CLIMATE change protestors have named and shamed Southend Council as one of 100 authorities accused of failing to do enough to tackle the problem.

Lawyers from campaigners ClientEarth are putting 105 local authorities across England on notice, warning them that they will violate their legal obligations and risk legal challenges if they do not introduce proper climate change plans.

Thurrock Council was also named.

The organisation plan to write to Southend Council to demand answers over how they will make carbon reduction targets central to their long-term housing strategies, known as local plans.

Councillor Carole Mulroney, who has responsibility for climate change, claimed the council is dedicated to meeting environmental targets but more support is needed from central Government.

She said: “At its September meeting the cabinet will be considering a motion to declare a climate change emergency which has all party support.

“This commits the council itself to achieve net zero carbon by 2030, if not earlier, and to work with the community and other agencies to achieve the same target borough-wide.

“Local plans work to a statutory cycle and the Southend plan is in its early stages. We are well aware of the obligations which need to be taken into account in that process and already have an approved vision for all our work aimed at 2050. “This includes climate change issues.

“All these efforts do not come easy or cheaply so we will be calling on Government to give all councils the necessary funding to reach the targets.

“You cannot keep cutting funding and expect the council to continue to provide all its services and also advance these very important commitments.”

ClientEarth climate lawyer Sam Hunter Jones said: “So many of the daily decisions around new and existing infrastructure – such as new buildings, roads and utilities – are made at the local level.

“All of these decisions will ‘lock in’ an area’s future emissions and its resilience to climate change.

“Scientists warn that we have ten years to transform our economies and avoid catastrophic climate change, but decisions that will have ramifications for decades are being made now by authorities with no idea if these decisions are consistent with national and international commitments to limit emissions.

“In July this year, the committee on climate change criticised the UK’s continued failure to take action on emissions from buildings and transport – two sectors where local planning plays a critical role.”

Thurrock Council has been contacted for comment after also being named in the list by ClientEarth.