Our legacy

We want to make Richmond upon Thames a greener, safer, and fairer borough. The role of community is key in dealing with the Climate Emergency.

Find out how we will tackle the climate emergency:

• Our objectives
• How we will become a more sustainable borough

Our objectives

We will work with our residents, communities, businesses and partners to engage, involve and support them in tackling the climate emergency. We will share knowledge and approaches with them, ensure that the built environment is sustainable and can support them as climate change occurs and that they can live their lives in ways that reduce carbon emissions. We will ensure Richmond is able to plan, measure and respond proactively to the effects of climate change and the implications of resource scarcity.

Our key target is to create an environment where Richmond is able to be sustainable and low carbon by default.

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) produces a breakdown of carbon dioxide emissions by Local Authority area. Their data shows that Richmond’s per capita emissions have reduced significantly over the past 12 years, from 5.7 tonnes per capita in 2005 to 3.3 tonnes per capita in 2017.

However, it shows that 49% of carbon emissions for the borough originate from domestic sources, including domestic electricity and gas usage. This means people’s homes.

Analysis of the further data shows that the biggest area of emissions by far (67%) is that of stationary energy (emissions from the combustion of fuel in buildings, manufacturing industries, construction processes and power plants).

Following this 30% of our emissions are from transportation – for example: fuel or use of electricity during journeys travelled by road, rail, air or water for inter-city and international travel.

How we will become a more sustainable borough

The Council has a number of policies and guidance for the development of the borough over the next 15 years. The borough can minimise and mitigate the effects of climate change by requiring high levels of sustainable design and construction including reductions in carbon dioxide emissions by minimising energy consumption, promoting decentralised energy and the use of renewable energy as well as requiring high standards of water efficiency.

Specific highlights within these strategies and the Climate Emergency Strategy include:

• Supporting residents, communities and businesses with information on what they can do to reduce their carbon impact and showcase local examples of good practice
• Encourage and support community action in dealing with the climate emergency, including community energy schemes, climate cafes and local community action events
• Increase our lobbying on key issues around climate change, including opposing fracking and other fossil fuel extraction and campaigning for cheaper and cleaner public transport
• Establish a Richmond Offsetting Fund, into which residents can pay voluntary contributions that will be used to fund carbon offsetting projects within the borough
• Continue our work on fuel poverty, targeting energy efficiency measures for vulnerable residents’ homes and continue to offer a household winter fuel grant to those at risk of living in fuel poverty
• Ensure that the high standards of sustainability, low carbon design and climate change resilience set out in our Local Plan and in national planning guidance are adhered to
• Develop an electric vehicle infrastructure by ensuring a faster roll-out of electric vehicle charging points for residents and continue to install lamp column charging points across the borough
• Development of a Richmond Climate Charter