Responding to a clim limate emergency: Engaging the community Cllr Clyde Loakes Deputy Leader and Member for Environment __________________________ London Borough of Waltham Forest
We need to change, not the cli limate. • Waltham Forest Council has declared a climate emergency. And acted on it. • But we have been tackling climate change for years. • Why? More than 9,000 Londoners die every year due to health problems related to air quality issues, including around 270 of our own residents in Waltham Forest
What have we done? Since 2005 investment has been made in diverse areas to reduce risk of climate impacts resulting from historic and future carbon emissions. Including: We’ve reduced carbon emissions in the borough by almost 35 per cent Installed over 1,000 solar panels on council properties Reduced gas consumption by 25 per cent and electricity usage by 10 per cent Planted more than 13,000 new trees , now over 50,000 in total, the most in the borough’s history Invested over £2.4m through the Salix’s Recycling Fund on energy efficiency measures in our corporate estate
We also Introduced Enjoy Waltham Forest, our ‘mini - Holland’ scheme - of significant walking, cycling and micro- scooting priority, safety infrastructure changes to the highways and public realm. Public realm improvements to encourage active travel and prioritise walking and cycling and deprioritise car use. But it wasn’t an easy ride!
- 27km of cycle track What has Enjoy Waltham - Over 100 new safer junctions Forest delivered? - 15 new pocket parks - 7,500 children and adults trained to cycle - Over 500 secure cycle parking spaces at transport hubs - 350 bike hangars - Extended life expectancy of children born in the borough by 6 weeks - 58,000 down to 6,300 households exposed to toxic air levels - Cycling increased by 103 per cent - Car usage dropped by 7 per cent
Whipps Cross Interchange a new public space pedestrian crossings segregated cycle lanes dedicated bus lanes 1,800 square metres returned to Epping Forest Oct 2019 From this… To this! Oct 2019
Working with our partners Working with local partners in the borough has seen the introduction of initiatives that make a difference at grassroot level and are ownable by the community. With Waltham Forest Friends of the Earth we trialled a Low Plastic Zone in one of our town centres to encourage small businesses to move away from ecologically damaging single-use plastics
But what now? We have established a Climate Emergency Commission – the first in London We’ve gathered the best minds together to challenge the council to make an even bigger, positive change in order to protect our current residents and those of the future We want to work together to make a real impact on climate change, so we will be looking to work with our residents, businesses and community organisations
How are we addressing the climate emergency and engaging our communities while the Commission meet and deliberate on recommendations?
• We undertook the largest public engagement ever in the Council’s history. • Online survey – over 3,000 people who live and work in the borough responded. • Youth engagement – over 1,200 young people (aged 7 – 16 years) engaged • Top 20 businesses invited to interview and Green Business Roundtable – how can we be more innovative?
Climate Emergency Survey Headlines • 91% Very or Fairly Concerned about the Climate Emergency • 85%- Climate Change is already having an impact on the UK • 84%- Climate Emergency is a priority for everyone • To what extent do you agree or disagree that the following should set an example by adopting challenging targets and innovative approaches to help reduce the impact on the environment and address the climate emergency? 88%- Waltham Forest Council- 93% Government
What More Can the Council Do on the Climate Emergency? 73% Reducing car journeys through good public transport and helping people to walk and cycle more easily 64% More public charging points to help people switch to electric/hybrid cars 81% Developing stronger planning policies, so new buildings are built to the most energy efficient standards 83% Making existing homes more energy efficient and greener 80% Supporting renewable energy generation, such as getting more solar energy panels on rooftops 61% Supporting residents and businesses to use less energy, for example through information and encouraging smart metering 90% Planting more trees and plants 84% Helping nature and wildlife to thrive 84% Supporting residents and businesses to reduce, reuse and recycle waste 81% Supporting residents and businesses to reduce single use plastics 56% Developing a "Grow Your Own" food initiative 67% Seeking additional powers and resources from Government to help tackle climate change 71% Providing information and support to help residents and businesses change their behaviour and reduce their carbon emissions 44% Enforcing action through measures like making owning a vehicle more expensive, reducing the number of car parking spaces available, more segregated bike lanes etc
Reviewing our Waste Coll llection Offer and pil iloting new ways to se secure in increased le levels of f reduction, , reuse, repair, reim imagining and rec ecycling
Continuing the Enjoy Supporting the Children’s Portfolio Waltham Forest programme Hold older r to o work ork with th Walt ltham For orest t sch schools ls at t all all le levels ls to o and the principles that em embe bed awareness and and tea eachin ing of of support it. the fac the acts ab about t cli climate ch change into the their ir da day to o da day tea eachings and and Making active travel more activ ac ivit itie ies accessible and a more attractive option
All ll ou our new developments meet ou our cu current plan lannin ing poli olicy, deli liverin ing on on energy requir irements Through ou our Town Hall all tr transformation, reducin ing car ar par arking sp space si significantly an and encouraging staff to fin find alt alternate ways to o tr travel
To make meaningful change we need to: • Ensure the green agenda underpins Council decision making at every level, through policies and programmes • Balancing the different priorities, including regulations, finance, and resident needs • Lead boldly and be willing to be disruptive • Acknowledge we can’t do it all Tackling climate change can only be a common endeavour; it is not something that we as a council can do alone, we also need residents, businesses and other organisations to share this agenda Questions?
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