Redbridge Council sets out Climate Action Plan but everyone needs to do more

Redbridge Council has just launched its Climate Change Action Plan and Green Urban Landscape Policy. The world is faced by a dual crisis of climate and biodiversity breakdown. The two threats have to be addressed together, they are not mutually exclusive. In the case of carbon emissions in Redbridge, the research conducted shows buildings being the biggest emitters, accounting for 56%. Transport comes next with 36% and waste caused 8% of emissions. The Plan will see retrofitting of properties and commitments to new sustainable levels. On waste, recycling rates have improved with the roll out of wheelie bins. The variety of plastic that can be recycled is also expanding. On transport, council vehicle fleets are converting to electricity. Transport is a very challenging area. The recent London Boroughs Healthy Street scorecards saw Redbridge coming in 31st out of 33. The borough was found to have one of the lowest levels of walking and cycling. But high levels of pedestrian and cyclist casualties plus car ownership. The borough was found to have just 1% of protected cycle lanes, with 15% of the borough covered by 20mph speed limits. Efforts are being made to meet these challenges. The 20mph speed limits are being expanded, whilst, consultation on some more protected cycle lanes in the West of the borough are being rolled out. There are also efforts to expand Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) ,Low Emission Neighbourhoods and School Streets. The Ultra Low Emission Zone will be extended to the West of the borough in October. So things are happening, though there is a long way to go. We are often reminded as councillors about the cycling network in neighbouring boroughs like Waltham Forest and Newham. Also, the CPZ and Low Emission Neighbourhoods in these boroughs. They offer a standard we have to aspire ro reach. However, to get the changes people must come along in support. There has been opposition in Redbridge to School Streets and Quieter Streets schemes. The council listened and acted. But as a result we have a more polluted, less sustainable borough than otherwise might be the case. There does often seem to be opposition to almost any change proposed, no matter how virtuous. The challenge ofcourse for those seeking to make the changes is to communicate and consult better. On biodiversity, the Growzone program, begun in Wanstead, has expanded out across the borough and will spread further with the new urban landscape policy. There is to be more tree planting and cultivation of tree pits. There is much to do and little time to do it. The report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change gave the world 12 years to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees - a quarter of that period has now passed. The Climate Change Action Plan highlights that only 2.4% of emissions in the borough are due to council activities, so the bigger challenge is to get others to also address their carbon footprints. The council has to be a facilitator of change. So for example, encouraging people to move to sustainable energy sources like solar, as well as electric cars. We also all need to take responsibility for our own actions and be less wasteful in everything we do. Really overcoming the threats of Climate Change and Biodiversity loss requires a personal as well as community conversion in the way in which we all live.