Council commits to 2030 net zero target

The decision places us alongside other councils in Surrey which have also committed to the same target.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Marisa Heath, chair of our Environment and Sustainability Committee, said:

This is a vital issue, if we have a target - that will lead to action. We have to be revolutionary; this is the 11th hour. We need to expedite this and move forward.

We already have a number of climate change initiatives which have been at the centre of our work for some years but shortly we will bring these initiatives together in a comprehensive strategy.

This includes the work that our housing service has carried out to provide new boilers and insulation in our social housing stock of nearly 3,000 homes.

Our new developments at Addlestone One and Magna Square are EPC A rated and we have installed solar panels on most of our owned and operated buildings which are suitable.

Our forthcoming Climate Change Strategy will set out what we have already accomplished and the overall direction of travel we will take to reduce our emissions. It will explain specific areas that we will focus on in the future to bring our emissions down farther and how we will work with residents and other organisations to help and encourage them to do the same.

At the meeting, councillors committed to keeping residents informed and involved. Shortly the Council will announce its plans to create a new group where residents and businesses can hear and share ideas about what we can all change and so that everyone can play their part in preventing Climate Change. It will also be a place for people to hear how the Council is changing the way that it works to achieve its emissions reduction. Look out for more information on our website and in future editions of Runnymede Talks.

Read more about our climate change work.