Energy-sustainable cities: councils have the vision, but now need help

Researchers at the University of Leeds have found that while UK local authorities are willing to think strategically about energy sustainability, their limited resources make it difficult to act. A study published in the journal Energy Policy , shows that while local authorities may have a vision to make cities sustainable in terms of energy use, it is difficult to implement a strategy to make this happen during this challenging time for local government. The researchers used the City of Leeds as a case study to represent typical local city government in the UK. They conducted in-depth s with senior Leeds City Council managers and other stakeholders involved in energy-related projects across Leeds to find out if there was a will – and a way – to think strategically about energy use, from street lighting to the fuel consumption of waste collection vehicles. They found that key stakeholders across Leeds recognised the benefits of thinking strategically about energy and showed a strong desire to realise these benefits. But the study also revealed that like so many city councils across the UK, Leeds is struggling to turn its vision into reality. This is largely because the local authority is lacking the human resources and the start-up funds needed for such a strategic effort.