New European project to help deliver UK's ambitious carbon targets

Published by Fiona Mannion for TCPA in Environment and also in Central Government, Communities, Local Government

In the week following from the Energy and Climate Change Secretary’s announcement for radical new targets to halve the UK’s carbon emissions by 2025, a network of 10 local authorities and organisations from 7 European countries, led by the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA), has won funding to deliver a project to promote the transition to a low carbon economy.  

The overall aim of the LEAP (Leadership for Energy Action and Planning)project is to build the capacity of European Union (EU) local authorities as key actors in accelerating the local uptake of sustainable energy measures and the move towards a low-carbon local economy. It will do this by addressing the barriers to progress in tackling climate change and sustainable energy deployment, focusing on professional and political leadership, skills and knowledge, clear policy messages, and resources.

Local authorities, including the two UK local authorities participating in the LEAP project (Cornwall Council and Southampton City Council), will be at the forefront of delivering the Government’s ambitions for a 50% emissions cut averaged across the years 2023 to 2027, compared with 1990 levels  - the toughest in the developed world.

However, local authorities face dual challenges of severe constraints in public spending coupled with a limited institutional capacity to meet tighter regulatory frameworks.  The LEAP project will help overcome these obstacles. Learning from each other through a combination of experienced and learning partners, this project aims to strengthen local authorities by helping them to stimulate ideas on ways to overcome barriers to deliver much needed sustainable energy projects (both energy efficiency and renewable energy).

Diane Smith added:

“The timing of the LEAP project could not be any more critical.  While facing severe budget cuts, local authorities and their communities are at the forefront of delivering on the UK’s ambitious carbon targets as well as those set in the EU. This project will break down the barriers to knowledge and expertise for sustainable energy projects by focusing on building the leadership capacity of local authorities.”

Kate Henderson, TCPA Chief Executive said:

After a highly competitive bidding process we are delighted that the LEAP project has won funding from the European Union Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) funding stream. It is a testimony to the TCPA’s growing experience in European projects and the hard work of all our partners. “

“Planning can make a major contribution to tackling climate change by shaping decisions for new and existing development which reduces carbon emissions and provides positive solutions, such as renewable energy projects. European projects, such as LEAP, allow the furthering of knowledge and exchange of best practice that are essential if we are to deliver a step change in how we plan for our future energy needs.”

Bill Clark, Sustainability Policy Manager, Southampton City Council said:

“Southampton City Council is delighted to be a part of the innovative and important LEAP project. We are working steadily to ensure our city is resilient to the effects of climate change. By sharing best practice and advancing the knowledge and expertise of partners through the project, as well as decisions makers, politicians and communities, we will be able to make a more informed and strategic response to delivering sustainable energy solutions.”

Partners will be meeting for the first time in Croatia this week to kick off the project which will run from May 2011 until October 2013. LEAP is being co-financed by the Intelligent Energy - Europe IEE programme which is managed by the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) on behalf of the European Commission. A website will be available in due course at www.leap-eu.org