Local government is finally being recognised for the role it plays in reducing emissions and addressing climate risk, through the first Local Climate Action Summit during the United Nations Climate Change conference (COP28).
Our Climate Strategy and Action Plan was adopted in 2020, and although there is plenty more to do we have achieved a lot in the last year, including:
• The release of our first Resident Summary Report of our Climate Delivery Plan, to make our climate work more accessible
• Delivering more than 500 additional lamp column electric vehicle charging points in 2023, to increase the total number of public charging points in the borough to around 750.
• Updating our Sustainable Infrastructure Story Map so you can see the infrastructure that the Council and partners have put in place to help encourage carbon reduction and climate adaptation in Merton, ranging from solar panels to electric vehicle charge points: Sustainable Infrastructure in Merton.
• Launching the first round of bidding for our Community Climate Action Fund (worth £500,000 over three years), which received dozens of applications from residents and community groups who are keen to set up their own projects to reduce carbon emissions or adapt to climate change.
• Being ranked as a top scoring council by Climate Emergency Scorecards UK for our climate work, particularly in planning and in collaboration and engagement London Borough of Merton Climate Plan Scorecards | Council Climate Scorecards.
• Planting 10,000 trees to increase our tree canopy, our biodiversity and to help mitigate the effects of climate change.
Merton residents can sign up to our monthly Climate Action Newsletter for grant funding opportunities and news about council-community climate action, including upcoming community climate action projects and events run by residents, dedicated local voluntary groups, charities and businesses in the borough.
Upcoming events include:
- Repair cafes and Preloved Studio Events, through The Wheel – The Wheel Merton
- Green Coffee Sessions, Community Litter Picks, Community Gardening and much more through Sustainable Merton Sustainable Merton | Events
- Reconnect with nature with May Project Gardens events May Project Gardens CIC Events | Eventbrite
- Go along to Trinity Church’s Eco Day on Saturday 9 December
Notes:
Residents will be able to read a full account of progress against our Climate Strategy and Action Plan, in our annual monitoring report (The Climate Delivery Plan for Year 4), which will be released in early 2024.