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London, 6 July 2025 – A new report from CDP reveals that UK local authorities have outlined 333 climate infrastructure projects worth £67 billion, signaling a surge in climate ambition across the country. However, 48% of councils cite budget limitations as the primary barrier to implementation, threatening progress toward national climate goals.
📊 Climate Commitment Accelerates
According to CDP’s From Disclosure to Action report, 96% of local authorities now have formal climate action plans—up from 58% in 2018—covering 59% of the UK population and 55% of national emissions. All 104 participating councils have set emissions reduction targets, underscoring the growing role of local governments in climate resilience.
“It’s encouraging to see so many local authorities stepping up with clear climate targets and actionable plans,” said Hanah Paik, Interim Director of Cities, States and Regions at CDP. “But ambition alone isn’t enough”.
🌡️ Hazards Threaten Public Services
Extreme heat and flooding are the most reported climate hazards. Vulnerable groups include:
- Elderly residents (89%)
- Individuals with health conditions (87%)
- Low-income households (86%)
Notably, 83% of authorities warn that these risks could disrupt essential health and social care services.
💸 Funding Gap Widens
While local climate initiatives offer co-benefits—such as reduced energy costs, job creation, and lower fuel poverty—financial shortfalls persist. Of the £67 billion in identified projects, £27 billion is needed immediately.
“Without consistent, long-term investment, we risk slowing the pace of local progress and missing national climate goals,” Paik added.
🏙️ Local Innovation in Action
Examples of impactful local projects include:
- Manchester City Council retrofitting 700 social housing units, cutting emissions by 2,000 tonnes annually
- Birmingham’s Tyseley Energy Park, integrating low-carbon technologies across energy, transport, and waste
- Brighton & Hove replacing 18,000+ streetlights, reducing electricity use by 48.1% and emissions by 78.1%
- Greater London Authority’s Business Climate Challenge, helping 200+ workplaces cut energy use by 7%, saving £2,840 per site
🔍 Outlook
With the UK’s GDP projected to shrink by over 7% by 2050 due to climate disruptions, the urgency for local climate investment is mounting. Nearly a quarter of CDP’s 2024 Cities, States and Regions A List includes UK authorities, reflecting global leadership despite fiscal constraints.
For full details, see CDP’s official press release and ESG News’ coverage of the report.
Sustainable Development by Sivasubramanian Manikandan a , Sundaram Vickram a , Santhana Raj Deena a , Ramasamy Subbaiya b c , Natchimuthu Karmegam d
