Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities in meeting the target of cutting UK carbon emissions by at least 68 per cent of 1990 levels by the end of 2030.

Half of English councils have committed to reducing their direct emissions to zero by 2030, enormously supporting the ambition set by the Prime Minister. Local action can accelerate deployment of new technologies and drive significant cost efficiencies through strategic coordination, including vital new energy and transport infrastructure.

As we continue to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic we need to ensure that our recovery plans support our climate change response. By building back greener and better, we can achieve our climate goals, protect our biodiversity and natural capital, and sustain climate-resilient economic development, all in a fair and inclusive way.

A significant amount of support has been made available for councils to act on climate change, from heat networks to cycle paths to flood defences. Councils are uniquely positioned to align local needs, opportunities and resources to deliver strategic interventions at all scales. We will continue to work with councils to enable them to build back greener and better locally, through an effective planning framework and devolution.

Environmental principles are embedded in?growth funds and the national planning framework. To give a few?examples:

• The £1 billion Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and Skills Fund is part of the Chancellor’s ‘Plan for Jobs 2020’ commitment to support the UK’s economic recovery from Covid-19, supporting up to 30,000 skilled jobs in the low carbon and energy efficiency sectors: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-sector-decarbonisation-scheme-psds
• The Green Homes Grant includes £500 million for local authorities to improve the energy efficiency of low-income households. This will help reduce fuel poverty and support the installation of low carbon heating: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-homes-grant-local-authority-delivery-scheme-entering-a-bid
• The £250 million emergency active travel fund is designed to help local authorities create an environment that is safe for both walking and cycling in their regions.??The money will help create pop-up bike lanes, wider pavements, safer junctions, and cycle and bus-only corridors. We want to support all communities across England who want to change the way they use their streets and new guidance has already been published to tell councils how they can give more road space to cyclists and pedestrians: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/2-billion-package-to-create-new-era-for-cycling-and-walking

Finally, MHCLG is supporting clean growth initiatives through existing funding pots, including the Towns Fund and Local Growth Fund, and local institutions are using strategic plans to support the UK’s net zero by 2050 commitment. My officials are working with other departments including BEIS and DEFRA to ensure that green recovery and clean growth form a key part of our emerging local economic recovery planning.