Councillors and climate activists clashed at Islington’s inaugural environmental regeneration meeting over how to achieve their target of making the borough net zero carbon by 2030.
Rowena Champion, Islington’s council executive member for environment and transport, asked attendees to discuss plans to green the borough, but emphasised that the council was not to blame for most carbon emissions.
“This phase is very much about us,” Ms Champion said. “It’s about what the council has to do. We only control 8 per cent either directly through our own emissions or indirectly as a landlord of a number of social housing units.
“So for the 92 percent that we don’t control, we must work together to engage local people, and other public and private partners to take us all through to a net zero carbon future.
“We have taken steps already, some of which involve really innovative projects, which will cut carbon emissions while saving money for residents. Because we know that reducing carbon emissions and fairness go hand in hand.”
The plans include building low carbon infrastructure in the borough, reducing diesel and petrol road journeys by half, securing 100 per cent renewable energy for London’s public sector, reducing consumption emissions, and making the economy eco-friendly.
But some campaigners from Extinction Rebellion Islington felt the plans could have been clearer and more in-depth.
XR Islington activist Callum Martin-Moore told Islington Now: “I’ve come here today to discuss some of the things which the council has put forward. There are some obvious things which are missing in there.
“There wasn’t a very clear plan for community engagement or overriding targets. It’s also about getting people from the community involved who aren’t as engaged as we are.
“Most of the emissions come from electricity and gas. And so we need more and more ways for people to make their homes more efficient, which is difficult to get information about at the minute.”
Highbury Green party councillor Caroline Russell said Islington council must do more to “get out of its cycles” and meet its target. “It’s really, really positive to be talking with the community and sharing ideas and bouncing ideas around,” she told Islington Now.
“And that’s the kind of approach we need if we’re going to tackle the climate emergency with the ambition that’s required.
“But I think more must be done to make [the net zero target] by 2030. The challenge is to get the right sort of connections happening.
“It’s a challenge for the council to get out of its cycles. And that’s what was happening tonight. That’s really constructive and positive.”
The meeting was the first of its kind since Islington council passed a motion declaring a climate emergency in June 2019.
The motion committed the council to working to make the borough reach its net zero target, and holding an environmental regeneration meeting each year to discuss progress and strategies.
