Is local level action on decarbonisation effective? Lessons from the front line.

Climate change is a challenge we all face, but understanding our individual roles in tackling it can be overwhelming: should we walk to work, eat less meat, buy a heat pump? Unfortunately, if we’re presented with too many choices to tackle an issue (particularly a big issue) we can be blocked from making the right decision. This is choice overload #bias.

However there are strategies and approaches that can reduce the impact of this and the other psychological biases that are limiting progress towards net zero. DG Cities was excited to partner with the Local Government Association to investigate neighborhood projects for local decarbonisation, many that coalesce communities around simple actions.

A few examples are below:

·??????? Hampshire County Council – Greening Campaign: Hampshire County Council partnered with the Greening Campaign, to deliver grassroots projects at a community scale across the borough. The Greening Campaign initiative consists of three phases. In Phase 1, communities of up to 300 households will register with the Greening Campaign by expressing their interest in making sustainable changes within their community. A set of actions will be voted on by the community to address the climate change challenges they are facing. The community will then be provided with guidance on increasing participation amongst its residents.

·??????? South Cambridgeshire District Council - Zero Carbon Communities Programme: Since its inception, the ZCC Grant scheme has developed into a wider programme of support that is responsive to the emerging needs of the community groups, such as sharing best practices and extending networking activities. The scheme consists of an annual funding round of up to ￡100,000 split between different community projects (￡1,000 to ￡15,000 each). It has been in place for three years and the 4th round of funding has just been announced. A total of 61 projects have been funded through the programme so far. Cambridge Sustainable Food is a Cambridgeshire-based food charity that was granted ￡15,000 in the first round of the ZCC grant scheme. Through the project, they set up two community fridges which saved 5.97 tonnes of food from going to landfill. They had 80 attendees at online events, and their online cookery demos and environmental tales read aloud received 1,100 views subsequently online.?

·??????? Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council - Community Orchards: Community development officers working for Redcar & Cleveland Council developed community orchards in the East Cleveland community. As part of this scheme, members of the community are trained to graft and care for trees. Members of the community then act as volunteers to take care and maintain the orchard.?In January 2022 A total of 45 trees were planted, most of which have been successful. In the future, it is planned that wildflower areas, bulb planting and community engagement activities will be introduced.

These are just some of the neighbourhood level projects that are underway or have been completed that are helping to overcome the challenges that climate change presents to communities. Local authorities across the country are continuing to take local action, and are realising the benefits.

Check out our recent work with the Local Government Association here.