Richmond upon Thames Council's commitment to its net-zero by 2043 target has come under fire, with critics arguing the current climate strategy lacks the necessary detail and urgency. During a council meeting on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Councillor Andrée Frieze, Leader of the Opposition, questioned the practical pathways to achieving the ambitious goal.
Councillor Frieze highlighted that a significant 45.5% of the borough's emissions stem from domestic energy consumption, with 77,000 homes currently heated by gas boilers. She argued that to meet the 2043 target, approximately 4,300 homeowners need to transition from gas boilers to electric or hydrogen boilers or heat pumps annually. However, she noted that currently, only 3,500 gas boilers are replaced like-for-like each year, and a mere 306 heat pumps have been installed across the entire borough. The pathways to net zero outlined in the council's climate strategy set targets the accompanying action plan does not set out how those targets will be met we need milestones we need to assess our actions against those milestones and we need to adjust actions,
Councillor Frieze stated, emphasizing the absence of specific, measurable milestones in the current strategy.
Councillor Julia Neden-Watts, Deputy Leader and Chair of the Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee, acknowledged the net-zero ambition and outlined several initiatives aimed at tackling emissions. These include the forthcoming Smarter Homes hub, an online resource designed to support residents undertaking home retrofits, and the Richmond Community Energy Cooperative. The cooperative aims to facilitate community investment in solar and batteries for public buildings, exploring other renewables and financing methods with partners like schools and places of worship to boost local energy generation and reduce emissions while retaining ownership and benefits within the borough. An Richmond community energy accelerator fund
will also be established to finance feasibility studies that often hinder projects from starting, with funding recycled to support subsequent schemes. More details on these initiatives are expected at committee and full council meetings in March.
Councillor Caroline Wren echoed concerns about the council's pace, suggesting it is not acting with the urgency of a declared climate emergency. She called for more ambitious actions, including public awareness campaigns to bridge the knowledge gap among residents regarding decarbonisation options and financial support for home retrofitting. Councillor Wren suggested that some of the council's climate reserves could be used to inform residents about available options and encourage them to pursue decarbonisation, citing government data that shows a significant disconnect between people's desire to act on climate change and their awareness of specific solutions like air source heat pumps.
Councillor Jonathan Cardy, Chair of the Planning Committee, pointed to the council's planning powers as a key tool for driving change. He explained that these powers are used to mandate higher insulation standards and solar panel adoption in new developments and extensions, often exceeding typical residential levels. Furthermore, the council offers free planning advice for residents looking to install solar panels.
Councillor Jim Millard, Deputy Leader and Finance and Resources Lead Member, addressed the financial aspects, assuring that reserves allocated to climate action and waste and recycling initiatives would be protected, contingent on the council maintaining its overall reserves. He underscored the importance of the council's transformation programme in safeguarding these priorities amidst broader funding pressures.
Residents can find more information about the council's climate strategy and related initiatives in the Public reports pack for the meeting on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, available at Public reports pack Tuesday 27-Jan-2026 19.00 Council.pdf.