Community Leader

Local authorities have a vital role in leading their communities preparation for the impacts of climate change and their efforts to reduce emissions. They can lead their local community's response by working with:

1. Strategic Partnerships

2. Local communities

Both will be essential to address national performance indicator NI 186, per capita reduction in CO2 emissions in the local authority area. NI 188 (Planning to adapt to climate change) does not draw a clear distinction between the three LA roles, but does require consideration of climate impacts on your broader as a component of performance, particularly at higher levels.

Working with local communities could be dealt with under the council's role as a community leader or as a service provider. The former might be more appropriate if you intend to work with partners to involve the community and raise awareness. But the main thing is that it is covered somewhere in your action plan.

Strategic Partnerships

Partnership working covers any activities that the council does in collaboration with other organisations that operate within its community, including statutory agencies, businesses and the voluntary sector. The partnerships could include: the Local Strategic Partnership; partnerships that have been specifically created to respond to climate change; and other partnerships that may be able to drive forward adaptation and / or mitigation measures, such as housing, regeneration or health partnerships.

1. Section 2.3 of Getting on Target - A Sustainable Energy Toolkit and Benchmark for Local Authorities recommends good practice on sustainable energy through the council's role as a Community Leader. It draws on the experience of the Sustainable Energy Beacon local authorities

Strategic Partnerships The London Borough of Islington has established a Climate Change Partnership with 57 organisations across the Borough which have pledged to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by at least 15 per cent by 2010. Middlesbrough Council's Community Protection Service co-ordinated the development of Middlesbrough's Climate Change Community Action Plan, working with partner organisations. The Cornwall Sustainable Energy Partnership involves all councils in Cornwall and has brought together over 80 organisations to develop sustainable energy programmes. In 2004 they published the UK's first sub-regional energy strategy. Be Birmingham (the LSP) developed a partnership climate change strategy. Worcestershire County Council developed their climate change strategy in partnership with the Local Strategic Partnership. Nottinghamshire County Council worked with the Nottinghamshire Agenda 21 Partnership to produce a community climate change strategy.

Local communities

Local authorities, often working in partnership with community based organisations, can:-

1. Support community action on climate change

2. Raise awareness of climate change among their local community and encourage changes in behaviour

3. Involve communities in decision-making about climate change

Guidance and case studies on community involvement and awareness raising.

Local communities

• Shropshire County Council and the Marches Energy Agency work in partnership with local organisations to "get the message out" to local communities.

• Mendip District Council, in partnership with many local organisations, established Warming Mendip which provides home energy advice and trains and supports local community representatives in local energy awareness-raising activities and campaigns.

• North Somerset Council, in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Energy, developed a scheme to train retired people as volunteers to provide energy efficiency advice.

• For more examples of community initiatives to tackle mitigation see the Community Action for Energy case studies