Climate Action Plan for the next Mayor of the West of England

What can the next 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 next Mayor of the West of England 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.

The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has set targets in its Climate and Ecological Strategy and Action Plan 2023 to achieve net zero and a 30% increase in wildlife abundance by 2030. Analysis by Climate Emergency UK shows that WECA’s action on climate is variable, with good scores for supporting green jobs and raising funds for retrofitting but low scores on transport and renewable energy, for example. In addition, its own draft indicators show there’s a long way to go. It’s clear that action needs to be accelerated in several areas, including improving public transport. This Climate Action Plan will help the next Mayor do this using the devolved powers and funding granted to them. 

How green is the West of England?

10 priorities for the next 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. Ramp up action to 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 public housing investment to deliver zero-carbon homes in locations accessible by public transport and active travel.
5. Take a leading role in accelerating action to bring 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 to double cycling and walking within the next 10 years. Step up action to meet these targets, including investing in the right infrastructure, and working with networks and active travel groups to enable equitable access to safe walking and cycling in local neighbourhoods.
7. Lead the development of a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) to increase the supply of clean, renewable energy, including renewed support for community energy initiatives and the roll-out of heat pumps.
8. Ensure that the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for the area (the WECA Local Nature Recovery Strategy and Toolkit) is effectively implemented to increase tree cover, protect and enhance nature, eliminate green space deprivation, and help 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. Make public transport work for local people through enacting public control in the West of England via bus franchising. Launch the formal investigation of bus franchising by the end of 2025, enabling reliable, affordable and better-connected public transport as a key measure to help restore bus services to at least 2010 levels.