Central government should establish local net zero missions for a number of key policy areas to encourage places to go further and faster. |
767. The UK's net zero target has provided a clear mission and sense of purpose within Government, leading to reforms in how Government delivers. As discussed earlier in this Review, the act of setting this target has itself catalysed action.
768. Local areas are already setting their own net zero targets and seeing local benefits from this. Local targets and missions have the ability to create a focal point from which action stems, healthy competition develops, and accountability improves.
"The net zero target enables the city to focus on responding to the huge challenge of the climate emergency and how it can mitigate its potential damage and adapt to it, ensuring Manchester is a resilient, climate ready city. Working for a net zero Manchester and Greater Manchester will also ensure the city and the city region are at the cutting edge of new net zero technologies through a transitioned workforce and local economy, ensuring it is internationally competitive within a new green global economy" - Manchester City Council.547
769. Local authorities have a significant amount of local convening power. They can reach and bring together residents, businesses, skills providers, the local energy sector, and others in a way that central government cannot. A mission-centred approach allows greater opportunity for local authorities to utilise these powers and to focus different actors' energy around a common goal.
770. However, to date, local authorities have often struggled to act on their ambitions - as already evidenced in this pillar. The reforms outlined above would provide local authorities with a much clearer sense of where and how they can act, but the Review heard from local leaders that greater ability to set local targets and devolution of the powers to deliver and enforce them would also help to mobilise local delivery.548
771. While each place's transition to net zero will be different, there will also be many commonalities. Central government should identify a small number of key policies where a mission could be applicable to all local areas - for example, buildings retrofit or recycling. These could be linked to responsibilities agreed in the local net zero framework outlined above and should also be centred around positive economic action. Local areas could sign up to these missions, delivering them in a place-based way but with a clear mandate from central government, a common goal on which to share best practice, and a clear message to convey to communities.
772. Depending on the success of these missions, a more locally specific approach could be developed in future. Local and central government could work together - including through local consultation with businesses and communities - to formulate local net zero missions with greater community buy-in and a stronger relevance to individual places. Such missions could form the basis for further devolution of powers or funding.
773. Local missions would also help send clear signals to local businesses and communities, supporting their own actions and helping to clarify local priorities.