Governance & Finance (CA)

Criteria met if climate action (alternatively called Sustainability or Environment) is listed as one of the combined authority's core priorities or equivalent. It must have its own heading or section and a net zero target date must be referenced.

The net-zero target date must be an area-wide target, either the UK Government's national target, the devolved nation's target or the combined authority's area-wide net zero target.

Criteria met if climate action (alternatively called sustainability or environment) is listed as one of the combined authority's core priorities or equivalent. It must have its own heading or section and a net-zero target date must be referenced.

The net-zero target date must be an area-wide target, either the UK Government's national target, the devolved nation's target or the combined authority's area-wide net-zero target.

Criteria met if climate action (alternatively called sustainability or environment) is listed as one of the combined authority's core priorities or equivalent. It must have its own heading or section and a net-zero target date must be referenced.

The net-zero target date must be an area-wide target, either the UK Government's national target, the devolved nation's target or the combined authority's area-wide net-zero target.

This can be part of the combined authority's overall risk register, or a stand alone document.
Point would be awarded if the local authority includes climate related risk on their wider risk register.

We are looking for how they are incorporating climate risks as part of its adaptation to climate change therefore we will only accept explicit references to climate environmental risks in the local area (such as flooding, extreme heat, migration, air pollution or others).

Criteria met if the combined authority is reporting its own emissions and fulfill all of the following:
- It states whether they are using the Environmental Reporting Guidelines from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) or Business and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the GCoM Common Reporting Framework (CRF), the Greenhouse Gas Accounting Tool (from the LGA), the Greenhouse Gas Protocol for Cities (Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories) or for Corporate Standards to develop their inventory.

They must state whether they are using either,
- the inventory must cover a continuous period of 12 months, either a calendar year or a financial year
- there must be data from 2019 and 2021 (or the financial year 2021/22)
- they must be measuring their own scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions

Three tier criteria
Combined authority must meet the minimum criteria of question 3a to be able to get points for this question.

Criteria met if, using the combined authority's own reporting mechanisms, there has been a 5% or more reduction of scope 1 and 2 emissions when comparing 2019 to 2021 (or financial years 2018/19 to 2021/22) data.

Additional points awarded if this emission reduction has been 10% or more, or further points if the reduction has been 20% or more.

Further points awarded if there has been any reduction from scope 3 emissions.

We recognise that there is currently no standard way that all combined authorities use to report on emissions. We will score combined authorities own calculations, despite the differences, as long as they fulfill the requirements in 3a.

Three tier criteria
Criteria met if the combined authority has had a 2% or more emission reduction from 2019 to 2021 data.

Additional points awarded if the emission reduction is more than 5%, or further points if the reduction is more than 10% from 2019 to 2021.

Two tier criteria
Criteria met if climate implications are listed or referenced for all combined authority decisions at their full meetings. Climate implications can be considered through Environmental Implications or an Integrated Impact Assessment if this includes a climate or environmental sub-heading or section.

Additional points if the combined authority is using a detailed impact assessment tool to assess the climate implications of all combined authority decisions.

Three tier criteria
Criteria met if the combined authority has a stand alone environmental or sustainable procurement policy, or a complete section on Sustainable or Responsible Procurement, Climate Change and Action or something similar, within their procurement policy that includes the following.

Two or more of the following criteria A must be met to meet the minimum criteria for this point:
The policy makes explicit reference to the combined authority's Climate Action Plan and zero carbon targets.
The policy requests to see the carbon reduction plan of the supplier in the tendering process or asks the supplier to detail any specific steps taken in the design and manufacture of the services to increase energy efficiency and reduce any detrimental environmental impacts.
The policy encourages or requires suppliers, through selection processes, to adopt processes and procedures to reduce their environmental impact, including energy consumption and associated carbon emissions, where practicable. For example a combined authority might allocate 5% or more of the tendering overall evaluation score to the environmental actions of the tenderer (the supplier’s contribution to carbon reduction within their own operations or other actions)
The policy encourages or requires suppliers, through selection processes, to adopt circular economy processes and procedures where practical.

Additional points if the combined authority has a mandatory requirement for tenders to do any of the following (criteria B):
Demonstrate how they will meet energy efficiency requirements or minimise energy consumption
Demonstrate how they will minimise waste in their products and services. This could be through recycled, natural, biodegradable or renewable materials being used, through not using single use plastic or other non-recyclable materials or through ensuring products and services last for as long as possible.

Additional points if the combined authority's procurement policy includes any of the following (criteria C):
The combined authority aims to source low or zero carbon energy wherever possible.
The combined authority aims to phase out the use of fossil fuels from their fleet.
The combined authority references the waste hierarchy in its policy, for example by stating that it encourages the combined authority to consider if repeat procurement requests are always needed.

Criteria met if the combined authority has a role such as Chair of Environment Committee or any title or portfolio holder with the words climate change, climate action, climate emergency, environmental sustainability, environment or similar in it.
This role can be merged with another role, such as environment and transport or split across multiple roles, such as one named person for sustainable transport and another for low carbon energy.
Related role names are valid, such as: (Deputy Portfolio Holder) Low Carbon and Renewable Energy.

Criteria is met if there are multiple staff members employed on 3 days a week or more to be working on the combined authority's Climate Action Plan or other climate change projects equating to a given % of the overall staff team.

Data is not currently available to benchmark the exact % of staff that are working on implementing their Climate Action Plan or other climate change projects that will be valid for the points. This will be published with the complete methodology when the Scorecard results are published.

Criteria is met if all senior management or equivalent have received climate awareness, carbon literacy or equivalent training.

Point awarded if the combined authority has established a community climate action fund by attracting external investment or similar, provided the following criteria are met:
- The fund is at least £100k or higher
- The financing of the fund has come from attracting external investment
The fund is accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises and/or the public sector
- More general community or environment funds will be awarded if they specify that climate change projects will be supported.

To account for funding released in stages, the point will be awarded if the funding or support has been offered since 1st January 2022.

Two tier criteria
Points awarded if the motion supports the divestment of the combined authority's own investments.

Points also awarded if the motion supports the divestment of the combined authority's pension investments.

Two tier criteria
Criteria met if the combined authority's pension fund has committed to partially divesting. For example, it has committed to divesting only from coal, tar sands or oil before 2030.

Additional points if the pension fund has committed to divest from all fossil fuels before 2030.