Greenwich councillors debated the urgent need for climate change adaptation and resilience measures during a council meeting on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The discussion highlighted the increasing severity of climate impacts, with Councillor George Edgar citing the record-breaking heatwave of 2026 and the wettest winter on record as evidence of the need for stronger local action.
Councillor Edgar proposed a motion calling for adaptation and resilience to be given higher priority in decision-making at both national and local levels. He argued for stronger local action to build resilience and support residents, householders, and businesses in coping with the impacts of climate change. Councillor Edgar felt that the council was not doing enough
and need[s] to do more,
indicating that the Green Group would not accept an amendment to the motion.
Councillor Calum O'Byrne Mulligan, Cabinet Member for Transport, Climate Change, Waste & Streets, proposed an amendment to the motion. He argued that the original motion was too generic
and did not adequately reflect the specific actions already taken by Greenwich Council. The amendment aimed to focus the motion on Greenwich's specific context and achievements. Councillor Edgar stated that the amendment misses the point.
Despite the disagreement, the amendment was put to a vote and agreed. The substantive motion, as amended, was then carried. Councillors resolved to redouble efforts to reduce operational emissions, continue supporting the retrofitting of council buildings (with £5.7m invested) and local schools (leveraging £1m), and build on the council's £21m investment in energy efficiency for council housing. These measures aim to reduce energy bills and cut carbon emissions, with plans to invest over £50 million in decarbonising homes in the next three years. This includes upgrading communal heating systems from gas to air source heat pumps and securing funding for sheltered housing upgrades, projected to save 24.8 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
The motion also resolved to use the council's Local Transport Action Plan to support London's ambitions for 80% of journeys to be made by sustainable transport. The plan is intended to strengthen the council's case for improving public transport provision and lobby Transport for London (TfL) for new bus routes. The council will continue the Green Investment Scheme, which has already provided over £1.7 million for local climate resilience projects while delivering a return to residents, and deliver the £1m Community Energy Fund. Furthermore, a Tree and biodiversity strategy will be delivered to support nature and champion urban cooling through increased canopy coverage. The council will also continue to work with staff to ensure safe working practices in light of extreme temperatures and ensure all council reports show due regard to the climate impact of council policies and actions. Greenwich Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 and passed its Carbon Neutral Plan in 2021, having already reduced its operational emissions by a third since 2019. Annual updates on Net Zero progress will continue to be published and presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee every year, with the next update expected in early 2027.
