Residents are shaping Sutton’s response to climate emergency

Residents, businesses and students are helping Sutton Council shape its ambitious plans to tackle the climate emergency. As part of these plans, borough-wide public engagement events and an online survey were launched last week. So far, more than 300 people have taken part in events or online. 

The results will shape the Council’s climate emergency action plan. This will outline what everyone can do to minimise the impact of climate change and will support the Council’s aim to improve the environment for everyone who lives, works and studies in the borough.

To play its part in slowing down global warming, the Council has in the last year placed solar panels on its buildings, launched a strategy to reduce waste and installed sustainable drainage measures at schools to reduce flood risk locally.

There is more that the Council and everyone living, working and studying in the borough can do to tackle climate change. In line with the Council’s ambitions to help citizens to be active and make informed choices, the events and the online survey ask people to prioritise actions, share their ideas and pledge to change one aspect of their daily routine to make a difference. Pledges can also be made on social media using #ClimateActionSutton. 

Drop-in events will be held at:

• Phoenix Library, 10:30am - 1pm, Friday 28 February 2020

• Waitrose Cheam (outside), 11am - 2pm, Sunday 1 March 2020

• Belmont Train Station (outside), 5 - 8pm, Tuesday 3 March 2020

• Westcroft Leisure Centre, 11am - 1pm, Wednesday 4 March 2020

• Waitrose Worcester Park (outside), 11am - 2pm, Sunday 8 March 2020

• Circle Library, 10am - 3pm, Tuesday 10 March 2020

• Wallington High Street (Wallington Square), 9:30am - 1:30pm, Saturday 14 March 2020

• Sutton United FC, 2pm - 4.30pm, Saturday 14 March

The climate emergency will also be discussed at Sutton’s six Local Committee meetings in February and March.

Councillor Manuel Abellan, Chair of the Environment and Neighbourhood Committee, said: 

“Thank you to everyone who has taken part in our first events and shared their great ideas so far. I’m really encouraged by the quality of pledges made already, as well as the high number of survey responses received in less than a week. 

“The Council is seeking to ensure that sustainability is considered in every aspect of its work. With the help of residents and our partners, we will continue to see how we can improve the borough’s environment and all play our part in tackling the climate emergency.

“I look forward to hearing the ideas of as many residents, businesses and students across the borough as possible over the coming weeks.”

For more information on Sutton Council’s climate emergency, please visit: www.sutton.gov.uk/climate. The online survey is also available here: https://sutton.citizenspace.com/environment/climate-emergency/.