Actions agreed to protect the local environment

Published: Thursday 17 March 2022

Environmental action plans to tackle climate change, improve air quality and increase biodiversity have been approved by the Council’s Leadership Team.

After an eight-week consultation with residents, the three action plans have been confirmed, demonstrating how the Council will reach targets set out in its Green Plan. More than 200 people took part in surveys and events as part of the consultation. Actions include:

  • decarbonising homes and schools
  • improving active travel
  • creating new wildlife habitats
  • community owned solar projects
  • making information about levels of air pollution more accessible.

It was also announced on Wednesday 16 March that the Council was one of 21 local authorities nationwide to be awarded support through the Local Climate Engagement programme. The Council will get training, mentoring and peer learning sessions on public engagement in climate decision making to help better engage local people on the climate emergency. The programme is being run by five organisations: Involve; UK100, the Democratic Society, Shared Future CIC and Climate Outreach.

Cllr Johnny Thalassites, Lead Member for Planning, Place and Environment, said:

“We have signed up to hundreds of actions to tackle climate change, improve air quality and increase biodiversity.

“We know we cannot reach our ambitious goals alone – it’s going to take action from all of society. Training through the Climate Emergency Programme will give our officers and councillors new expertise on how we can make environment issues real for local people and help even more members of our community get involved in climate decision making, protecting the environment for the future.”

The new Air Quality Action Plan sets out to meet the National Air Quality Objectives and the 2005 World Health Organisation Guideline Values. Air quality is monitored across the borough and data is reviewed regularly to see the impact our collective actions are having. The Action Plan seeks to reduce emissions from transport, buildings and planning developments, including projects to increase active travel, tackle idling engines and remove parking bays to accommodate al fresco dining. Air quality audits in schools will introduce measures to reduce children’s exposure to pollution. Reducing emissions from woodburning will seek to improve indoor air quality too. The Air Quality Action Plan requires final approval from the Greater London Authority before final adoption. This process is under way and is expected to be completed in the coming days.

The new Climate Emergency Action Plan lists the actions the Council will take to become a carbon neutral Council by 2030 and borough by 2040. It includes retrofitting Council owned buildings and decarbonising school buildings, installing low carbon heating systems to move away from gas boilers, encouraging sustainable transport and travel, installing community owned solar projects, reducing waste and developing circular economy initiatives.

The new Biodiversity Action Plan sets out how the Council will ensure the borough has an accessible natural environment rich in wildlife that everyone can feel connected to and will benefit from. Actions include continuing to develop the Bee Superhighway and create new habitats to support a nature recovery network across the borough, and expanding the programme of environmental education available for all residents.

See the full decision reports and action plans on the Council’s Leadership Team committee pages for 16 March.