Climate Action Plan for councils

Councils have a key part to play in addressing the climate and ecological emergencies. Climate change, nature restoration, the COVID-19 recovery, and the cost of living crisis need to be addressed simultaneously. The good news is that action on climate change and nature is good for equity, the economy, and our health.

To help guide them in the right direction, we've created a template Climate Action Plan for councils in England and Wales, with 50 concrete steps they should take. We also have a 43-point template Climate Action Plan for councils in Northern Ireland.

Thanks to campaigns run by Friends of the Earth groups and other community groups, the majority of councils have now adopted Climate Action Plans. But they need the help of local residents to make sure these plans are as ambitious as possible and work for the whole community – that’s where you come in.

We need communities to keep working together to convince their councils that an ambitious Climate Action Plan is necessary in its own right and will also have benefits for health and equity. It’s particularly important that Climate Action Plans work for those most at risk of the impacts of the climate and ecological emergencies – for example, people of colour who are disproportionately exposed to high levels of air pollution, or lower-income households in flood zones, where people can't afford to make their homes flood-resistant.

The template Climate Action Plans can be adapted to suit your area – after all, you and your community know what’s best for your local area.