Most climate-friendly councils in the East revealed

  • Anglia

  • How green is your local authority?

The most climate-friendly councils in the East of England are Colchester, Ipswich and West Suffolk, according to new research.

The report by Friends of the Earth also revealed the councils not doing so well include Mid Suffolk, Southend and Tendring.

Councils were assessed in different categories including renewable energy, public transport, lift-sharing, energy efficiency at home, waste recycling, and woodland cover.

The new research means that anyone can look up how climate-friendly their local authority is.

Councils were judged on a range of issues including recycling. Credit: ITV News Anglia

How well has your council performed?

Performance on climate change by local authority in the East of England (inc Northamptonshire)

  • Colchester 84%

  • Ipswich 84%

  • West Suffolk 84%

  • Milton Keynes 84%

  • North Hertfordshire 80%

  • Norwich 80%

  • East Suffolk 76%

  • Huntingdonshire 76%

  • Peterborough 76%

  • Corby 76%

  • South Northamptonshire 76%

  • Basildon 72%

  • South Cambridgeshire 72%

  • Kettering 72%

  • Bedford 68%

  • Broadland 68%

  • Cambridge 68%

  • Central Bedfordshire 68%

  • Dacorum 68%

  • Hertsmere 68%

  • St Albans 68%

  • Stevenage 68%

  • Three Rivers 68%

  • Watford 68%

  • Daventry 68%

  • Braintree 64%

  • Breckland 64%

  • Chelmsford 64%

  • King's Lynn and West Norfolk 64%

  • Welwyn Hatfield 64%

  • East Northamptonshire 64%

  • Rutland 64%

  • Babergh 60%

  • East Hertfordshire 60%

  • Fenland 60%

  • Maldon 60%

  • North Norfolk 60%

  • South Norfolk 60%

  • Northampton 60%

  • Wellingborough 60%

  • Broxbourne 56%

  • Castle Point 56%

  • East Cambridgeshire 56%

  • Epping Forest 56%

  • Great Yarmouth 56%

  • Harlow 56%

  • Thurrock 56%

  • Uttlesford 56%

  • Luton 52%

  • Mid Suffolk 52%

  • Rochford 52%

  • Southend -on -Sea 52%

  • Tendring 52%

  • Brentwood 48%

Note on scoring: Scores across the climate related issues are combined to give each local authority a comparative combined score which is converted into a percentage of the possible highest score.

Does your council plant trees? Credit: ITV News Anglia

Craig Bennett, Friends of the Earth chief executive, said: “The bottom line is that we have to act in line with the scale of change needed because it’s our responsibility to hand on a better environment for the next generation.

“All local authorities however they are performing need to ramp up what they are doing. We know we are facing a climate and ecological emergency that threatens our existence and the natural word. If we want to change things for the better, let’s start at home.

“Creating cleaner and greener places to live means healthier, happier lives. It’s why local authorities in the East of England need to adopt really ambitious local climate action plans, with help from local communities. And national government needs to get in gear and support local authorities to take action.”

A recycling collection in Essex. Credit: ITV News Anglia

  • Click below to hear from Craig Bennett, Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth