Southwark Council is set to put an extra £7.5 million towards its Climate Action Plan, which will go towards decarbonisation and biodiversity projects.
To mark the announcement, Council Leader Kieron Williams and Cllr Catherine Rose visited Lavender Pond in Rotherhithe, to hear about the benefits of council-funded renovations on the park’s nature-rich pond, including new-planted banks and reinforced walls.
The investment is being announced following recommendations from the Citizen’s Jury on Climate Change, a team of local residents helping steer the council’s climate policy.
Councillor Williams said: “Last year we set out our ambitious roadmap to make Southwark net-zero. We said then that we would keep working with the people of our borough to strengthen our plans even more. That’s why we set up our Citizens’ Jury, to hear the perspectives, experiences and ideas of local people from every walk of life.
“I am deeply thankful to the members of the Jury for their brilliant report, and delighted to be setting out our updated action plan today, which responds directly to their recommendations. Coupled with the new funding commitments we are making today, this updated plan will ensure we move even faster to end our borough’s contribution to global warming, whilst making Southwark a better and fair place to live too.”
The £7.5 million comprises a £5 million investment in accelerating decarbonisation, and £1 million earmarked for biodiversity projects to improve green spaces.
£400,000 is also being set aside for a ‘community energy fund’ and £100,000 for expanding the use of cargo bikes in the borough.
The council’s original Climate Action Plan was published in November 2021 and aims to make Southwark carbon neutral by 2030.
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Since then, public buildings have been fitted with solar panels, council estates renovated with new heat pumps, roads given new cycle lanes, and new bike hangars constructed.
In March, the Citizens’ Jury on Climate Change made 93 recommendations concerning housing, energy efficiency, green spaces, transport and businesses.
The council say 82 of the the 93 recommendations are being covered by their updated Climate Action Plan or other council policies.
However, the council’s climate strategy has been subject to criticism. In February, Extinction Rebellion Southwark argued the council had failed to explain exactly how it would become carbon neutral.
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Residents on the Newington Estate, which has suffered with unreliable heating for decades, have also questioned the efficacy of the heat pump retrofit.