The Centre for Climate Engagement (CCE) is working with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), supporting the region in the delivery of its five-year climate plan.
The project will start in April 2026 with a series of workshops focused on identifying where the Combined Authority and its seven Metropolitan Boroughs have control and/or influence over emissions sources. This analysis will help ensure that climate targets, delivery plans and investment priorities are grounded in areas where meaningful action can be taken.
The work utilises the first element of the Locally Determined Contributions (LDC) toolkit, originally created in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council and its constituent local authority partners. Funded through Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Programme, the LDC toolkit enables local areas to set and deliver place-specific, realistic and transparent climate targets that are capable of being aligned with national net zero goals.
CCE’s policy team will now apply this place-based framework to support WMCA in strengthening the alignment between its climate ambitions, delivery mechanisms and investment strategy. Workshops will be held in April to cover the topics of waste, agriculture and land use, domestic and public sector buildings, industrial/commercial buildings, energy, and transport.
Dr Karen Barrass, Head of Policy at CCE said:
“By combining practical governance tools with strategic systems thinking, we’re aiming to support WMCA finesse its ambitious programme of work, and support the delivery of credible, locally grounded climate action that can also contribute to national carbon reduction targets meaningfully.”
For further information about the project or the LDC toolkit please contact: LDC@hughes.cam.ac.uk
About the Centre for Climate Engagement
The Centre for Climate Engagement plays a unique role in bringing leading academic research and expert practitioner insights on climate law, policy and governance to senior decision makers in the legal, business, finance and policy-making communities. As a Bridge Initiative at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, CCE is uniquely positioned at the intersection of research and practice. Our work supports emerging research in climate law, policy, governance, and organisational change, providing evidence-based analysis tailored to decision-makers. This research is conducted both directly by postdoctoral researchers and through collaborations with academic and industry experts.
Headline image of a workshop in Cambridgeshire