Implement “proper” climate change plans or risk facing legal challenge, environmental lawyers have warned 100 councils across England.
The councils – all of which are currently developing a new local plan – have been put on notice by environmental law firm ClientEarth, giving them eight weeks to explain how evidence-based carbon reduction targets will be set and how they will ensure those targets will be central to new planning policy.
The campaign was launched in light of the “massive” shortfall in compliant local planning policy across the country and to advise local authorities of their legal duties, ClientEarth said.
However, many councils in the UK have declared climate emergencies in recent months, with solar becoming a key component in several council’s plans to tackle climate change.
Last month alone, Wokingham Borough Council pledged to install solar on schools, Northumberland County Council announced an 800kW solar carport with battery storage and a 12.4MW solar farm owned by West Suffolk Council smashed its generation targets, earning the council £100,000 more than expected.
Read more: Solar Power Portal