Enfield Council one of 18 UK local authorities included on list of areas taking ‘bold’ action to slash emissions

Enfield has been named as one of 122 global cities or regions judged to be “leaders in environmental action”.

Worldwide not-for-profit climate action group CDP (formerly known as Carbon Disclosure Project) has published its fifth annual list of regions ranked for their “transparency and bold climate action” and has given Enfield Council an ‘A’ rating, alongside 18 other UK local authority areas.

It marks an improvement from last year, when the council was given an ‘A-‘ grade. Deputy leader Ergin Erbil said it shows the “incredible progress” made locally since councillors declared a ‘climate emergency’ in Enfield in 2019.

“We are under no illusions that there is still a lot of work to be done,” said Cllr Erbil. “We also acknowledge that there are incredibly tough times ahead given the current economic outlook.

“However, by working ambitiously with our partners, local organisations and other public bodies, we know we can continue to build on this momentum and achieve all our climate action objectives.”

Designed to encourage and support cities to ramp-up their climate action and ambition, CDP’s ranking system is based on environmental data disclosed to them by local authorities. Enfield Council completed an extensive questionnaire “as part of its commitment to monitor and measure the progress it is making on climate action”.

To score an ‘A’ a local authority must have an emissions inventory, set a renewable energy target for the future, and have published a climate action plan. It must also complete a climate risk and vulnerability assessment and have a climate adaptation plan to demonstrate how it will tackle local climate hazards.

Only two other London boroughs, Richmond and Wandsworth, were named on the CDP’s A-list. The Greater London Authority was also on the list, as well as cities such as Edinburgh, York, Leicester, Leeds and Manchester.

CDP says A-list regions are taking twice as many mitigation and adaptation measures as those not on the list and are demonstrating their climate leadership through concerted and effective action.

Enfield Council aims to become a carbon neutral organisation by 2030 and aims to make the borough as a whole carbon neutral by 2040. Recent initiatives launched to try to achieve these goals include the delivery of an LED streetlight replacement programme, electrifying the council’s fleet of vehicles, increasing the number of electric vehicle charging points in the borough, planting 100,000 trees as part of Enfield Chase Restoration Project, and investing in the retrofitting of corporate buildings and council housing stock.

However, the council has faced criticism for its support of a new, larger incinerator at Edmonton Eco Park, which is now under construction. The borough is also struggling to meet recycling targets and remains below the national average for household recycling rates.

The council has just completed an annual progress and emissions review and is about to launch a series of engagement events across the borough based around its climate action plan. More information on this and how to get involved can be found on the council’s climate action webpage.

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