Lambeth creates hub to give impetus for concerted climate action
A town hall has launched a climate action hub for residents, business and community groups to share projects, experience, ideas and solutions.
The project aims to build evidence needed for Lambeth’s climate action plan and citizens’ assembly.
Deputy leader Cllr Claire Holland said: “The lockdown forced real changes in behaviour which in turn resulted in a marked reduction in traffic, a significant increase in cycling and walking and reduced emissions. This resulted in cleaner air and communities using their streets differently.
“Most households in Lambeth don’t own a car and live in flats with no access to outside private space. We know that nearly 10,000 Londoners a year die from toxic air related conditions. Covid-19 is a disease which hits the respiratory system and disproportionately impacts older residents, those with underlying health issues and our Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. Climate change too exacerbates existing inequalities.
“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make major progress towards our bold aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and to tackle multiple inequalities at the same time and support the physical and mental well-being of our residents. We have already put a series of measures in place to cut car use and support greener transport, to support local business, , to increase recycling and to make homes and offices more sustainable.
“But there’s still much to do which is why we’re determined to leverage the huge passion in this borough for improving our air quality, innovation and doing our bit to tackle climate change. Before lockdown we have some of the most polluted air in the UK, with our children and the most at risk suffering the worst impacts.
“We will not go back to how it used to be, and we want to get everyone involved in tackling inequality this environmental crisis. We need to really understand the impacts it will have on our borough and communities, capture the local solutions that exist already, and develop new ideas for a greener borough.
“The new Lambeth Climate Action website will play an important role in achieving that aim.”
This website is an opportunity to contribute to the evidence base and ideas that will be considered by the citizens’ assembly and in the development of Lambeth’s borough-wide climate action plan. It’s also a chance to find out more about the climate action already taking place in Lambeth, and suggest ways we can all work together to maximise our impact.
Residents are being encouraged to visit the site, share their ideas and encourage friends, family members and neighbours to take part, and by sharing on social media with the #LambethClimateAction. The site will be live until the end of October and will operate alongside community conversations and meetings over the coming months to make sure all our borough’s communities are involved. We are working with Lambeth community organisations to help us reach those who can’t access digital channels.
Lambeth, the first local authority in the country to declare a Climate Emergency, had to delay its Citizens’ Assembly due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Visit lambethclimateaction.