Table of contents
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58248/HS114
Overview
Contributors to the horizon scan highlighted community-based climate change actions as being relevant to parliament. These are community-led processes that seek to address the specific priorities, needs, knowledge, and capacities of communities in their response to climate change.[1][2][3][4]
For example, renewable energy communities are entities for individuals, small businesses and local authorities to produce, manage and consume their own energy.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Community Energy England suggest that £3.35 million has been saved by households participating in community energy schemes, which substantially reduce their energy consumption and lower their bills.[13]
Research suggests that changes at the societal, community and individual level are needed to support and lead efforts for climate action, with approaches that integrate adaptation and mitigation having the potential to address the policy complexities and interconnections.[14][15][16]
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will publish a special report on climate change and cities in 2027.[17][18][19] Municipal approaches including C40 Cities,[20] ICLEI,[21] and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network,[22] have been credited with informing climate policy engagement at the local government level.[23][24][25]
For example, some UK local authorities (LAs) have adopted Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) to deliver cost savings, social benefits and a more coordinated energy transition by taking a proactive, whole-systems, place-specific approach to energy planning (PN 703). LAs have had no statutory responsibility to set net zero targets, but the English Devolution White Paper has set out further net zero and climate adaptation powers as part of local government reform.
The Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) assessment of the third National Adaptation Plan stated that current approaches to adaptation are inadequate and are fundamentally limited by issues such as governance approaches.[26] At the national level, mitigation and adaptation policy are the responsibility of two different government departments, DESNZ and DEFRA.
Contributors to the scan said there was a need for climate, energy and net zero policies to consider cross-linkages, equity, co-benefits, and unintended consequences through a whole systems approach across policy domains (such as agriculture, food, transport, housing, public health).[27] Some contributors suggest deliberative public engagement approaches, such as the UK Climate Change Assembly,[28] may be needed to determine which environmental policies are acceptable for a just transition (PN 706).[29]
Challenges and opportunities
A major challenge for UK communities is mitigating climate-related flood risks. Climate inequalities arise from those with the least capacity to adapt to, or mitigate, their risk of being impacted (PN 706).[30][31][32][33] Research suggests that this can be addressed by participatory collaborative flood risk management to involve communities and individuals to deliver more cohesive, effective, and efficient strategies, plans, and policies.[34]
This involves being open and sharing information with all stakeholders to overcome inequity and build trust as well as working across silos to overcome fragmented regulatory, funding, and institutional barriers.[35]
The Environmental Audit Committee described the challenge of the growing risks of overheating in buildings, and made recommendations for addressing them, including a comprehensive national retrofit programme to adapt the UK’s housing stock for both net zero and thermal comfort delivered by local authorities.[36] Contributors to the scan identified and opportunity to reduce the prevalence of overheating in social housing through low cost solutions such as sun shielding, shading, shutters and thermal blinds.[37][38][39][40][41]
Rural local authorities face different challenges in delivering Net Zero than their urban counterparts, due to population sparsity and a lack of economies of scale.[42] Rural economies are vulnerable to climate change in multiple ways, and contributors suggested communities have climate transition challenges arising from issues such as greater car dependency and a reliance on oil for heating.[43][44][45]However, contributors also suggested that rural communities have the potential for energy independence through renewable energy generation.[46][47][48]
Many renewable energy infrastructure developers choose to undertake community benefit schemes to compensate them for negative impacts. The possible benefits will vary between communities, such as installing energy efficient measures in homes to reduce bills, funding community initiatives or free access to the project site for recreational activities (PN 736). Effective community participation is required for these schemes.[49]
The government has stated that it wants to ensure that all communities hosting infrastructure receive high quality benefits in a consistent manner.[50] However, changing perceptions may require creating a more compelling set of positive net zero benefits,[51] relayed with careful framing and clarity by trusted messengers who are relatable to consumers.[52] For example, a collaborative approach could help gain buy-in through framing benefits and co-benefits around local needs, such as opening up public space around energy generation,[49]which may be more emotionally compelling by providing a sense of belonging or participation in a shared goal.
The CCC stated that the net zero transition will provide economic benefits across UK regions, provided that upskilling issues are addressed.[53][54] However, contributors to the scan raised concerns about the gap between national targets and local action and responsibilities, and the fairness of where economic benefits geographically accrue. Researchers have argued for a Joined-up Sustainability Transformation approach to ensure equity and fairness in how net zero is implemented across the UK. They indicate that this requires:[55][56]
- understanding of the connections between social inequalities and environmental unsustainability (PN 706)[57]
- transformation rather than transition approaches that respond more effectively and sensitively to social and political barriers[58][59]
- moving away from national approaches to place-based, co-produced strategies for change[60]
Key uncertainties/unknowns
- Beyond a certain threshold, renewable energy infrastructure will fall under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project planning regime (PN 736). It is unclear how well national decision making can take account of local impacts with the rapid transition set out in the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.[46]
- There are knowledge gaps about connections between social inequalities and unsustainable activities and infrastructure. This requires understanding power dynamics within communities and local economies and how axes of difference (such as class) create structural obstacles to the pursuit of net zero.[51]
- The capacity of local government to implement approaches to climate change and net zero policies that are participative and collaborative. This is particularly considering local authority budget constraints.[61][62][63]
Key questions for Parliament
- Given financial constraints, how can local government enact adaptation and mitigation policies at a local level to deal with climate change?
- Provision of community benefits is not mandatory for renewable energy infrastructure providers. The Scottish Government is consulting on good practice principles, and guidance for voluntary approaches will be published for England. How can benefits be fairly and justly directed in affected communities? Should benefits be regulated to ensure they accrue equally within communities? How can benefit provision be evaluated, and action taken, if intended aims are not achieved?
- How can national policy objectives be realised through local actions in communities facing different social, economic and environmental challenges while ensuring fairness and just outcomes?
Relevant Documents
Community energy (review): Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)
House of Commons Library, Debate on community benefits from renewable energy projects, CDP 2024/0127
House of Commons Library, Empowering community energy schemes
House of Commons Library, Enabling community energy
House of Commons Library, How is the UK adapting to climate change? Spotlight on health
House of Commons Library, Climate change adaptation and resilience in the UK
Planning for net zero, POSTnote 736
What is a just transition for environmental targets? POSTnote 706
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