Merton Council approves Climate Delivery Plan for Year 4 

· by · in Civic Pride, Environment, Parks and green spaces, Recycling and waste, Traffic and Highways, Transport, Trees. ·

Merton Council has approved the Climate Delivery Plan for Year 4, the council’s yearly report on how we are reducing greenhouse gas emissions to become a net zero council by 2030, and a net zero borough by 2050.

Mertons climate delivery plan for year 4

The Climate Delivery Plan for Year 4 sets out progress achieved in 2023 and plans for 2024. You can read an abridged version of our progress to deliver a greener, healthier, more resilient borough in our Resident Summary Report of the Climate Delivery Plan for Year 4.

Some of the successes over the last year include:

  • Launched the first round of Merton’s Community Climate Action Fund which will support 9 local climate projects.
  • Continued the roll-out of Merton’s adult education programme for green skills.
  • Continued to deliver the Energy Matters project in Merton schools in partnership with Merton’s Climate Action Group and the Centre for Sustainable Energy.
  • Worked with Thinking Works, to help fuel poor households access national and regional funding to upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes.
  • Formed part of the multi-borough steering group to develop the ‘Delivering Net Zero study’, which supports ambitious local planning policies across London.
  • Installed 530 lamp column EV charge points across the borough.
  • Improved access to public transport in Merton including the step-free access schemes at Motspur Park Station and Haydon’s Road Station, cycle schemes on Merton High Street, Haydons Road Bridge and Plough Lane, as well as improvements to the Wandle trail. 
  • Planted 10,000 new trees across the borough with the support of partners and hundreds of volunteers.
  • Constructed a large Sustainable urban Drainage System (SuDS) for Raynes Park Town Centre on Pepys Road, to help prevent localised flooding.
  • Undertook LED lighting upgrades in community schools.
  • Converted a further 1,400 lanterns to LED streetlighting in FY23/24, of which 94% are now LEDs.
  • Continued the decarbonisation of Merton’s pension investments.
  • Delivered the first phase of Merton’s carbon literacy training for councillors, senior staff and volunteer officers, and securing a Bronze Carbon Literacy Award for Merton Council. 

Cabinet 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:

“We have been putting Merton on the map over the last year, delivering projects for our residents which are at the forefront of climate action in London.

“By approving our Climate Delivery Plan for Year 4, Cabinet has ensured that we continue to deliver on initiatives that help residents save money on their energy bills, improve our green and blue spaces, support young people and career changers into impactful green careers and reduce carbon emissions.”

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