Opinion: Devolution is Coming – Let’s Make It Work for Climate and Nature
Opinion: Devolution is Coming – Let’s Make It Work for Climate and Nature
This is a personal opinion piece by Cat Fisher (see below)
Early in April, Climate:Change organised a public meeting that asked: ‘How can devolution in Brighton and Hove work for Climate and Nature?‘ As chair of the meeting, I did not have the answer — and, as it turns out, I was not the only one.
When asked whether devolution and local government reform would be positive or negative for climate and nature, over half of the hundred people attending the meeting were not sure. By the end of the discussion, optimism had grown — but uncertainty remained, and a quarter still feared that devolution could set us back.
This matters. Like it or not, devolution is coming — and fast. The likely creation of the Sussex and Brighton Mayoral Combined Council Authority (MCCA) in 2026 will reshape how local decisions are made.
For proponents of devolution, the benefits are clear. Sussex will gain a stronger voice in national debates. Regional coordination will enable smoother decision-making across transport, health, housing, and economic growth. But whether devolution accelerates or hinders climate action and nature restoration is far from guaranteed.
Yes, mayors have environmental responsibilities baked into their remit. But ambition varies, and how those powers are used will depend on who holds them and the priorities they choose. As Matthew Fright from the Institute for Government pointed out at the meeting, some mayors have been powerful conveners of climate action. Others have not — and mayoral powers could just as easily be used to override environmental protections as to advance them.
Discussion at the meeting suggests that if opportunity of devolution is to be harnessed to accelerate a move towards a climate and nature compatible society in Sussex, it needs to feature robust, ambitious local leadership with real powers, adequate resources that enable longer term planning, embedded climate targets, accountability and transparency.
There are real opportunities — but only if we seize them. In the dizzying dash toward devolution, there is a serious risk that climate and nature could be left behind. That is a challenge for all of us working on environmental issues. It is also a call to arms. We need to get our act together — fast — and speak with a common voice. Can we rise to the moment?
Where is the Potential?
Regional-level planning is perhaps the most obvious gain. It enables action at a larger scale than existing local governance allows, yet more contextualised than national policy.
Key opportunities for regional planning include:
Natural resource management: Landscape-scale restoration of the South Downs, rivers, and coastline is currently fragmented across multiple authorities. A Sussex-wide approach could remove these barriers.
Energy strategy: A regional mix of renewables and energy planning makes Net Zero more achievable.
Integrated transport: Manchester’s unified public transport system is a flagship achievement. The mix of rural and urban contexts in Sussex will differ, but the value of joined-up transport planning beyond city-level is undeniable.
These are promising areas — but they were not fully explored in the meeting, and they raise new questions. What would need to be built into the MCCA design to accelerate progress and manage trade-offs. Who is doing that thinking?
One area not covered at the meeting, but with huge potential, is the creation of Regional Land Use Frameworks. Already underway in Scotland, these frameworks are strategic plans for managing competing land demands — housing, farming, nature, energy — while delivering regional carbon budgets, restoring ecosystems, and linking up fragmented habitats. Done well, they could be a game-changer for climate action and nature regeneration in Sussex.
Devolution also opens the door to holistic, outcomes-based policymaking — something our current system sorely lacks and the climate and nature crisis demands. Brighton & Hove City Council’s response to the devolution consultation argues
‘The proposed scope of powers and functions covered by the MCCA, and the inclusion of climate and the environment amongst them, should enable the MCCA to take a holistic view and bring about improvements that balance environmental, economic and social needs, rather than working in a siloed manner.’
The move toward a ‘single settlement’ funding model — where regions receive one flexible budget rather than ring-fenced pots — could help make this possible.
We have already seen what is possible: Andy Burnham’s approach to tackling serious violence in Manchester through public health, education, housing, and community engagement shows the power of devolved, joined-up solutions. Imagine if we applied that mindset to climate resilience or biodiversity recovery.
But — and this is critical — none of this is guaranteed. The structural design of devolution over the coming months, undertaken in interaction between national and local government, will set the terms for what is possible. Devolution will be shaped not just by policy, but by who gets organised, who lobbies, who throws their hat in the mayoral ring.
What is Needed to Realise the Potential?
At the Climate:Change meeting, Chris Holloway from South East Climate Alliance (SECA) made the point plainly: environmental organisations must work together now to ensure that climate and nature are built into the very foundations of devolution.
So what could we collectively call for?
At a high level, there is reasonable agreement on what is required. Analysis from SECA and Friends of the Earth include these core elements:
A statutory duty on all levels of local government to deliver on climate and adaptation targets. Requires high levels of ambition aligned with national commitments. Backed up by clarity of roles and collaboration between national and local government, delivery and accountability mechanisms, and adequate finance.
Clear climate and nature outcomes embedded in devolution deals, not as optional extras— to drive green growth, low-carbon infrastructure, and nature-positive investment. Embedding climate and nature outcomes will provide protection as power and financing is increasingly handed over, whoever is in charge. Given the potential trade-offs and competing agendas, it is likely that this will be a contested area.
Strong public engagement mechanisms. It would be a catastrophic missed opportunity if this dramatic shake up of local governance did not seek to address the distance between people and politics. Friends of the Earth argue that tackling environmental inequalities should be an aim in all devolution deals, with a requirement to engage communities hit hardest by the impacts of climate change. Approaches such as Citizens’ assemblies, participatory budgeting, and community mapping need to be considered and built in from the start — not retrofitted.
The Climate: Change public meeting felt like an early discussion. We concluded that when it comes to devolution, the devil is in the detail. There is more detailed thinking being done, but more is required and it needs to happen quickly if it is to shape devolution deals and mayoral candidates priorities.
The time frame is tight. A government-led consultation on devolution for Sussex and Brighton ran from 17 February to 13 April and is now closed. Next steps are as follows.
Late spring 2025: The results of the consultation will be shared with B&H Council, followed by a Ministerial decision on whether to proceed with a MCCA for Sussex.
September 2025: Deadline for detailed proposal for the Sussex and Brighton MCCA , this will feature structural elements including governance arrangements and approach to protection of natural environment. B&H council will run engagement events and exercises until September overseen by Cllr John Hewitt, Cabinet Adviser on Devolution & Local Government Reorganisation for B&H Council.
May 2026: Mayoral elections. Candidates have not yet been selected, although a number of people have declared their interest, including former MPs Tim Loughton and Sally-Ann Hart, Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, and former leader of the Council, Dan Yates
We do not have the luxury of time, which reinforces the need for joined up action and information sharing.
The South East Climate Alliance is working on what is needed, coordinating regionally, lobbying locally, regionally and nationally for climate and nature to be central in devolution. Hanover Action Group is already part of that effort and they are looking to build the movement. Find out more
Who else is working on this within Brighton and Hove? What are you considering, who is involved and what are your plans for influencing the process? How might you join forces with others to maximise your impact on the design and implementation of devolution?
____________
Further information on devolution, and climate and nature
Devolution in Sussex Brighton & Hove City Council updated resource
Why climate and nature must be embedded in English Devolution (2024) Friends of the Earth
Net zero and devolution: The role of England’s mayors in the climate transition (2023) Alex Nice and Tom Sasse, Institute for Government
How can devolution deliver on environmental ambition? (Sept 2024) Webinar event summarised into a blog Blueprint Coalition / ADEPT
Nine things we learned from the English devolution white paper (Dec 2024). Institute for Government
English Devolution White Paper Explainer ( March 2025) Centre for Governance and Scrunity (CFGS)
How the government can support better decision making in mayoral combined authorities (March 2025) Rebecca McKee and Briony Allen Institute for Government
Cat Fisher is an independent consultant. She leads on devolution for Climate:Change
Perspective pieces are the responsibility of the authors, and do not commit Climate:Change in any way.
Photo credit: Cathy Maxwell