Collaboration & Engagement (CA)

Criteria met if the combined authority has published a climate action plan that covers the area and includes references to SMART targets since September 2015.

Points awarded for each of the following criteria:
- The combined authority has published an annual report since 1st January 2023
- The annual report is easy-to-read
- The annual report includes reporting on progress towards the council's Climate Action Plan SMART targets.

Criteria met if the combined authority has commissioned, written and published a study of different decarbonisation pathways and scenarios to reach net zero carbon across the region by the local area-wide target.

Criteria met if the combined authority has sent a letter or had a meeting with national or devolved governments calling for the government to take further action, or asking for councils and combined authorities to receive more funding, powers and climate resources to take climate action since 1st January 2023.

Two-tier criteria
First tier criteria met for signing or supporting at least 2 open letters or public statements, including those led by other combined authorities or organisations since 1st January 2023.

Second tier criteria met if the combined authority or its mayor has led at least one open letter or public statement since 1st January 2023.

Two-tier criteria
First tier criteria met if the council is a member of any one of the following organisations or has contributed to one case study of the following organisations.

Second tier criteria met if the council:
- is a member of 3 or more of the following organisations
- has contributed to case studies with 3 of more of the following organisations.
- any combination of the above.

Membership organisations:
- UK100 (Including the Countryside Climate Network)
- ADEPT
- Blueprint Coalition
- ICLEI
- Carbon Neutral Cities
- UK Green Building Council
- Sustainable Scotland Network
- Carbon Disclosure Project (including submitting to the CDP since 2019)

Case studies:
- Friends of the Earth & Ashden case studies
- LGA (Local Government Association) climate change case studies
- UK100 case studies
- WRAP case studies

Two-tier criteria
First tier criteria met if the council has established a way for residents to influence the implementation of the council's climate action. This may be through:
- a community engagement group
- introducing community, resident or activist representation on a council climate change committee/group
- convening or using a local climate action network to improve the implementation of their climate action plan
- broader forms of community engagement work such as a series of workshops across the area for different groups of residents.

Second tier criteria met if there is an overarching framework such as a dedicated climate public engagement plan to inform this work.

Two-tier criteria
First tier criteria met if the combined authority's ongoing engagement (under 5a) specifically aims to engage those most affected by climate change and climate action policies.

Second tier criteria met if the combined authority's climate action plan has undergone an equalities impact assessment to identify who is most affected by climate change and climate action policies.

Criteria met if the combined authority has funded or commissioned area-wide research to increase understanding of the local challenge and support constituent councils.

Criteria met if the combined authority has created a climate commission or other similar body, to bring together experts and stakeholders, provide independent advice and guide climate policy in the area.

Criteria met if the combined authority has 3 or more schemes to provide free support or free tailored advice to businesses in the local area to decarbonise, including through collaborative measures with local businesses, other local authorities, or via the Local Enterprise Partnership.

One single overarching scheme with three different approaches to support local businesses will also be awarded the point.

A point will be awarded if the combined authority has made a commitment to ban high carbon advertising on ad sites it controls by introducing a low carbon advertising and sponsorship policy or similar.

We will be publishing the criteria for this question shortly.