Last Updated on 19 July 2020
The final draft of Merton Council’s Climate Strategy & Action Plan was approved by Cabinet on 13 July 2020. It will be put forward for adoption at the next full Council meeting in November, and is expected to be acted upon by the end of the year. The aim of the Plan, developed in partnership with consultants Aether, is to set out a high-level framework rather than to go into detail, and it will be accompanied by an explanatory technical report. The Plan anticipates costs of £3.1bn to achieve zero net carbon emissions for the borough by 2050, but these will be offset by £2.1bn potential savings in building and transport benefits. These direct savings will be boosted by indirect (as yet unquantified) cost savings from lower domestic heating bills, improved health & sense of community, and clean air & health benefits from active travel. Merton’s Climate Officer, Katie Halter, envisages that the next steps will include developing a more detailed delivery plan, formulating a communications strategy, and convening an implementation group.
