Southwark Council calls on community to help meet climate change goals

28 October 2021

Ahead of COP 26, the United Nation’s global summit to tackle climate change, Southwark Council held its annual conference with residents, businesses and community groups to focus on how the borough could better reduce emissions and protect the natural environment. It also gave participants the chance to set out what government needed to do to help Southwark reach its climate goals.

The conference was led by Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency and Sustainable Development who reiterated Southwark’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and making the borough a greener and fairer place to live and work.

Harriet Lamb, chief executive officer of climate change charity Ashden, an organisation that supports and promotes sustainable energy enterprises from around the world, gave her insight into how local people could make a big environmental difference to their communities, and contribute to the global effort.

Breakout sessions covered Sustainable and Active Travel, with a presentation from Southwark Living Streets; Biodiversity and Nature with a case-study from Glengall Wharf Garden and discussions about the council’s recent ‘no-mow’ policy; Business and Sustainable Consumption, with Better Bankside presenting work they have undertaken with local businesses to inform their vision of a low carbon neighbourhood, and finally Buildings and Energy, with Vital Energi outlining the significant work currently underway to install water-source heat pumps on the Wyndham, Newington and Consort Estates, reaching over 2,000 households.

Cllr Dennis said: “Tackling climate change is everyone’s business and I am proud that we are working together as a community, with shared goals, to reduce our carbon emissions. The conference has shown that there is already so much going on, led not only by the council, but by schools, businesses, voluntary and community groups across the borough. Only by working together that we can firmly address the climate emergency.”

144 people attended the conference.

Information about the council’s progress in tackling climate emergency is here:  www.southwark.gov.uk/climatechallenge  

Page last updated: 28 October 2021