Having declared a climate emergency in 2019, we believe Southwark was the first English council to appoint a director of climate change, tasked with taking forward a plan that is inclusive, transparent and ambitious.
We are also embedding our approach to climate change in every policy within the council.
Conscious of the disparities in wealth across our borough, we want to ensure that our approach supports a transition where the burden of change to a more sustainable future is shared among those who can most afford it – whether that is through putting carbon neutrality at the heart of new developments; accelerating our sustainable transport infrastructure; launching a Southwark Nature Action Plan to protect and promote our borough’s biodiversity; creating a circular economy that reduces consumption; or moving towards zero carbon and green energy for all businesses, residents and services in the borough.
All this has been accelerated in light of COVID-19.
For example, our Streetscape plan, which looks to increase cycling and walking through street closures and pavement widening, will have long-term impacts on the way in which we think about transport and movement options in the future.
We also want to retain and build on our commitment to our exemplary parks and green spaces. We know how much these have been valued during the past few months by so many of those who do not have gardens.
Combined with investment in a tree planting programme, the greening of our borough will continue apace.
But we cannot do this alone. While we have a role to lead and to bring together different people and ideas, everyone needs to work together.
We look forward to continuing the conversation with our residents, neighbouring boroughs, the Mayor of London and the Government, as we collectively look to stop, and ultimately reverse, the damage being done to our environment.