London, Glasgow and Bristol are among cities across the world striving to meet net zero targets well ahead of what national governments seem prepared to do, judging by the outcomes of COP27 says Martina Juvara. But global frameworks are urgently needed to provide a clearer strategic plan for the work at local level to integrate with national and international approaches – and enable the funding streams required to back up the actions of urban and regional authorities, she argues.

“We are on a highway to climate hell, with the foot still on the accelerator,” said Antonio Guterrez, UN Secretary General, opening of the COP27 summit in Sharm el-Shiekh at the beginning of November(1). He might have said the same thing at the end of the event, given the lack of pressure being applied to the brake.