Hounslow's Climate Emergency Action Plan
Following the council’s June 2019 declaration of a climate emergency in Hounslow, a specialist consultancy, Eunomia Research and Consultancy Ltd were engaged to review the council’s current work in reducing its carbon emissions to net zero by 2030 alongside using such influence as it has to reduce wider emissions from across the borough as quickly as possible and to support the development of a local response to the declaration of a climate emergency. As part of that process, engagement activities were undertaken with council staff, councillors and the community to help understand local priorities and opportunities.
A draft version of the borough's Climate Emergency Action Plan was presented to Cabinet on 21 January 2020. Councillors unanimously approved further consultation and engagement on the council’s draft plan, prepared in response to Hounslow’s declaration of a Climate Emergency last year. The draft Plan outlines seven key programmes for reducing council direct carbon emissions. These are:
- Energy efficiency
- Renewable energy
- Electrify vehicle fleet
- Reducing employee transport
- Waste management
- Culture change and governance
- Sustainable investment and funding
In addition, in recognition of the council’s community leadership role, Hounslow will work across the borough with its strategic partners, businesses and the community to deliver a wider programme tackling all emissions attributed to activities in the borough. These programmes are:
- Retrofit Hounslow and deliver zero carbon housing
- Sustainable travel promotion
- A transition to electric mobility
- Greening the borough
- Develop net zero lifestyles
- Stimulate the local green economy
The council consulted on the draft action plan from 3 February until 27 April 2020. As part of this online consultation, the council engaged community groups in Hounslow and held two public events at Hounslow House, on 27 February and 2 March, which were attended by approximately 100 members of the community each, providing an opportunity for people to learn more about the climate emergency in Hounslow and give their feedback on the draft action plan. A summary of responses to both parts of the consultation can be found in the feedback report here.
The Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP) consultation which ran from February to April 2020 received a total of 135 responses and indicated broad support for the CEAP. The accompanying Schools’ Survey, aimed at children in Hounslow, received a further 195 responses, indicating an awareness of climate issues and a desire for schools to do more to focus on the issue of climate change.
Responses to the consultation were incorporated into the final draft of the Climate Emergency Action Plan which was approved by Cabinet on Tuesday, 14 July 2020, kicking off the Council’s ‘Year of Action 2020/21’. The updated report can be found here.
Learn more about the progress made over the last year in delivering the Climate Emergency Action Plan in the Annual Progress Report 2020- 2021.
