Councils backed over climate change

Councils have 'key role'

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A majority of voters and MPs agree that councils have a key role in tackling climate change, according to new research published by the LGA.

The LGA commissioned ComRes to undertake detailed opinion polling of both groups' attitude towards global warming and what the role of local government should be in tackling the problem.

It has published a leaflet summarising findings which indicate clear support across the country for action to be taken at a local level to tackle climate change.

The LGA says that candidates for local and general elections ignore policies to combat climate change at their peril.

Surveys of the public and MP found that most agreed that:
• climate change is happening and is linked to human behaviour;
• councils have a key role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change;
• climate change is a hot topic at the local ballot box and general elections;
• there is clear support for financial incentives schemes to encourage people to reduce their carbon footprint – and penalties for those that refuse to do so.

Despite controversy in the media over refuse charging schemes and road pricing, the survey indicates there is still support for financial incentives schemes to encourage people to reduce their carbon footprint – and penalties for those that refuse to do so.

The LGA reports that two-thirds agree that councils should introduce financial incentives to encourage people to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

However, while 53% of public believe that penalties should be introduced to encourage people to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, just 35 per cent of MPs believe it.

ComRes interviewed 1,003 adults in Britain by telephone between 18 and 19 March 2008 and 168 MPs between 21 April and 9 May 2008 by self-completion postal questionnaire.

The LGA's Small Change Big Difference campaign, launched in March 2008, encourages councils to do more to tackle climate change and decision makers and the public to see councils as central to the solution.