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Bristol mayor joins city leaders calling for power shift to deliver urgent climate goals
Marvin Rees has joined a cross-party coalition of city leaders in calling for a power shift from Whitehall to effectively tackle climate change.
The cohort of 32 UK mayors and leaders argue devolution from Whitehall to regional and city level is required to allow the delivery of Net Zero 2050 goals.
In a joint statement, they have requested new powers and resources in order to shape local energy markets, decarbonise transport and tackle emissions from homes and offices.
is needed now More than ever
At an international climate change summit taking place in Birmingham on Tuesday, Bristol’s mayor will join West Midlands mayor Andy Street and others from UK100 (which represents more than 100 authority leaders) to make the case to Government for additional powers to tackle climate change.
Speaking ahead of the event, Rees said: “We need to urgently tackle the climate crisis and drive a just transition.
“As the first city in the UK to declare a climate emergency and an ecological emergency, and as a city committed to delivering the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, we know that there are opportunities to create greener, decent jobs, that deliver climate action.
“As we rebuild, recover and reconceptualise cities after the pandemic, local leaders need powers and resources from government to make these opportunities a reality.”
Net Zero sets targets for the country to bring greenhouse gas emissions in the UK to net-zero by 2050 and to achieve a 78 per cent reduction in emissions by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.
Rees’ appeal to the government comes the week after he was challenged by Green councillor Lily Fitzgibbon about congratulating Bristol Airport on its “net zero” pledge without opposing its proposed expansion.
The joint UK100 statement, signed on Tuesday as part of the International Net Zero Local Leadership Summit in Birmingham, states: “Regional, city and local authorities must be the partners of choice for government in the development of, and delivering on, Net Zero commitments.
“As convenors of place, communities, and economies, we are combining the influence of the public, private and third sectors, education and research, and local residents, to better understand Net Zero challenges and opportunities, and ensure its practical implementation at a local level.”
It requests new partnerships between local and national government, including:
- Ensuring that UKIB (UK Infrastructure Bank) has a Net Zero mandate delivering local investment as a priority.
- Prioritising reducing the costs of connecting electronic vehicle charging networks to the grid.
- Putting in place a long-term plan to support local authorities in decarbonising new and existing buildings and homes.
- Establishing strategic energy bodies with the responsibilities and resources to address market failures in energy systems.
- Adding targets to the Environment Bill to reverse the decline in species and habitats by 2030, supported by the resourcing of Local Nature Recovery Strategies.
- Putting in place a Net Zero Local Powers Bill to permit, oblige and resource relevant levels of authority to satisfy the Climate Change Act, meet carbon budgets and deliver an effective pathway to Net Zero.
Other signatories include mayors from counties and cities across the UK, such as London and Greater Manchester, as well as Cardiff, South Gloucestershire and the West of England.
Main photo: CB Bristol Design
Read more: Rees scolds Bristol’s youngest councillor for asking ‘disappointing question’
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