Climate change: Which London councils are yet to declare a climate emergency?

Bromley, Bexley and the City of London are the only local authorities in the capital yet to declare a climate emergency.
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An environmental campaign group has slammed the London boroughs of Bexley and Bromley, as well as the City of London, after analysis found them to be the only local authorities in the capital yet to declare a climate emergency.

Since January 2019, when Lambeth became the first London council to declare a climate emergency, 29 more local authorities have followed suit, LondonWorld has found.

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Havering Council was the latest to make the declaration, passing a motion at its full council meeting on March 22 with 42 in favour and just five abstentions.

Following the meeting, Cllr Darvill, cabinet member for climate change, said: “Passing this motion declaring a climate emergency and joining the majority of other London boroughs is an important and necessary move forward for Havering.

“Climate change is here now. There’s no shying away from that.

"We only need to look back at the last few years here in Havering to see the devastating consequences of this climate emergency locally.”

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Noting events including increased flooding and the devastating fire in Wennington last July, Cllr Darvill said declaring a climate emergency “goes further to emphasise both the seriousness and urgency of this work”.

The blackened remains of Wennington village, Havering, after a huge grass fire on London’s hottest day in history. Credit: Leon Neal/Getty ImagesThe blackened remains of Wennington village, Havering, after a huge grass fire on London’s hottest day in history. Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images
The blackened remains of Wennington village, Havering, after a huge grass fire on London’s hottest day in history. Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images

The announcement means that just three local authorities in the capital are yet to declare a climate emergency: the City of London Corporation, along with Bexley and Bromley, which are two of the five councils mounting a legal challenge to the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion

A spokesperson for environmental campaign group Extinction Rebellion said: “The reluctance of a small minority of London’s councils and the City Of London to declare a climate and ecological emergency puts them on the wrong side of history - especially after the stark warning we had last week from the world’s scientific community.

“Central government is setting a bad example and heading in the opposite direction by opening up new fossil fuel reserves.

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“That’s why we are encouraging everyone to join us outside Parliament on April 21 for The Big One, where we will be pushing for a fair, citizen-led response to the multiple crises that we are now facing.”

Demonstrators hold placards during an Extinction Rebellion march in London.Demonstrators hold placards during an Extinction Rebellion march in London.
Demonstrators hold placards during an Extinction Rebellion march in London.

A spokesperson for Bexley said the council recognises the significance of climate change, and that the borough has an action plan for 2022-2026 outlining its approach.

In her introduction to the plan, the leader of the council, Cllr Baroness O’Neill, said: "We aim to take practical action to address climate change that has the support of local people. We are proud to have a strong record in looking after our environment and on delivering on our pledges."

A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation said: “Our Climate Action Strategy made us the first UK governing body to have a fully-funded net zero commitment that covers all emissions.

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“With a £68m plan founded on science-based targets, our Climate Action Strategy will tackle climate change, drive growth, and create green jobs.

“It commits us to achieving net zero carbon emissions in our own operations by 2027.

“We also aim to become net-zero across our investment and supply chain by 2040 - and to support the achievement of net zero for the whole Square Mile by the same year.”

Bromley Council was approached for comment.