking ahead: ETS and industry shifts
Dan also reflected on the forthcoming inclusion of EfW in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), noting that while it will drive better data quality, it could also impact the viability of future waste infrastructure.
A shared commitment to better carbon reporting
Together, Ed and Dan provided complementary perspectives—one explaining how to measure, the other showing why it matters and what measurement enables. Their inputs underscored several shared themes:
- transparency is essential, especially when boundaries change
- scope 3 remains the biggest challenge—but also the biggest opportunity
- data availability varies widely across services and partners
- local solutions, like Lincolnshire’s dual-centre AD approach, show how carbon accounting can genuinely shape strategy
- sector-wide consistency will only improve if councils share learning openly.
Breakout room insights: Key themes from participants (anonymised)
During the breakout discussions, participants explored the challenges and opportunities surrounding emissions reporting. Several clear themes emerged across the four rooms:
1. Data inconsistency and availability
Many participants cited data collection as their primary obstacle, particularly when working with outsourced services or partner organisations.
Common issues included:
- inconsistent fuel or mileage reporting
- missing operational data from contractors
- lack of clarity on waste treatment processes
- differing data formats across teams or tiers.
2. Scope 3 remains the most challenging area
Participants widely agreed that Scope 3 emissions—especially from supply chains, outsourced contracts and commuting—were the hardest to quantify.
Several noted:
- limited ability to influence supplier reporting
- difficulties engaging large or long-standing contractors
- low response rates to staff commuting surveys.
3. Home‑working calculations feel unreliable
Home‑working emissions sparked considerable discussion.
Participants commented that:
- calculations often feel like “educated guesses”
- staff working patterns vary too widely for precise modelling
- the materiality is low, but public interest is high
4. Pressure for transparency is increasing
Several local authorities mentioned growing expectations from councillors and residents that emissions reporting be expanded and more detailed.
Examples included:
- pressure to include social housing
- scrutiny of energy contracts (particularly “green tariffs”)
- requests to add historical baselines for trend reporting.
5. Desire for improved tools and sector-wide alignment
Participants expressed interest in:
- multi‑year reporting within the GHG Accounting Tool
- more guidance on boundary changes
- support for modelling sequestration and land use
- shared standards for two‑tier areas.
Conclusion
The Sustainability Roundtable highlighted both the progress and the persistent challenges in local authority GHG reporting. Ed Barlow and Dan Clayton offered clarity, practical guidance and thoughtful reflections that resonated with attendees navigating the complexities of accurate emissions accounting.
Their presentations—combined with the honest discussions from breakout rooms—demonstrated a sector committed to improving transparency, understanding its emissions more deeply and using that insight to drive smarter, more sustainable decision‑making.
Various Q&A
Q: What is the difference between net or gross in the consumption units of kwh
A: Gross CV (Higher Heating Value – HHV): Measures the total energy in the fuel, including the heat that can be recovered from condensing water vapour. Often used in energy billing and lab conditions.
Net CV (Lower Heating Value – LHV): Measures the usable energy in real‑world systems (e.g., boilers, transport), excluding the latent heat of water vapour.
In short: Gross = total energy; Net = usable energy. Use one basis consistently. If natural gas is already in kWh, use it directly to avoid conversion issues.
Q: Does scoping in WFH emissions risk double counting operational emissions of homes? Either within a council's reporting if someone living in a council-owned home also works for the authority, or where total emissions from different scopes are added together?
A: Yes, including work‑from‑home (WFH) emissions can create a small risk of double counting for example, if an employee works from a council‑owned home whose energy use is also reported in the council’s operational emissions.
However, this situation is uncommon, so the scale of double counting is usually minimal.
WFH estimates are very simplified and meant to show whether this emission source is material, not to provide precise totals. The real value is understanding its relative significance, not exact accuracy.
Q: Question - how will the introduction of ETS (emissions trading scheme) to energy from waste from 2028 link to the tool, and does the current voluntary phase (which means incinerators are measuring what they are burning) mean there is now better data available?
A: Yes — the UK ETS being extended to energy‑from‑waste (EfW) in 2028 should lead to better data, because plants will need more accurate emissions and waste‑composition reporting.
The current voluntary phase, where incinerators are already measuring what they burn, is likely to improve data quality too. However, full guidance on how the ETS will work for EfW is not yet published, and uncertainty about future carbon costs is already affecting the viability of new EfW and RDF projects.
Q: Could the tool include a feature to record year‑on‑year emissions and generate trend graphs? At the moment we have to use spreadsheets, which limits the tool’s usefulness. Our baseline is 2019/20, so we’d need to enter data back to that year. If this can’t be added to the current tool, could a separate year‑on‑year reporting tool be created instead?
A: We will take away this suggestion (and the others from the roundtable discussions and the slido feedback) and see what is possible to help maintain and improve the tools
Q: How do owned companies’ factor into emission reporting for local authorities? We have quite a few companies that we wholly own, should we be including them?
A: these would be reported in scope 3, but their inclusion / exclusion would be determined by whether they are in/out of boundary. Within the tool, you can report that within the outsourced scope 3 worksheets
Q: How should local authorities report electricity emissions when using green tariffs? At what point can a tariff be considered “deep green,” given the difficulty in confirming bundled REGOs and additionality? And does the tool account for location‑based vs market‑based emissions, or would adjustments be needed?
A: The GHG Protocols is reviewing its Scope 2 Protocol guideline and is considering moving towards so called "24/7 Carbon Free Energy Attribute Certificates". NESO produced a report on this topic. You can find it here. Implications of Trading of 24/7 Carbon Free Energy (CFE) on Electricity System Operation - AFRY . This move aims to address the issues with traditional REGOs.
Current guidance is that a tariff can be reported as renewable if the supplier evidences that it has purchased sufficient renewable energy certificates to cover the customers supply. These certificates are known as Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGOs) - this is usually made clear to the customer. If so, the recommended approach is to:
- Report Gross emissions using the correct year’s emissions factor for grid supplier electricity.
- Beneath this, report the size of carbon saving which the renewable electricity purchase provides including details of the tariff / supplier.
Report Net emissions, by discounting the carbon saving from the Gross emissions.
Q: Is this linked to the Tyndall Centre Local Authority carbon budget work?
A: This work is not linked with the Tyndall Centre Local Authority carbon budget work.
Useful Links
UK local authority and regional greenhouse gas emissions statistics
Tuesday 11 November 2025, 14.00pm -15.30pm
Introduction:
On 11 November 2025, the LGA hosted a session, held during COP30, focused on the pivotal role of UK local government in advancing sustainability and climate action. The event was part of the LGA Sustainability Programme, delivered with the Crown Commercial Service, and aimed to share practical insights, highlight innovation, and surface the real-world challenges councils face in delivering on climate ambitions.
Ariane Crampton set the scene by emphasising the interconnectedness of global and local action, noting that many of the 30+ COP30 themes are directly relevant to council work - from climate adaptation and resilience to green finance, biodiversity, and net zero delivery. The event was designed to foster knowledge sharing and collective problem-solving.
Panel Presentations: Introduction to each local authority panellist:
Hertfordshire County Council
Strategic approach and governance
- Hertfordshire declared a climate emergency in 2019, rapidly developing a comprehensive sustainability strategy with nine ambitions, covering both internal (for example, carbon neutrality in council operations, climate-ready services, enhancing nature on council land, zero landfill) and external goals (for example, countywide net zero before 2050, community climate readiness, nature enhancement, cleaner air, resource efficiency).
- The strategy is regularly reviewed and updated, most recently in 2023, to ensure alignment with the new administration’s vision for a “sustainable, inclusive and thriving Hertfordshire.”
- A key innovation is the Decision Support Framework, launched in 2024, which integrates sustainability and equality impact assessments into all major council decisions. This digital platform streamlines governance and ensures that climate and social considerations are embedded in policy and project approvals.
Key projects and achievements
- Decarbonisation: Hertfordshire secured one of the largest allocations from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, enabling over 100 projects across the council estate, including battery storage and solar carports.
- Cleaner Air: The council has a strong partnership with public health colleagues, running initiatives such as school air purifiers (now in over 60 schools, benefiting 30,000+ children), anti-idling campaigns, and national projects like Clean Air Day.
- Tree Planting: The “Your Tree, Our Future” initiative, now in its third year, has delivered over 100,000 trees in a single financial year, supporting both climate and biodiversity goals.
- Retrofit: Hertfordshire conducted a countywide retrofit survey, developed a sustainability retrofit guide, and was an early pilot for the Local Authority Retrofit Accelerator. The council is now seeking finance to implement its retrofit strategy.
- Partnerships: The Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership brings together all 11 local authorities, the University of Hertfordshire, and economic partners to deliver large-scale climate action. This collaborative approach has been vital for sharing knowledge, pooling resources, and amplifying impact.
Challenges and insights
- JG stressed the difficulty of maintaining momentum and ambition during local government reorganisation (LGR) and devolution, especially with stretched resources and uncertainty about statutory roles.
- She emphasised the importance of embedding climate action in governance, leveraging new “general competence” powers, and using every available policy “hook” (for example, local area energy plans, growth plans, adaptation strategies) to keep sustainability at the heart of council work.
- Knowledge sharing, both within and between councils, was highlighted as essential for progress.
Liverpool City Council
Targets, leadership and policy framework
- Liverpool aims for net zero in council operations by 2030 and citywide by 2040, supported by a Net Zero Carbon Plan and strong political leadership (the council leader holds the sustainability portfolio).
- The council’s approach is shaped by a commitment to equity - ensuring that the benefits of clean air, energy transition, and climate resilience are shared by all residents, particularly those facing fuel poverty or health inequalities.
Major projects and innovations
- Cunard Building Decarbonisation: Liverpool is decarbonising its iconic, heritage-listed HQ by connecting it to an extended low-carbon heat network (Mersey Heat), powered by water from the Leeds and Manchester Canal. This project, supported by Salix funding, also involves the Combined Authority and National Museums Liverpool, and is seen as a flagship for what’s possible in challenging buildings.
- Advanced Zoning Programme: Liverpool is one of 19 pilot cities in this national scheme, aiming to roll out low-carbon heat networks citywide. The council has cabinet approval to go to market and is seeking Green Heat Network funding for the first phase.
- Culture and Events Sector Decarbonisation: As the UK’s first “accelerator city” for this sector, Liverpool has piloted integrated travel, green land use agreements for event organisers, and the use of batteries instead of generators.
- Innovate UK Project: The council is developing a socio-technical-economic model to map the infrastructure needed for net zero, estimate costs and returns, and identify barriers. This will inform an investment prospectus targeting pension funds and institutional investors, to leverage billions in private finance.
- Transport: Liverpool is expanding e-scooter and micro-mobility contracts, rolling out superfast EV chargers, supporting car clubs, and integrating green transport into retrofit plans. Only a third of residents own a car, so modal shift and accessibility are key priorities.
Challenges and insights
- Grid capacity: KS highlighted grid constraints as a major barrier but praised the partnership with Scottish Power (the DNO), which is providing detailed grid data to inform planning and investment.
- Equity: Ensuring that the transition to net zero is a “just transition” is central - Liverpool is focused on reducing fuel poverty, improving air quality, and ensuring that new infrastructure benefits all communities.
- Behaviour change: The council recognises that infrastructure alone isn’t enough - public engagement and behaviour change are essential, especially given the low rate of car ownership and the need for accessible, affordable transport options.
Newcastle City Council
Strategy, progress and governance
- Newcastle declared a climate emergency in 2019 and has reduced emissions by 42 per cent since 2005. The city’s Net Zero Action Plan is overseen at the highest level, enabling a pan-council approach.
- Newcastle is recognised as an international leader, recently named an FAO Green City.
Key projects and programmes
- Energy and heat: Newcastle has a long-standing city heat network (since 2018), now expanding to new sites (for example, a £4m college connection). The council is also deploying solar and battery storage, using PSDS and other funding streams.
- Blue-Green Newcastle: This flagship adaptation programme integrates blue (water management) and green (urban canopy, rain gardens) infrastructure to address flooding and urban heat. Examples include rain gardens on Northumberland Street and Grey Street, and green roofs on city buildings.
- Transport: Newcastle is rolling out EV infrastructure with LEVI and levelling up funding, supporting active travel, and working with Nexus (the metro operator) to improve reliability and accessibility. The city is also investing in new electric buses and encouraging modal shift.
- Finance and data: The council is working with Newcastle University to research green finance tools, aiming to identify the best mechanisms for different projects and business cases. Data-driven decision-making is central, with the CDP reporting process used to ensure transparency and credibility.
Challenges and insights
- Funding uncertainty: DT highlighted the challenge of declining government funding (for example PSDS ending) and the need to access new finance sources, such as green bonds and national wealth funds.
- Behaviour change: Achieving modal shift is difficult, especially in areas of deprivation where car ownership is low and public transport may be seen as unreliable or expensive. Newcastle is focusing on making the benefits of climate action tangible - cleaner air, warmer homes, better streets - rather than just talking about emissions.
- Health and inequality: The council is using the Marmot City framework to link climate action with public health, conducting sustainability needs assessments that integrate energy, housing, transport, and green space data to target interventions where they will have the greatest impact.
Thematic panel discussion: insights and examples
Adaptation and resilience
- Councils are developing adaptation strategies, risk assessments, and capacity-building programmes. Hertfordshire has trained officers and members, developed basic risk assessments, and is now scoping a countywide adaptation strategy.
- Newcastle’s Blue-Green programme is a practical example of integrating adaptation into urban planning, with rain gardens, green roofs, and flood management infrastructure.
- Liverpool is involved in a major tidal barrage project to protect against flooding and generate clean energy, though this is controversial due to potential ecological impacts.
Energy and decarbonisation
- Councils are investing in local renewable energy assets (solar, heat networks, EV charging) and collaborating with DNOs to address grid constraints.
- Liverpool’s partnership with Scottish Power provides detailed grid data, enabling smarter planning and investment.
- Newcastle is using data to identify the best decarbonisation solutions for different parts of the city, from heat networks to heat pumps and solar.
- Oxfordshire has trialled an energy saver app and a subscription model for funding solar panels and heat pumps, reducing upfront costs for residents.
Health and inequality
- Councils are linking climate action with public health, targeting interventions in schools and vulnerable communities, and using health impact assessments in planning.
- Hertfordshire’s school air purifier initiative and anti-idling campaigns are examples of targeted action.
- Newcastle is using vulnerability mapping and sustainability needs assessments to focus resources where they are most needed, addressing both climate and health inequalities.
Transport
- Liverpool is expanding micro-mobility, EV charging, and car clubs, and integrating green transport into retrofit plans.
- Newcastle is investing in electric buses, active travel, and public transport improvements, but recognises that behaviour change is key.
- Both cities highlighted the importance of making public transport reliable, affordable, and accessible to encourage modal shift.
Green finance
- Councils are developing investment prospectuses (for example Liverpool’s Innovate UK project) and exploring new funding models, such as green bonds and national wealth funds.
- Newcastle is working with the university to research which finance tools are best suited to different projects, aiming to build robust business cases and access lower-cost capital.
Biodiversity and nature recovery
- Hertfordshire has a countywide biodiversity baseline, a local nature recovery strategy, and a tree strategy, delivered through partnerships with district and borough councils.
- The council has established a Local Nature Recovery Partnership and runs a large-scale tree giveaway, leveraging economies of scale and collective action.
- Newcastle is embedding biodiversity into green spaces and governance, requiring all key decisions to include climate and biodiversity implications.
Planning and digital innovation
- Councils are integrating sustainability into local plans and planning decisions, promoting low-carbon materials, and working with universities to raise awareness among developers.
- Liverpool is hosting workshops with developers on low-embodied carbon materials and setting clear expectations for new developments.
- Digital and AI present both opportunities and challenges - councils need more capacity and expertise to manage the impacts of data centres and digital infrastructure, and to ensure that waste heat and energy use are optimised.
Engagement and behaviour change
- Councils are using segmentation tools (for example Britain Talks Climate) to tailor messaging and focus on co-benefits (health, cost savings) rather than just climate change.
- Newcastle’s experience shows that talking about community resilience, comfort, and affordability can be more effective than focusing on emissions.
- The panel agreed that most residents are concerned about climate change, but engagement must be tailored to local contexts and audiences.
Outstanding question and answers:
- How can we share tools and best practices?
Answer:
Councils are encouraged to share decision-making tools (such as those based on doughnut economics and climate impact frameworks) to support wider adoption. Contacts and resources like the ARP4 reports on the DEFRA website are available for councils seeking guidance on climate adaptation. Offers were made for direct conversations and the sharing of work via Teams.
- How do we embed climate action in governance?
Answer:
Newcastle City Council integrates climate and ecological considerations into all council decisions. Every delegated decision and cabinet report must include a section on climate impact. A cross-business quarterly net zero board, chaired by senior executives, ensures ongoing focus and accountability across all governance levels.
- How do we address funding challenges and achieve net zero targets?
Answer:
Achieving ambitious net zero targets (for example, Manchester’s 2038 goal) is challenging due to funding gaps. Research from Leeds University highlights the need for significant investment and policy shifts, such as making renewable electricity cheaper and reforming levies and taxation. Collaboration with strategic partners and investors is essential.
- How can we engage residents and communicate effectively?
Answer:
Effective engagement requires tailored messaging, focusing on health, cost savings, and community resilience. Resources like the UK100 Market Segmentation and Britain Talks Climate & Nature toolkits help councils target communications. Innovative approaches include community events and partnerships with universities to raise awareness, and using language that resonates with residents.
- How do we share technical details and project-specific information?
Answer:
Requests were made for sharing specific documents (for example, decision support documents, energy saver project details), with offers to circulate information. Links to the PV subscription model case studies and project details (such as Metis by SMS and Oxfordshire Green Futures) were provided for further exploration.
- How do we measure progress and select useful indicators?
Answer:
Councils use various frameworks and dashboards to track climate adaptation and resilience, including public health indicators and food security risk assessments. References were made to government reviews and local dashboards, such as Oxfordshire’s climate outcomes dashboards, that include resilience outcomes.
- How can we understand and reduce supply chain emissions?
Answer:
Understanding and managing scope three emissions is key. Newcastle uses the Smart Carbon tool and collaborates with anchor institutions to influence suppliers. Procurement mechanisms, especially ESG criteria during tendering, are used to encourage emissions reporting and reduction in the supply chain.
- What are effective investment and funding models?
Answer:
Oxfordshire’s approach to investment-ready projects involved broad calls for proposals, with most responses from community and public sectors. Ongoing research into funding models was mentioned, with a commitment to share findings when available.
Conclusion
The COP30 virtual event showcased the breadth and depth of local government leadership on sustainability. Councils are innovating across adaptation, energy, health, finance, biodiversity, planning, and engagement, but face significant challenges in funding, capacity, and statutory support. The event underscored the importance of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and embedding climate action in all aspects of council work.
Attendees were encouraged to visit the LGA Sustainability Hub and subscribe to the LGA Monthly Sustainability Bulletin for further resources and updates.
Thursday 23 October 2025, 10.00am - 11.45am | Officers | Roundtable
Local government is at the forefront of net zero, with the planning system serving as a critical lever to shape sustainable communities, decarbonise infrastructure, and guide investment in low-carbon development.
This roundtable will explore how councils can use their planning powers to aid the shift toward net zero, from setting local development planning policies that include climate resilience to enable clean energy projects, sustainable transport, and green infrastructure. Along with working collaboratively with neighbouring councils with the introduction of spatial development strategies.
Presentations from the roundtable:
Thursday 11 September 2025, 10:00am-11:45am | Councillors and Officers | Roundtable
Recovering our biodiversity and restoring thriving ecosystems is not just an environmental imperative; it underpins our food security, water quality, climate resilience, and public wellbeing. Councils stand at the forefront of this area with the introduction of Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements.
Local authorities are uniquely positioned to drive tangible nature recovery on the ground. This roundtable will explore how local government can effectively take up a leadership role and champion the implementation of biodiversity and nature recovery initiatives as a key partner.
Read the summary blog for Local Government's Role in Biodiversity and Nature Recovery Roundtable
Thursday 17 July 2025, 10.00am - 11.30am | Councillors and Officers | Virtual Event
This event will provide an overview of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Accounting Toolkit and the Waste Emissions Calculator and the latest updates to both. Hear from users of both tools, demonstrations, and how this has supported organisational and projects’ emissions reporting.
Thursday 24 April 2025
This LGA Sustainability roundtable explored the role local government has in developing the ‘Green Economy and Skills’ to meet gaps and demand.
3 April 2025 | virtual event
This virtual event explored how councils are coordinating local energy system efforts to create aligned local and regional strategies that support the UK's net zero goals. It was delivered by the LGA, in partnership with and funded by the Crown Commercial Service.
Tuesday 11 March 2025, 10.00am - 11.45am | Roundtable | Officers and councillors
In the face of growing local hazards and risks, this roundtable highlighted local government examples and guidance to help develop adaptation action plans and strategies. It featured ‘spotlight on’ presentations from councils before we progressed into a roundtable discussion.
10 October 2024, 10.00am - 11.30am | virtual event
This LGA virtual event focused on how local authorities use their status as ‘anchor institutions’ to lead by example by adopting policies and processes more favourable to low carbon options in procurement, commissioning, the design of services, contract management and delivery of all services.
Wednesday 22 November 2023, 10-11.30am | councillors and officers | virtual event
This virtual event shared good practice examples from Cheshire West and Chester, Coventry and Cambridgeshire Councils who are developing and delivering decarbonising transport strategies and provision across urban and rural communities, across active travel, traditional forms of transport and public transport options.
Monday 4 December 2023, 2-3.45pm | councillors and officers | virtual event
As the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) happened in the United Arab Emirates, the LGA hosted a virtual event to draw attention to notable practice being delivered by councils to reach net zero. We heard from Lancaster City, Essex County and Westminster City Councils on sustainability related projects linked with the COP28 themes: inclusion, technology and innovation, finance, and frontline communities.
Tuesday 12 December 2023, 10-11.45am | officers | virtual roundtable
This roundtable focused on how local government engages with and utilises its community based connections to make significant progress on decarbonisation targets. It featured ‘spotlight on’ case studies from councils who are delivering community engagement programmes to inform sustainability and climate initiatives.
Thursday 18 January 2024, 10-11.30am | councillors and officers | virtual event
This LGA virtual event provided delegates with the opportunity to explore how the sector could influence and improve the energy efficiency and security of assets within to deliver mitigation targets within local government decarbonisation and retrofit programmes. The session highlighted tangible case studies and guidance for delegates to learn from and potentially replicate the approaches in their authorities.
Tuesday 6 February 2024
The Councillor role in sustainability roundtable took place on 6 February 2024, bringing councillors together who are involved in sustainability, climate change, and environmental initiatives, with the goal of networking and sharing best practices. The roundtable aimed to focus on the councillors' role in delivering sustainability and net-zero projects, featuring a talk from an experienced member before engaging in a roundtable discussion.
Thursday 14 March 2024
For net zero to be reached, adaptation must happen. Adapting to current and predicted changes to our climate, both at the national and local levels is vital across society and the economy. This session highlighted local government examples and guidance to help you develop the capability and capacity to implement adaptation action plans, strategies, and projects.
Thursday 23 May 2024, 10.30-12pm | councillors and officers
This session heard about the latest updates to the Greenhouse Gas Accounting Tool and the Waste Emissions Calculator. Councillors, council officers and climate experts from Local Partnerships spoke about the tools and ongoing updates to them.
- Access the Greenhouse Gas Accounting Tool and Waste Emissions Calculator on the Local Partnerships website
- Read the summary blog of the greenhouse gas accounting tool and waste emissions calculator session
Tuesday 11 June 2024, 10am-11.45am | officers | roundtable
This roundtable was organised to focus on how local authorities have a role in the decarbonisation of transport to meet decarbonisation targets. Specifically, the roundtable focussed on the rollout of electric vehicles (EV) and the associated charging infrastructure. It featured ‘spotlight on’ presentations from councils with experience and insights on leading the decarbonisation agenda and EV as well as a roundtable discussion.
Tuesday 10 September 2024, 10-11.45am | officers | roundtable
This roundtable has been organised to provide participants with the opportunity to explore how the sector can influence and improve the energy efficiency of housing and assets to deliver mitigation targets within local government decarbonisation and retrofit programmes. It will feature ‘spotlight on’ presentations from councils with experience and insights on leading the decarbonisation agenda before we progress into a roundtable discussion.
Tuesday 3 December 2024, 10:00am-11:45am | officers | roundtable
This roundtable will focus on how behavioural science techniques can drive positive change with net zero based interventions. It will feature ‘spotlight on’ presentations from councils with experience and insights on leading behavioural insights and science based projects and programmes within sustainability before we progress into a roundtable discussion.