Leader's message

Climate change is one of the major challenges facing the world in the 21st century. Meeting this challenge is a key priority for Richmond Council and earlier this year, we agreed a Climate Change Strategy, setting out a series of action plans involving the Council, partner organisations and the wider community.

The plans cover measures for the following key areas: the Council as a corporate body; Council services; schools; businesses and the community.

The aim is to ensure that our borough plays its part in the drive to reduce energy use and cut down on harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

The Council is looking to become as environmentally friendly as possible across all services. This could be by small changes like scrapping plastic cups in Council Offices or through major improvements to recycling services – among the most comprehensive in the country.

A recent example involved the installation of 42 solar panels on the Civic Centre roof. The panels will save more than three tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

As a Council, we aim to lead by example and believe that changing everyday habits can make a big difference in tackling climate change.

We were the first Council to link the cost of parking permits to the vehicle’s CO2 emissions – which has been copied by many councils across the country.

And later this year, we will be the first to run its entire vehicle fleet on biodiesel using 100 per cent recycled cooking oil, saving hundreds of tonnes of CO2 from being pumped into the atmosphere.

By pledging to ‘Go Green’, either as a resident or a business, you are agreeing to reduce your carbon footprint. If everyone takes action to reduce their CO2 emissions, climate change can be successfully combated.

Message from Cllr Serge Lourie,

Leader of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames