By Grace Torrance, Climate and Sustainability Reporter
Embed from Getty Images Image courtesy of Getty Images
Ealing Council’s official plan of action for achieving its aim of becoming completely carbon neutral by 2030 was made public knowledge in February of this year, and Ealing’s businesses and residents are crucial in the council’s plans being successful.
This month sees the council launch the virtual climate action hub, which hopes to improve engagement with Ealing residents for the upcoming UN climate change conference (COP26) in November.
The four parts of the council’s Climate and Ecological Strategy include:
- Green Infrastructure: Nature and biodiversity projects led by the community to plant a large number of trees creating new woodland and hedgerows to give wildlife like birds, bats, mammal more protection from the local population.
- Energy: Starting with 20 building owned by the council which will be retrofitted, council housing will be upgraded to decarbonise heat, improve energy efficiency and help reduce the monthly bills of residents.
- Waste: Waste minimisation will be made a priority for residents and businesses and more investment in the current ‘Greener Ealing’ rubbish and recycling schemes.
- Transport: More support for electrical vehicles through multiple new charging point installations, with the aim of all residents to be within a five-minute walk of a charge point by 2025. Also, Increased space for active transport like cycling and walking.
Emma Clarke, Ealing resident for over 20 years said: “To be honest I haven’t heard much about the council’s strategic plan, I don’t think it has been communicated very well with the residents. The only time we have heard about it is through word of mouth in the playground or whatever”.
“It’s been annoying really with all the new bike lanes and extra costs with travelling into central in your car, due to bike lanes it used to take me from my house in South Ealing to Westfield in Shepard’s bush about 20 minutes, now the traffic is horrendous it can take me over an hour”.
A fifth part of the council’s strategy regarding ‘food systems’ is to be confirmed in the summer of this year.