Brent Council seeks £10bn for climate goals
Brent Council is aiming to secure between £10.2 billion and £10.6 billion to achieve borough-wide carbon neutrality by 2030.
The ambitious target was outlined in an update presented to the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. The council's draft framework for updating its Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy for 2026-2030 highlights the significant financial challenge in meeting its climate ambitions.
The strategy, which is currently out for public engagement until 16 November, focuses on emissions reduction, nature and biodiversity, and climate resilience. Key themes for the updated strategy include consumption, resources and waste; sustainable travel; homes, buildings and the built environment; nature and green space; and supporting communities.
Despite the substantial funding gap, Brent has made progress in reducing its carbon footprint. Borough-wide territorial carbon emissions have fallen by 18% since 2019, with an estimated reduction of 185,600 tonnes per annum. Achievements include the planting of 3,600 new trees since 2022 and an 18% reduction in borough-wide territorial carbon emissions since 2019.
The council is also developing a Climate Adaptation and Resilience Framework to address risks from flooding, extreme heat, and drought. However, the report acknowledges that delivering on these ambitions will be challenging given the current financial context.
Beyond funding, the council anticipates several key risks and challenges in implementing its climate strategy. Tackling the climate emergency at a local level is not a statutory function for local authorities, and while there is support for a statutory duty, questions remain about its scope, funding, accountability, and implementation. Furthermore, significant, transformative behaviour change is still required for a modal shift from polluting vehicles, adopting energy-efficient behaviours in homes and buildings, and protecting the natural environment through a reduction in littering and fly-tipping. The persistence of litter and fly-tipping creates a damaging perception of the council and the local area, hindering engagement with residents on environmental issues. Behaviour change is also challenging to monitor with limited resources.
Another challenge is capacity and capacity building. Despite progress, widespread community climate action is not yet self-sustaining without council input. However, there is scope to build on innovative climate engagement work to achieve greater reach into communities and foster sustained, community-led action for long-term success.
To tackle the funding gap, Brent is actively seeking external grant funding and exploring financial solutions. The council has already secured approximately £17 million in external grant funding to support climate action in the borough. The strategy update also aims to place communities at the heart of the programme, empowering residents and organisations to take action and break down barriers to climate action.
The council is also seeking community feedback on the proposed delivery priorities and the timescale for achieving borough-wide carbon neutrality. The engagement process includes workshops, roadshows, and an online survey, with a target of engaging at least 300 residents and stakeholders.
More information can be found in the Public reports pack for the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday 20 October 2026: Public reports pack.