Council improves its score in Climate Action scorecards
Lancaster City Council has once again been recognised as a leader in climate action, achieving a score of 64% in the 2025 Climate Emergency UK Scorecards – the best of any council in the north west.
2025 climate action scorecard
This marks an increase on the council’s 2023 score (61%), and is also only four percent behind Winchester City Council, which was the highest performing district in the country with 68%.
The council scored higher in the Buildings and Heating category, reflecting continued investment in improving energy efficiency across its estate. This work has included the replacement of gas boilers with heat pumps, installation of secondary glazing and solar panels, along with improved insulation.
The lowest scoring area was Transport, a result that is not a surprise given that Lancaster City Council is not a transport authority and does not have direct control over major transport infrastructure or policy. However, the council continues to work positively with its partners including Lancashire County Council to support improvements in sustainable travel and active transport options.
Councillor Sam Riches, cabinet member for climate action, welcomed the results: “We are proud to have improved our score and this reflects the hard work of our officers and the shared commitment from councillors in taking real action on projects that help to mitigate the effects of climate change.
“At the same time, we know there is still much more to do and our Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) provides a detailed roadmap for decarbonisation. Our plans for the future include further retrofitting of council-owned buildings, expanding solar installations, and looking at opportunities for new green infrastructure projects that benefit both the climate and our communities and can also lead to lower costs.”
The Climate Action Scorecards assess local authorities across seven areas including buildings, transport, planning, governance, biodiversity, waste, and community engagement.
Lancaster’s continued strong performance is attributed to its strategic focus on place-based action, collaboration, and sustainability.
• To view the full scorecard information visit https://councilclimatescorecards.uk/scoring/district
Last updated: 18 June 2025