Hammersmith and Fulham Council faces significant hurdles in achieving its net-zero ambitions, according to a report presented to the Climate, Sustainability and Travel Policy and Accountability Committee. The committee, in its inaugural meeting on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, heard that while the council has established programmes and a strong track record in securing external funding, the scale and pace of investment required, coupled with limitations in local authority powers, present major challenges.

Key among these limitations is the council's limited local authority control over key levers such as energy pricing, national regulation and vehicle standards, meaning it is unable to directly influence gas vs electricity pricing, national retrofit policy or vehicle phase-out timelines. This was outlined in the public reports pack for the meeting.

Hinesh Mehta, Assistant Director for Climate and Transport, outlined the council's current approach, highlighting manifesto commitments to reduce energy bills, cut emissions, and improve air quality. Existing initiatives include the H&F Healthy Homes programme, retrofit projects for social housing, micromobility hire schemes, and efforts to improve air quality through the Better Health Better Air programme.

Despite these efforts, the report identified key constraints. These include the substantial investment needed to meet net-zero targets, market and delivery challenges such as supply chain capacity and cost inflation, and the emerging market for heat networks and heat pumps. The complexity of driving large-scale behavioural change among residents also poses a significant hurdle.

Councillor Ross Melton, Chair of the committee, noted the report's findings. The committee is set to develop a structured work programme for the 2026/27 municipal year, focusing on detailed examination of existing policies, engagement with external experts, and the formulation of informed recommendations. Potential themes for this work include energy bills and the cost of living, decarbonisation of buildings, sustainable transport strategy, air quality improvement, climate finance, and innovation.

The committee's terms of reference empower it to scrutinise the council's response to the climate emergency, transport policy, and the environmental impact of planning policy. The next meeting is scheduled for November 3, 2026. The agenda for the inaugural meeting can be found here, and the full public reports pack is available here.