Climate Action Plan for the new Mayor of the East Midlands

What can the new Mayor do for people and planet?

We're facing a climate and ecological emergency – the biggest threat we’ve ever seen to humanity’s existence. Whoever is elected as the new Mayor of the East Midlands can’t single-handedly solve the crisis, but they must use the powers they have to make as big a difference as possible. They have a very important role to play in providing a guiding vision for the area, and will need to work with councils, businesses, local communities and the national government.

All of the constituent local authorities of the newly formed East Midlands Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) have Climate Action Plans in place. But analysis by Climate Emergency UK shows that action on climate is variable across the area and different councils. It’s clear that action needs to be accelerated in several areas, including improving public transport and ramping up home insulation. This Climate Action Plan will help the new Mayor do this using the devolved powers and funding granted to them.

How green is the East Midlands?

10 priorities for the new Mayor

1. Ensure all plans, programmes and investment decisions are in line with what’s needed to address the climate and ecological emergency and are aligned with international, national, regional and local carbon reduction targets. 
2. Ensure that the voices of those most impacted by climate breakdown and nature loss are heard and given centre-stage in decision making.
3. Support new green jobs. Protect workers and communities through a just transition to a low-carbon, nature-rich, circular economy, including linking skills training to low-carbon jobs.
4. Ensure new development is zero carbon and served by sustainable transport using their influence on constituent local planning authorities. Use brownfield regeneration and affordable housing funding to deliver zero-carbon homes in locations accessible by public transport and active travel. 
5. Take a leading role in bringing existing homes and buildings in the area up to high energy efficiency standards (EPC rating C) to reduce emissions and put an end to fuel poverty. Ensure that existing homes, buildings and infrastructure are protected from extreme weather events. 
6. Set targets and strategies to double public transport use and increase walking and cycling fivefold in 10 years. This includes improving the quality, connectivity and affordability of public transport services, with a rapid move to bus franchising as a key measure to restore bus services to at least 2010 levels.
7. Lead the development of a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) to increase the supply of clean, renewable energy, including supporting community energy initiatives and the roll-out of heat pumps.
8. Ensure that the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for the area increases tree cover, protects and enhances nature, eliminates green space deprivation, and helps the area become more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
9. Lead the development of a circular economy strategy for the region with local businesses and local authorities to both cut waste and resource consumption and boost the green economy, including encouraging alternatives to cement in construction.
10. Ensure that East Midlands Hydrogen plans only use “green” hydrogen and deploy this where it’s an appropriate, effective technology, recognising that direct electrification provides the most efficient and flexible energy transfer medium in many cases. Ensure plans to use hydrogen for home heating aren’t pursued.