Taking the heat out of local climate action:

As leaders, cabinet members, councillors, and candidates* seeking election to local and regional authorities, we, the undersigned, in the interests of promoting healthy local democracies and collaborative climate policymaking, commit to:

• Rise above party politics when addressing the climate crisis, recognising that it transcends political divides and requires collaborative action.
• Support an evidence-based, rational climate conversation by resisting the urge to drag climate policies into culture wars or use misinformation as a tool for division. We call on national politicians to do the same.
• Acknowledge the dangers associated with a rising tide of climate misinformation and endeavour to counter it by providing accurate, accessible information about climate policies and the need for urgent local action. And proactively communicate the benefits of these measures while addressing legitimate concerns.
• Champion the role of local authorities in driving the transition to Net Zero, working in partnership with central government, businesses, and civil society to deliver inclusive, equitable place-based solutions.
• Engage residents, civil society and businesses in the co-design of local climate action plans, using best practice guidance to enable meaningful participation in shaping the future of our communities.
• Recognise that local authorities are constrained and will need to make difficult decisions. While accountability is essential to local democracy, we will scrutinise with an understanding that our shared goal is to learn from our mistakes and advance climate action by improving delivery.

*UK100 and the Mission Zero Coalition will work to validate the signatures of this petition to confirm their identity and that they are: a leader or elected Mayor, Cabinet Member, councillor or candidate in the 2024 local elections.