The UK public has more trust in local councils to take action on climate change than it does in world leaders, according to research carried out by the Local Government Association (LGA) and published at the COP26 summit.
After surveying 1,000 people, researchers found that 40% trusted their council most to address the climate emergency, followed by the government on 28% and world leaders on 15%.
Countries agreed at COP26 to revisit their NDCs at next year’s conference in Egypt, but the poll suggests the public has little faith that they will make the emission cuts necessary to deliver the Paris Agreement.
The LGA said councils know their villages, towns and cities best and are working with communities to improve lives, but need more powers to be devolved. “Councils know their communities better than anyone else,” said its chairman James Jamieson. “This is why they are best-placed to lead the way towards a net zero future.”
