Climate and Ecology Strategy annual report - 2024 Enabling climate action

The council cannot secure a sustainable future for H&F alone. Residents, organisations and businesses play a crucial role in achieving our ambitions for a net zero and ecologically rich borough.

The council seeks to create an environment that enables the public to take action on climate change simply and in ways that benefit them. This means actively educating, engaging and empowering all people to make changes that, collectively, will deliver a significant impact.

Progress in H&F

We have been inspired by the commitment shown across H&F to tackling the climate and ecology crises. The council has strengthened its partnerships with local community organisations and businesses, increased residents' awareness of environmental issues, and expanded initiatives to facilitate and incentivise climate action.

Enabling action

  • Our Climate Action Microgrant scheme distributed over £5,000 to residents in 2024. The scheme offers grants of up to £500 to fund resident-led climate and ecology projects, such as a new community garden in Gibbs Green.
  • We launched H&F Green Investment in late 2023 to enable local people and businesses with climate concerns to invest in measures to tackle it locally, such as 500 new bike hangars funded through the scheme. The scheme raised £1.7 million in 2024.

Working in partnership

  • The H&F Climate Alliance grew to 55 members and held 5 events in 2024. This network of local organisations and businesses scales up the impact of sustainable practices by facilitating the sharing of expertise and collaborative working.
  • We've partnered with schools to raise awareness of climate issues amongst children and young people and involve them in climate action. For example, we worked with community groups to hold H&F's 21st Children's Environmental Parliament in 2024, giving year six pupils at five primary schools the opportunity to present on an environmental topic of their choosing.
  • We launched our Better Air, Better Health Partnership with Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. This partnership brings together expertise and knowledge from the council, academics, and healthcare professionals, with a goal of utilising each other's strengths to improve air quality across H&F.

Eight school children with their teacher posing for a photo and holding up their poster designs.

John Betts' Year 6 class at the 2024 Children's Environmental Parliament.

Building collective knowledge

  • In July H&F's second Climate Summit was hosted at H&F Climate Alliance member LAMDA, bringing together residents, community organisations and businesses to discuss climate issues and the innovative work happening in H&F to address them.
  • During London Climate Action Week in June, organisations in H&F came together to run a range of community events promoting climate education and action, from upcycling workshops to a tour of carbon removal technology in White City.
  • We have continued to foster a low carbon culture within the council. As of 2024 we've delivered climate literacy training to over 300 members of staff, grown our Staff Climate Network and hosted internal workshops and learning sessions.

A man standing in front of an audience presenting a talk in front of a screen which says 'H&F Climate Summit 2024'.

H&F's Climate Summit at LAMDA.

Amplifying community action

  • We launched H&F's Climate Champions programme in 2024, offering support and training to residents seeking to lead climate action in their communities.
  • We continued to showcase the brilliant range of climate and ecological projects taking place in H&F via our monthly Climate Connects newsletter.
  • We supported community action to address air pollution, from tackling indoor air pollution through Imperial's WellHome programme, to supporting the installation of real-time pollution messaging on lamppost columns in White City and in two local hospital sites.

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