National level

The UK Government is responding to the climate change challenge by establishing clear principles and a policy framework for local authority action.

Work is also underway at the national level to establish the financial and institutional framework that enables local implementation of these policies, stimulating new skills development and promoting new economic and employment opportunities.

National policies and legislation:

• Climate Change Act, 2008 – sets statutory carbon reduction targets and climate adaptation requirements
• Planning Act, 2008 – introduces a statutory duty to include climate change policies in the regional spatial strategies and local development frameworks
• Energy Act, 2008 – provides the enabling legislative framework for underpinning the long term delivery of the UK’s energy and climate change strategy
• Planning Policy Statement 1 Climate Change Supplement and Practice Guidance places climate change at the heart of the planning system
• Energy Performance Certificates and Display Energy Certificates provide information on energy performance of buildings – if collated and analysed, these provide an invaluable data bank
• Zero carbon new build targets for homes and other buildings – currently under consultation.

In addition, the UK Sustainable Development Strategy set out the principles and priorities for sustainable development in the UK.

The Strategy’s guiding principles are:

• living within environmental limits
• ensuring a strong and just society
• achieving a sustainable economy
• promoting good governance
• using sound science responsibly.

The Strategy sets out shared priorities for the UK:

• sustainable consumption and production (‘One Planet Economy’)
• climate change and energy
• natural resource protection and environmental enhancement
• sustainable communities.

More about the national scale

Advice at the national level

Advice for sustainable design and management at the national scale.

Examples at the national level

Examples of sustainable design and management at the national scale.