Delivering a Fairer Environment

Ensuring a Fairer Environment and achieving net-zero remains one of our most pressing priorities as a council.

In October, we launched a network of parking bays for cyclists using hire e-bikes, which has helped to encourage cycling and active travel more generally as an environmentally friendly and convenient way to get around central London.

This autumn, we extended our street cleaning services again to gather approximately 1,000 tonnes of leaves from our 19,000 trees, which can generate 530,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity. These were transported to the South East London Combined Heat and Power (SELCHP) Energy Recovery facility, where they have contributed to generating energy for local homes. This also reduced the risk of flooding in the city as leaves often block drains.

Below we have highlighted other ways we have delivered during October to December this year*. Although progress continues to be made, we know there is still work to do as we work to deliver our Fairer Westminster strategy.​

^{(* based on the latest positions available at the end of December 2023)}

Our aim is to be a net zero council by 2030 and a net zero city by 2040...

As of the end of 2022/23, the council’s emissions totalled 34,162 tCO2e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent), a 17.5% reduction in overall emissions from the previous financial year. While this is good progress, our emissions are 14.8% above the reduction trajectory for achieving net zero by 2030 and we are working hard to build our understanding of the additional reductions possible with further action.

We are also currently developing a publicly accessible ‘emissions dashboard’ that will provide greater clarity and transparency on both our and city-wide emissions trajectories.

Our aim is to encourage sustainable and active modes of transport for our residents, reduce air pollution and make electric vehicles a more appealing option...

We’re encouraging the use of more environmentally friendly cars for those unable to travel by foot, bike or public transport by adapting our parking policies and expanding our electric vehicle charging network. Currently, 22.2% of our resident parking permits are for electric or green vehicles, and we have also increased the number of EV charging points by 60% over the past year. We also introduced 330 new parking bays for dockless rental e-bikes across the city.

We are also encouraging more forms of active travel by developing cycle routes, installing 250 more cycle stands and at least 60 secure hangars over the next year. We have now completed public consultation on 68 proposed locations for on-street cycle parking stands and secure hangars. Delivery will proceed on 15 locations, with 45 more going forward to a traffic order consultation. We have also identified 80 new locations for public consultation.

50% of our total waste fleet is now fully electric. This is the largest such fleet operated by any local authority in the UK and will support an 89% reduction of carbon emissions when compared to a diesel-powered fleet.

Our aim is to support the sustainability of our city and build its resilience...

The Sustainable City Charter is an innovative business-led climate action pledge open to any organisation which owns, manages, or occupies non-domestic buildings in Westminster. It contains eight commitments for reducing carbon emissions from these buildings, and covers energy use, procurement, transport, waste and deliveries. It also includes firms committing to operating net zero buildings by 2040 or earlier.

Signatories continue to steadily rise and an ongoing programme of engagement is being delivered to support wider promotion and take-up of the Charter. Recent activity includes:

• heighted social media activity: celebrating the first anniversary of the charter and highlighting the 50th signatory in December.
• issuing of a new regular Charter newsletter for signatories in November, and our second in December.
• delivering two training webinars for signatories.

The Technical Working Group and Steering Group are now well established. The Technical Working Group will continue to meet every two months throughout 2024 and the Steering Group will meet three times a year.