The government’s White Paper on devolution envisages major changes in the organisation of local government in Hampshire and elsewhere in England – the creation of large strategic authorities, and the abolition of districts and county councils and their replacement with unitary authorities.

We do not yet know the boundaries of the new unitary authorities will be in Hampshire, but there is very likely to be a new Hampshire strategic authority.

We are grateful to Winchester Action on Climate Change (WinACC) and the Hampshire Climate Action Network (of which ACAN is a member) for launching a campaign to ensure that climate and nature are at the top of the agenda for the new strategic authorities. https://www.winacc.org.uk/hampshire-climate-action-network-responding-locally/

The new strategic authority will be responsible for so much that is closely connected to climate change. So it is disappointing that the proposed duties on environment and climate change are very limited.

Hampshire Climate Action Network and South East Climate Alliance have coordinated 13 climate networks across England to send this letter to the Government Ministers for local government and for the climate, asking them to give the new strategic authorities a duty and a mandate to take the lead on climate and nature.

Please support this campaign by writing to our MP, Damian Hinds.