Amy Mallet, Climate Engagement Officer

Dominique Hill, Climate Change Officer, Merton Council provided an update on the Climate Action Plan. In 2019 Merton Council declared a climate emergency with a target of achieving net zero for the Council by 2030 and borough by 2050. The Council is responsible for less than 2% of emissions. A Climate Strategy and Action Plan was agreed in 2020 and followed by two climate delivery plans.

There is a long way to go to meet targets and meeting them will require partnership working. There are other benefits to these actions including improving air quality, helping the local economy and jobs, as well as reducing fuel poverty.

Climate Action Group supports community action on climate in areas like buildings and energy, transport, green economy and greening Merton. Projects have included Merton Garden Streets, where residents and businesses have got involved in planting up their streets. So far 115 streets have signed up, with over 10,000 volunteer hours. Other projects include Energy Matters, promoting energy efficiency in schools, and the Wheel repair café, a chance for residents to bring goods that can be repaired. There are repair café and upcycling events taking place at Canon’s House in November and December. The Climate Action Group is looking for more volunteers and you can email the team if you want to get more involved.

The Council is developing a Climate Action Engagement Strategy to look at how best to engage residents and will be developing a survey for residents to take part.

The best way to keep in touch with that is happening is to sign-up to the e-newsletter. You can also pledge to take action and share your story online using the hashtag #MertonClimateAction to encourage others to do the same. You can find lots of pledge ideas by looking up Merton climate pledges.

Mayor of London’s Warmer Homes scheme provides funding for low income, low energy efficiency households. This closes in March 2023 and is the currently only funding scheme available.

A resident asked about the Library of Things and Dominque said this was based at Morden Library. Another resident asked if it was possible to donate tools to the Library and Dominque said she would need to check.

A resident asked about the impact of paving over front gardens for parking and said that it needs education to encourage residents to plant in their front gardens. Cllr Kirby said too many cars for on street parking to be free and any paving over should involve a porous surface.

Cllr Macauley said that Hawthorn Avenue looks lovely after involvement in the Garden Streets.

A resident said that Clarion needs to let planting to develop before being cut down. They also said that the council should lobby for reduced paperwork for extensive solar panels and that the Church of England is looking at green issues locally. They also said that there should be a green sign-off on planning applications.

A resident asked about non-electronic communications and Dominque said that the team does a lot of in-person events and in My Merton Magazine.