Sustainable Towns and Cities

Policy briefings

← to Cities homepage

Explore

We draw on our ‘on the ground’ insights and perspectives to make evidence-based policy asks to national government. This helps set the conditions for local authorities to deliver impactful, ambitious climate action plans. We’re urging the UK government to back the smart policies that will help councils, communities and businesses secure a fairer zero carbon future. We work in coalition to deliver a bigger impact including with the Blueprint Coalition and Warm this Winter.

New briefing:

Upgrading homes in North East England: the case for action

Our policy briefing for national, regional and local government shows how retrofit can tackle the region’s fuel poverty and unemployment challenges.

Released: October 2023

Delivering climate action with community partners

Community organisations are already taking action on climate change, with benefits ranging from better mental health to action on fuel poverty, as well as lower emissions.

Released: June 2023

Our response to the UK green skills shortage

The UK is drastically short of the skills needed to build a low-carbon economy – particularly those linked to making our homes more energy efficient. But we simply don’t have the workforce to take on the job. The benefits of backing green skills are enormous.

UK green skills policy briefings:

Solving the skills crisis

Released: September 2022

We will not be able to tackle the energy crisis and climate emergency without making the UK’s buildings more energy efficient – starting now. This new policy briefing shows how local authorities can lead the way with the right support from national government.

Read the briefing

Creating warmer homes

Released: January 2022

Decisive actions by national and local government, as well as close co-ordination between the two, will be needed to deliver this retrofit revolution. This policy briefing aims to spur on that action, with inspiration and practical retrofit advice for local authorities and national government

Read the briefing

News, resources and events for local authorities

Our towns and cities bulletin helps you deliver high-impact climate action. Discover useful tools and opportunities, whatever your council’s size and budget.