From climate declaration to climate action plan: a guide for councils

But as Friends of the Earth point out:

Councils up and down the country have declared climate emergencies. But what happens next?

Climate Action Plan for councils

We need councils to turn their political promises in to concrete action by adopting a climate action plan – leading the way where the national government continues to fail.

To help get them started, we’ve created a template Climate Action Plan for councils, with 50 concrete steps they should take.

But they need to know local residents want it – that’s where you come in. We need communities to join together to convince their councils to adopt an ambitious climate action plan. The 50-point plan can be adapted to suit your area – after all, you know best what your community needs.

And as more and more communities and councils take climate action across the UK, pressure will mount on the national government to do the same. So let’s get to it.

How to use the plan

1. Download the Climate Action Plan for councils.
2. Discuss the Climate Action Plan with your group and allies and edit the 50 actions to reflect your local context.
3. Research what your council is already doing and what it has already committed to doing.
4. Prioritise the most-important actions for your council to take straight away.
5. Get your community behind the plan. Put on events, panel discussions, street stalls, film screenings.
6. Listen to what others think about the plan, how it could be improved and implemented.
7. Lobby the council to adopt the plan. Start an online petition, organise events and demonstrations, talk to the local media, and arrange meetings with your local councillors.

As our campaign progresses and we continue to share and learn from each other, we will likely adapt Climate Action Plan for councils.