Purpose

This plan will set out a new strategic
direction for the council’s work on addressing the climate
emergency.  This will update and
supersede the current plan from 2020, highlighting climate risks
for Newham, setting revised targets via new carbon baselines,
talking to the need for climate adaptation work alongside emission
mitigation and making the case for a broader economically and
socially just transition towards an equitable future for people and
planet.
 
The new report will set out key missions to be
delivered in a one council approach including those that will be
about the council’s effectiveness, fundraising and
partnership capabilities. The main request will be for approval on
this new direction and delegated authority to begin delivering on
the actions supported by all service areas.

Decision

Decision:
 
For the reasons set
out in the report and its appendices Cabinet RESOLVED to Agree:
 

i) 
To approve the JTP, set out in appendix 1 and the
appendix 2 summary, as the Council’s new framework for
delivering Climate Action.

 

ii) 
That the JTP would replace the previous Climate
Action Plan from 2020.
 

iii) 
To note that the JTP, would be a living document
with annual updates to maintain flexibility to continually adapt to
changes in climate science, policy, and funding with a planned
deeper dive refresh in 2027.
 

iv) 
To note that given climate change and the needed
changes we must make as a society touch just about every aspect of
our life, it therefore has impacts on every area of the
council’s work. While this plan is detailed and
comprehensive, builds in expertise and strategies from other
service areas, it cannot go into every layer of detail on every
issue. It therefore becomes the strategic framework, direction of
travel and call to action for all of us across the council and
across Newham to action collectively.
 
Alternatives
Considered
 

a) 
The alternative to producing this new plan would
have been to continue with our existing plan. However, while it was
comprehensive in terms of areas covered, many of the actions were
out of date and not assigned to service areas and lacked an overall
framework to strategically bring together various aspects of the
complex and interconnected challenges that climate change
presents.