This will become more and more important, as ability to emit becomes scarcer. The Lake District National Park Authority has developed a local carbon budget with partners, and both West Sussex County Council and LB Haringey are working towards one, while Friends of the Earth has received considerable senior support within local government for its campaign for local carbon budgets4; this requires close collaboration with partners, residents, businesses and civil society. Vision and narrative When we try to grasp the need to rapidly reduce the current level of emissions in the locality, the need for a vision of a low-carbon place is clear. Some authorities, working with partners, have begun to develop these, and there are a number of techniques that can be used. The most difficult aspect is finding narratives to present a low-carbon future that does not sound overtly twee or ʻhairshirtʼ. How can we imagine a future that factors in the values and expectations – such as privacy and choice – that we have come to expect in the developed world? Lifestyles This is the most challenging area for local government. We are getting used to having a pro-active role in initiatives to change behaviour, for example promoting modal shift towards more sustainable forms of transport away from car use. However, addressing the fact that half of the emissions for which we are responsible as individuals is due to manufacturing and consumption is no mean feat. You will struggle to find an elected member who is comfortable with ʻtelling people how to live their livesʼ. But, along with all tiers of government and all sectors, we have to start engaging at this level, working out how to make it normal to buy less, share more, and repair not replace. +++++++ With radically reduced resources, local government is in the process of redesigning services to support resilient communities, individuals and families – the only way a big society can thrive. I see very little difference between the reality of a sustainable, low-carbon community and the sort of community described by those leading on the re-design of local services and governance. For example, a resilient community will be sheltered from food and energy insecurity, will have strong capacity and social capital, and waste little. That sounds like a low-carbon, sustainable place. These are the places of the future. In local government, we can help create them.
4 See Friends of the Earth Briefing: Local Carbon Budgets (December 2010)