21 January 2011

Keeping sustainability at the top of the local government agenda
Cuts aren't a reason to abandon green initiatives, argues Alexis Rowell (Guardian). In fact, they could help councils save money and live the 'big society'

With local government in meltdown mode over the draconian cuts being imposed by the coalition government it's increasingly hard to find councils prepared to take action on sustainability. Everyone defines sustainability differently I say it's about humankind learning to live with nature rather than in opposition to it but however you define it, it's clearly more than just the need for carbon reduction. And it doesn't always lend itself to being counted, which is tough in the present climate. Basically if you can't count it or it's not a statutory requirement, then you're in trouble.

Carbon will be ok. There's the government's CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme which will keep the biggest councils thinking about carbon past the decision to scrap CO2-based, and other, performance indicators. A few, more ambitious councils, have framed carbon in terms of energy security and the future price of energy, eg Nottingham's peak oil motion and Bristol's Peak Oil report.

But for most councils it's going to be simple if it saves money, then they'll do it. If not, they won't. And the luxury of a sustainability team will be hard to justify. But that's an incredibly short-term way of looking at things; lots of the sustainability agenda is also about cutting costs in the medium term.

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