The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report[1], published in the run-up to COP26, provides further evidence of the need for planners to take action on climate change. The past fifty years have seen patterns of development bake emissions into our towns and cities.

Around three-quarters [2] of local authorities have declared climate emergencies, setting out more ambitious targets for net zero. Many are now exploring how to achieve such radical reductions in emissions. Some are applying the idea of net-zero to their own corporate operations, others to the local authority area more broadly – a more challenging but entirely laudable approach. Maximising the role of development plans is central to this latter approach.

Read the full white paper to learn how planning authorities can reshape our towns, cities and countryside as part of a low-carbon future.

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References

[1] IPCC (2021) AR6 Climate change 2021: The Physical Science Basis – Summary for Policymakers. [online] Available at: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/#SPM

[2] https://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/list-of-councils/