The Sutton Environment Strategy 2019 - 2025 sets out our ambition to become London's most sustainable borough by 2025. We'll be working together to deliver this vision, with:

  • residents
  • community groups, and
  • businesses

We'll be using the following chapters within the strategy:

  • cleaner air
  • a greener borough
  • achieving net-zero carbon
  • creating a circular economy
  • tackling climate change

Download the Environment Strategy and the Climate Emergency Response Plan

The vision

Sutton will be London's most sustainable borough. 

Our zero carbon future means cleaner air, and more journeys taken by bike, public transport, or on foot. We’ll have more green spaces, connected to each other, protecting and enhancing nature and biodiversity. Our energy will be renewable and our homes will be warm in winter, cool in summer, and well-insulated.

We will reduce waste and create a circular economy, with options to reuse, repair or re-manufacture the things we buy. We will be able to withstand heat waves, droughts, and flooding caused by climate change. Everyone will know and play their role in reducing their impact on the environment.

The targets

Cleaner Air

  • by March 2022, 48% of journeys in Sutton will be made by walking, cycling, or public transport, rising to 63% by 2041
  • by March 2022, 36% of people will be doing 20 minutes of active travel a day, rising to 70% by 2041
  • by December 2021, 24% of Sutton's population will be within 400m of the strategic cycle network, rising to 37% by 2041
  • implement the air quality action plan, meeting the national air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide as soon as possible
  • continue to take action to reduce levels of particulate matter

A Greener Borough

  • no overall reduction in the amount of green space in the borough
  • by 2050, at least half of Sutton's land area will still be green space
  • plant 2,000 trees every year (community, council, and developer-led schemes all count)
  • focus area: maintain and enhance the biodiversity value of the borough

Achieving Net Zero Carbon

  • we will achieve net zero carbon emissions across its estate and operations
  • we will switch to a renewable electricity supplier from April 2021
  • all the borough's energy needs will be met from renewable, community, and local sources of energy, helping to deliver boroughwide zero carbon emissions
  • focus area: take action to tackle fuel poverty 

Creating a Circular Economy

  • reduce waste and increase reuse and recycling from 50% year on year and target being the best recyclers in the UK
  • help residents reduce the amount of avoidable food waste they throw away by 20% by 2025
  • focus area: embed sustainable procurement into the Council's buying and contracts
  • focus area: encourage businesses to switch to circular economy business models

Tackling Climate Change

  • focus area: raise awareness of the climate emergency, the impacts of climate change on Sutton, and the actions individuals can take
  • focus area: increase the preparedness of Sutton's people, public services, and infrastructure for extremes of temperature, drought and flooding
  • retain Sustainable Food City status each year
  • work with SES water to help people reduce their daily water use to 138 litres by 2025

Action 

We have set out an ambitious action plan in the Environment Strategy to meet the targets set. You can learn about some of the projects being delivered to meet these targets.

Our performance

We check performance against the:

The Environment Strategy Board handles monitoring the progress of:

  • the Environment Strategy, and
  • the Climate Emergency Response Plan

Progress reports are published quarterly.

Environment Strategy Progress Reports

Environment Strategy Progress Report Q3 2022/23

Environment Strategy Progress Report Q2 2022/23

Environment Strategy Progress Report Q4 2021/22

Environment Strategy Progress Report Q2 2021/22

Environment Strategy Progress Report Q1 2021/22

Environment Strategy Progress Report Q4 2020/21

Environment Strategy Progress Report Q3 2020/21

Work experience

The Environment Strategy Team welcomes work experience applications from:

  • school and university students, as well as
  • people who are interested in exploring whether sustainability or local government is a career route for them

We can offer a range of experiences relating to projects and communications activities. This is a year-round opportunity and we can be flexible about dates, but we do need a minimum two-week commitment.

If you're interested, you can contact the sustainability team by email.

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