UK Local Authorities Scaling Up Climate Ambition, Identifying £67 Billion Worth of Projects

• 96% of local authorities have climate action plans, leaping from 58% in 2018 

• Despite growing commitment and ambition to tackle the climate crisis, 48% of local authorities cite budgetary constraints as a significant barrier to adaptation 

• 4 in 5 (83%) see climate change potentially shutting down essential health and social work 

• New CDP report comprises local authorities representing over half of the UK’s population, emissions and GDP

London, 5 June 2025: UK local authorities are ramping up climate ambition in the face of ongoing environmental risks and funding challenges, according to new insights from CDP – the non-profit which runs the world’s independent environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions.

The report, "From disclosure to action: Strengthening climate and economic resilience in UK communities", is based on the responses of a record 104 local authorities [1] that disclosed their climate data through CDP-ICLEI Track in 2024, a rise of 52% on 2023.

With the UK’s GDP at risk of shrinking by more than 7% by 2050 due to climate-related disruptions [2], local authorities have a central role to play in taking Earth-positive action and surfacing critical data for decision-making by communities, policymakers and the market.

The 104 local authorities represent 59% of the country’s population, 55% of its greenhouse gas emissions and 53% of its GDP. All of them have an area-wide emissions reduction target, and almost all (96%) have a clear, actionable climate action plan to meet it, compared to just 58% in 2018, showing the clear commitment and ambition among local authorities to tackling the climate crisis.

Extreme heat and flooding are the most reported climate hazards across the UK, and pose severe consequences for local communities, homes, transport networks and public health. The most at-risk groups are elderly people (identified by 89% of local authorities), people with vulnerable health (87%) and low-income households (86%). More broadly, 83% of local authorities identified the potential of these climate hazards to cause a shutdown of essential human health and social work.  

Despite these risks, local climate action is delivering a wide range of co-benefits, from reduced fuel and energy poverty to increased energy security and job creation, demonstrating the clear, cross-cutting value of local environmental leadership.

However, funding remains a significant barrier. Nearly half the local authorities (48%) cited budgetary capacity as the most significant challenge to adaptation. Sixty-nine of them disclosed a total of 333 climate infrastructure projects in need of investment. Together, these projects represent £67 billion in value, with £27 billion identified as immediate funding needs.

Without stable, long-term financial support to cut emissions, strengthen resilience, and support communities, local authorities – often on the frontline of delivery – struggle to plan and implement climate measures at the pace and scale required.

Hanah Paik, Interim Director of Cities, States and Regions at CDP, said: “The UK is already experiencing the impacts of a changing climate: more frequent heatwaves, heavier rainfall, and an increased risk of flooding. These events are not abstract - they’re affecting infrastructure, local economies, and the well-being of communities across the country. It’s encouraging to see so many local authorities stepping up with clear climate targets and actionable plans, building the resilience needed to protect lives and livelihoods.

“But ambition alone isn’t enough. Local authorities have identified hundreds of climate projects, yet nearly half face major funding barriers, hindering implementation. Without consistent, long-term investment, we risk slowing the pace of local progress and missing national climate goals. If we want thriving, resilient communities and an Earth-positive future, we must back local action with the financial support it needs to succeed.”  

UK local authorities represent nearly a quarter of CDP’s 2024 Cities, States and Regions A List revealed last week, further demonstrating the country’s leadership on environmental transparency and action on a global scale.

Examples of local UK climate action:  

• Manchester City Council: The retrofitting of 700 council-owned social housing units is projected to reduce the city of Manchester's carbon emissions by up to 2,000 tonnes annually. 

• Birmingham City Council: The development of Tyseley Energy Park integrates low and zero-carbon technologies to tackle key urban challenges related to power generation, heating, transportation, and waste management, while leveraging regional transport infrastructure and a network of 230 local businesses. 

• Brighton & Hove City Council: Since 2017, Brighton & Hove has implemented a large-scale LED replacement program under its Invest to Save initiative. More than 18,000 streetlights have been upgraded, resulting in a 48.1% reduction in electricity usage and a 78.1% decrease in emissions by April 2024. 

• Greater London Authority (GLA): The GLA expanded its Business Climate Challenge in 2023, inviting over 200 workplaces to reduce their energy usage by 10%. Participants have so far achieved an average 7% energy reduction and 1.6 tonnes CO2e savings, with an average cost saving of £2,840. 

- ENDS - 

Notes to Editors

1. The list of UK local authorities publicly disclosing their climate data through CDP-ICLEI Track in 2024 can be found in the report. 

2. New study finds cutting greenhouse gas emissions to net zero will save significant damage to the UK economy | London School of Economics and Political Science

CDP thanks the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for its support of CDP’s work with UK cities. 

For more information, or to arrange interviews, please contact Sapna Shah (Associate Director, Market Activation - UK & Europe): sapna.shah@cdp.net

About CDP

CDP is a global non-profit that runs the world’s only independent environmental disclosure system. As the founder of environmental reporting, we believe in transparency and the power of data to drive change. Partnering with leaders in enterprise, capital, policy and science, we surface the information needed to enable Earth-positive decisions. We helped more than 24,800 companies and almost 1,000 cities, states and regions disclose their environmental impacts in 2024. Financial institutions with more than a quarter of the world’s institutional assets use CDP data to help inform investment and lending decisions.

Aligned with the ISSB’s climate standard, IFRS S2, as its foundational baseline, CDP integrates best-practice reporting standards and frameworks in one place. Our team is truly global, united by our shared desire to build a world where people, planet and profit are truly balanced.

Visit cdp.net or follow us @CDP to find out more.