Merton Council approves Climate Delivery Plan for Year 3  

· by · in Business, Campaigns, Community and Housing, Cost of living, Environment, Environment and Regeneration, Future Merton, Volunteers, Young people. ·

Merton’s Council’s Cabinet last night approved the Climate Delivery Plan for Year 3 as well as the allocation of funds for ongoing climate projects, part of the council’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and become net zero as a Borough by 2050, and net zero as a Council by 2030. 

The Climate Delivery Plan for Year 3 sets out progress achieved in 2022 and plans for 2023. Considering all the work undertaken so far, Cabinet unanimously approved the spending of £2 million allocated in June 2022 to address climate change, making sure that new projects are resourced and ready to deliver for residents, businesses and for a greener economy in the borough.

Some of the distinct initiatives approved yesterday include: 

  • A dedicated officer to promote a green economy, working with businesses to support green jobs and the circular economy. 
  • A focus on retrofitting to help residents and businesses decarbonise their homes and premises while saving money on energy bills, important during our cost-of-living emergency. This includes a community retrofit loan scheme and a business retrofit support scheme. 
  • Further support for community-led climate change initiatives, including the set-up of a community climate action fund, and support to increase climate engagement across the borough, to enable more residents and businesses to work towards net zero.  
  • a tool to ensure that all future council decisions have carbon reduction embedded. 
  • EPCs for all council buildings, as well as a review of catering and heating equipment in community schools and an additional focus on decarbonisation in all future procurement contracts through extra staff and training. 

Cabinet also agreed that the Climate Engagement Strategy will continue to be discussed with resident groups and local organisations, to ensure communities are empowered to achieve net zero together. 

Cabinet approved the proposals and will continue to ensure that the climate delivery plan is at the heart of decision-making across the Council – in 2023 and beyond. 

Councillor Natasha Irons, Cabinet Member for Local Environment, Green Spaces and Climate Change, said,

“Merton has ambitious climate change targets – we want to be a net zero council by 2030.

“By approving Year 3 of our Climate Delivery Plan, Cabinet has ensured we will continue to support community and schools initiatives and give more help to businesses and residents to retrofit and save energy.

“Most of all, we want to help make sense of climate change and the practical actions we can all take.”

You can read the Climate Delivery Plan here. An accessible screen reader version is also available here.