Local authorities taking action
Local authorities are at the front line in dealing with the impacts from climate change - not only for their own services, but also (along with other local partners) as leaders in their local communities.
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There are already some great examples of local authorities leading best practice in adapting to climate change. For others, the process of adaptation is in the early stages.
N188 Adapting to Climate Change performance indicator
In recognition of the role that local authorities should be taking, in 2008 the Government introduced an adapting to climate change indicator (NI188) in the new Local Government Performance Framework.
The indicator allows authorities and partners to measure progress in adapting to climate change over four levels. The levels range from identifying the priority areas for adaptation through to developing and maintaining an adaptation action plan.
Support for local authorities
The introduction of a new performance indicator on adaptation in the Local Government Performance Framework has made adapting climate change a key issue for local government.
To help local authorities respond, the Adapting to Climate Change Programme team, Government Offices, the Nottingham Declaration Partnership, the Local Government Association, Environment Agency, UKCIP and others, are putting in place targeted support for local authorities and their partners in Local Strategic Partnerships.
The Government is keen that this support is developed in a coherent and complimentary way.
We have set up a new Local & Regional Climate Change Adaptation Partnership Board which will include representatives from bodies at both the regional and local level to draw this support together.
The support board will develop a framework of support by bringing together existing adaptation support programmes and case studies and assessing gaps in skills and awareness.
An element of the support package will be a series of regional workshops in the Autumn, targeted initially at those authorities who have chosen NI188 as a priority in their local area agreement.
The Partnership Board will also be considering how to provide support all local authorities, taking account of the statutory framework in the Climate Change Act.
Further guidance
The Nottingham Declaration
The Nottingham Declaration is a voluntary pledge made by local authorities to address the issues of climate change developed by the Nottingham Declaration Partnership.
It represents a high-level, broad statement of commitment that any council can make to its own community. To accompany the pledge, the Partnership have developed the Nottingham Declaration website, as a portal for advice and guidance.
The UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP)
UKCIP has developed tools to help organisations adapt. These tools include the Local Climate Impacts Profile (LCLIP).
The LCLIP is designed to help organisations assess their local climate impacts which can be used as a basis for further work in later stages of the indicator.
Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships
As announced in January 2008 by Communities and Local Government, the Government will be providing £185m funding for Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs) to deliver better services and make efficiency savings.
In addition, Defra and CLG have jointly contributed £4m to fund a climate change best practice programme, to be delivered largely by and through the RIEPs.
The £4m fund is primarily aimed at mitigation, but authorities may be able to access the funding for adaptation work where this is a mutually beneficial initiative
Further information
Page last modified: 27 November 2008
Page published: 24 July 2008