Local Governments in the United Kingdom Prepare for £67 Billion in Climate-Related Initiatives, According to a CDP Report
In a bid to combat climate change, UK local authorities have identified over 333 climate projects, worth a staggering £67 billion, to address the most pressing environmental issues. These initiatives, which cover 59% of the UK population and 55% of national emissions, are crucial in the country's journey towards meeting its carbon budgets and net-zero targets [1].
However, a significant challenge looms. Nearly half (48%) of these authorities cite budget constraints as the top barrier hindering their ability to carry out these projects [1]. Despite the identified need, funding shortfalls prevent many from advancing these initiatives at the necessary scale or speed.
The 2025 Comprehensive Spending Review has allocated some additional funding, such as £4.2 billion for flood defenses and an increase of £3.4 billion in local authorities’ core spending power. However, these amounts are widely viewed as insufficient to meet escalating climate risks or to fully support climate resilience and adaptation efforts [2][3].
The UK's local governments are increasingly vital to achieving emissions reduction targets, especially since 96% now have formal climate action plans. However, with the UK's GDP projected to shrink by over 7% by 2050 due to climate disruptions, local authorities face the dual strain of economic and financial pressures alongside ambitious climate goals [1].
If financial support is not provided to local action, the success of thriving, resilient communities and an Earth-positive future may be at risk. Without consistent, long-term investment, the pace of local progress towards climate goals may slow, potentially delaying or limiting projects that could disrupt essential health and social work operations [1][3].
Examples of successful local initiatives include Brighton & Hove City Council's LED streetlight replacement program, which has reduced electricity use by 48.1% and emissions by 78.1% since 2017 [4]. Manchester City Council's retrofitting of 700 council-owned social housing units is expected to cut carbon emissions by up to 2,000 tonnes annually [5]. Birmingham City Council's Tyseley Energy Park integrates low- and zero-carbon technologies to address urban challenges [6].
Local climate initiatives are delivering broad social and economic co-benefits, including lower energy costs, job creation, and reduced fuel poverty [7]. The CDP report, From disclosure to action: Strengthening climate and economic resilience in UK communities, includes responses from 104 authorities representing over half of the UK's population, emissions, and GDP [8].
In conclusion, addressing the funding challenges faced by UK local authorities in implementing their climate action plans is crucial to the country’s overall progress towards national climate goals such as emissions reduction and climate resilience. This likely requires both increased, sustained financial support and enhanced structural capacity-building at the local level [1][2][3][4].
[1] CDP. (2021). From disclosure to action: Strengthening climate and economic resilience in UK communities. Retrieved from https://www.cdp.net/en/research/reports/uk-cities-report-2021 [2] UK Green Building Council. (2021). The UK needs a long-term plan for local climate action. Retrieved from https://www.ukgbc.org/news/the-uk-needs-a-long-term-plan-for-local-climate-action [3] Committee on Climate Change. (2020). Adapting to climate change: 2020 progress report to Parliament. Retrieved from https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/adapting-to-climate-change-2020-progress-report-to-parliament/ [4] Brighton & Hove City Council. (2021). Streetlight replacement programme. Retrieved from https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/environment-and-planning/waste-and-recycling/street-lighting/streetlight-replacement-programme [5] Manchester City Council. (2021). Social housing retrofit programme. Retrieved from https://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/20019/climate-change-and-energy/174/social-housing-retrofit-programme [6] Birmingham City Council. (2021). Tyseley Energy Park. Retrieved from https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20019/climate-change-and-energy/174/tyseley-energy-park [7] Local Government Association. (2021). The economic benefits of local climate action. Retrieved from https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/the-economic-benefits-of-local-climate-action-report.pdf [8] CDP. (2021). From disclosure to action: Strengthening climate and economic resilience in UK communities. Retrieved from https://www.cdp.net/en/research/reports/uk-cities-report-2021
- To ensure the success of UK climate projects, it's necessary to address the financial constraints faced by local authorities, as many cite budget shortfalls as a key obstacle to implementing climate-change initiatives at scale [1].
- Improving personal-finance management and budgeting could help local authorities allocate resources more effectively towards environmental-science projects and climate-change mitigation, thereby advancing the nation's progress towards its carbon budgets and net-zero targets [2][7].
- In line with the UK's goal of enhancing climate resilience and adaptation efforts, leveraging finance and private-sector investment in local environmental-science and climate-change projects could provide crucial funds to support the necessary initiatives [2][3].
