The impact of the cost of living crisis cannot be overstated and while each local authority deals with the huge pressures on services and budgets we must ensure we don’t reduce our support just as our people need us the most.
In Waltham Forest alone there are 11,000 people using food banks each week and when you include housing costs 45% of children are living in poverty.
I have heard commentators say the climate crisis will have to wait, that it’s a problem that we can put off until a more convenient moment. But this summer alone we had record temperatures of 42 degrees followed by a second year of serious flooding. Time is a luxury we do not have. It is a sobering thought that we are the first generation to feel the effects of the climate emergency, and the last that can do anything about it.
Many also feel that local councils are powerless to make a real impact combating what is a global issue. In Waltham Forest we know this simply isn’t the case.
For years we have been leading the way in taking meaningful action to tackle the climate crisis. Our ‘Enjoy Waltham Forest’ programme has shown how making life easier for pedestrians and cyclists can not only increase the numbers of people doing both, but also increase the life expectancy of children in the borough.
Waltham Forest was one of the first organisations to declare a climate emergency in 2019, and now we are taking action to reduce local emissions based on the advice of independent experts as we work toward becoming net zero by 2030.
Our climate action plan sets out how we will make this a reality. Against the backdrop of fear and concern that comes with financial worries we are making a positive intervention by investing heavily in retrofitting homes, delivering on the need to not only reduce bills but reduce energy consumption.
We are spending £500,000 helping the poorest households in the borough to become more energy efficient. We will pay for simple improvements including energy efficient lightbulbs, reflective radiator panels, and thicker loft insulation that will help up to 2,000 homes reduce their energy bills.
Fitting these measures is quick and easy, taking under an hour, and will save the average household up to £175 – not just this year but every year.
The most vulnerable households will receive support with installation delivered by the council’s standalone trading company ServiceStore. Others will get support to carry out DIY retrofitting measures.
As well as the work to help residents benefit from lower bills and warmer homes, our climate action plan details our ambition to take local action on the climate emergency grouped around three other main themes.
We will redouble our efforts to build a borough for people, not for cars. Our 15 minute neighbourhoods strategy aims for everyone to be able to access the amenities they need within a short distance from their home. By 2030 at least 80% of journeys in the borough will be made by walking, cycling, or public transport.
Helping residents move away from expensive car ownership will not only reduce another major contributor to local emissions and save them money, but also make people healthier and more connected with their local area.
We want to create a greener, more resilient borough. The climate action plan outlines our aim for 40% of the total area of the borough to consist of open spaces like allotments, parks, and playgrounds by 2030. In a metropolis like London that’s a challenge – but we have already made significant progress and our green spaces are one of the main reasons people choose to live in Waltham Forest.
We are also committed to helping residents consume less and recycle more, with the ambition of increasing our recycling to 50% and at the same time reduce each resident’s food waste by half.
Alongside the infrastructure improvements and behaviour change work, interventions that can be clearly seen, we must also work behind the scenes. Our directly managed pension scheme is the first authority to divest fully from investing in fossil fuels. It took five years and means that we are now investing in new sustainable technologies that produce less carbon.
We are not looking to Government to show us the way – we are demonstrating leadership to those who are looking to us for guidance on creating a sustainable future while helping those struggling to make ends meet. It will be tough, but we will get through this winter and overcome the cost of living crisis. The climate emergency cannot wait – future generations will not thank us for inaction.
Martin Esom is chief executive of Waltham Forest LBC
@martin_esom
