The Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee of Islington Council met on Tuesday 10 March 2026 to discuss the council's climate emergency response over the past year. The meeting focused on a comprehensive review of achievements and ongoing initiatives across various sectors, including planning, housing, energy, transport, green spaces, and community engagement.

Delivering Climate Action over the last year

The committee was scheduled to review a report detailing Islington Council's climate action achievements from the previous year. This report highlighted progress made in decarbonising homes and council buildings, promoting energy efficiency, and expanding green spaces. It also outlined ongoing work in areas such as transport infrastructure, air quality improvement, and supporting green enterprise. The report aimed to provide an overview of the breadth of work delivered across the borough and to inform future collective accomplishments.

Planning Policy and Guidance

Discussions were scheduled to cover the development and publication of Islington Council's Climate Action Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) in September 2025. This SPD is intended to support the Local Plan (2023) and is complemented by a user-friendly Retrofit Handbook for building sustainability improvements. The report pack indicated that the council offers a free planning advice service for retrofit applications, with 43 duty planning appointments having taken place since April 2025, primarily concerning window replacements, air source heat pumps, and solar panels.

Decarbonising Social Housing

The meeting was set to include an update on the decarbonisation of social housing, with capital works progressing to install low-carbon heating. The report indicated that 78% of internal installations were complete, with 101 out of 130 dwellings in Bevin Court and Holford House finished. It was noted that heat interface unit (HIU) installations linked to communal Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) had already reduced gas use year-on-year, saving approximately 500,000 kWh and 91.1 tonnes of CO2e, even before the full completion of the project.

Energy Advice

The committee was scheduled to receive information on the Seasonal Health Intervention Network (SHINE) and the broader energy advice service. By December 2025, SHINE had received 1,969 referrals against a target of 2,700 for 2025/26 and delivered 7,667 interventions, including LED lighting and draft proofing. The service had also secured over £10,000 in debt relief and booked 358 Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Retrofit Assessments.

Promoting Private Sector Retrofit

The report pack indicated that Islington Council had been active in encouraging residents and businesses to improve energy efficiency. An Introduction to Retrofitting event saw 20 attendees, with a reported 20% increase in their likelihood to install retrofit measures post-event. Ten Energy Advice Pop-Ups engaged 222 residents, and four Energy Saving DIY workshops were delivered by Adult Community Learning, attended by 24 residents. A domestic retrofit campaign for renters and homeowners was also launched, featuring updated website advice, interviews on social media, and a dedicated Cleaner Greener bulletin. For businesses, the council continued to support the Islington Sustainability Network and the Islington Anchor Institutions group, with 33 Energising Small Business Grants (£43k) completed, estimated to save 27 tonnes of CO2 per annum.

Decarbonising Council Buildings

The meeting was scheduled to review the decarbonisation of council operational buildings. Projects completed included the decarbonisation of Archway Leisure Centre and King Henry's Walk Care Home. Detailed design for the decarbonisation of Richard Cloudesley School was also completed, with the main contractor to be procured in March/April 2026, aiming to save 26.9 tonnes of CO2e per year. Additionally, GLA funding was secured for solar PV and LED installations in five schools: Drayton Park, Rotherfield, Vittoria, Laycock primary schools, and Richard Cloudesley Secondary School.

Islington Borough Energy Plan

The committee was to be briefed on the ongoing development of the Islington Borough Energy Plan, which aims to decarbonise the borough's energy system. The plan involves detailed analysis and modelling of three scenarios to guide the energy transition, with a focus on required interventions such as heat networks, air source heat pumps, fabric retrofit, and transport interventions. The total estimated investment required for net zero was projected at £3,455 million.

Low Carbon Heat Networks

Discussions were scheduled to cover opportunities to expand the borough's heat networks and improve access to cleaner, low-carbon, and affordable heat. This includes the expansion of the Bunhill Heat and Power Network (BHPN) to connect City Forum and Telfer House, and procurement for a new Energy Pavilion to supply the Harvist Estate. Islington Council is also working with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero as a pilot for Heat Network Zones, with an initial business case to attract £180 million of private sector investment for the South Islington heat network.

Islington Community Energy Fund (ICEF)

The meeting was to review the Islington Community Energy Fund (ICEF), which has provided over £760,000 in grant funding to 59 projects since 2017, saving approximately 208 tonnes of CO2 per annum. The final round of ICEF applications has been processed, supporting six projects, including four solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, one heat pump optimisation project, and one secondary glazing and LED project. These six projects are expected to save nearly 34 tonnes of carbon per annum.

Transport

The report pack indicated that Islington had been recognised for its transport initiatives. For the fifth consecutive year, the borough was named the top inner London borough in the Healthy Streets Scorecard, ranking second overall to the City of London. In Transport for London's (TfL) Travel for Life programme, 44 schools achieved gold level. The council had delivered 205 dockless hire bike parking bays, with 80 more to be installed by the end of March 2026, and hire bike usage had risen significantly. Cycle training saw 2,130 children trained in the first three quarters of 2025/26, exceeding previous full-year totals, with over 400 adults also trained.

Islington also continued to perform well in Electric Vehicle (EV) charge point delivery, ranking ninth in the country for charge point distribution for households without driveways. An additional 40 fast charge points were installed in autumn 2025, bringing the total to 641, with public engagement complete for a further 130. The council received a £933k funding award from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles to enable the installation of at least 840 new charge points, supporting the ambition of 1,481 on-street charge points by 2030. Bike hangars numbered 563 as of December 2025, with a 72% occupancy rate. New bus lanes and crossing points were under construction on City Road to improve bus speeds and reliability.

Air Quality

The report indicated that air quality in Islington continues to improve, with pollution levels at their best since monitoring began in 2000. Nitrogen dioxide levels had reduced by 42% between 2017 and 2023. A consultation for the new Air Quality Action Plan was completed, with its release scheduled for 2026. Projects installing air quality reduction measures at care homes had been completed, and training on smoke control enforcement was delivered to 177 attendees. An air quality engagement project in Highbury and Mildmay included a real-time air quality website, citizen science workshops, and art competitions. A bus project with University College London (UCL) students examined air quality data and driver behaviour at bus stands.

Delivering Green Spaces and Enhancing the Natural Environment

Islington Council has committed to repurposing 1.5 hectares into new greenspace, with £1.3m allocated in the 2026/27 budget. To date, 57 schemes have been completed, totalling 5,364 sq meters, which is 36% of the 2026 target. Ideas from residents participating in the Islington Climate Panel have been incorporated into plans for greening and the Green Infrastructure Strategy. A record 702 net new trees were planted across the borough in 2024/25, and the council is confident in meeting the net 600 target for 2025/26. The council is also identifying areas for increased greening through road and pavement greening initiatives and Pocket Park projects. Engagement with 23 education settings has involved technical support, guidance, and assemblies, tree-planting, and connection to nature activities.

Parks for Health

The number of Green Flag parks increased to 14, with an additional five Community Green Flags. Islington received the London in Bloom Gold Award, including the Health and Wellbeing Award, and a Britain in Bloom 2025 Outstanding Award for Gardening for Health and Wellbeing. Partnerships with Age UK, The Garden Classroom, and the Bright Start service for under 5s have continued, delivering community gardening, Urban Forest School programmes, and 'Stay and Plays' in parks. A new community hub at Barnard Park offers activities several times a week. A Parks Satisfaction Survey received 271 responses, with over 98% reporting positive physical wellbeing benefits and over 95% reporting positive mental wellbeing benefits from parks. Up to December 2025, 574 events were delivered, involving 15,400 volunteers.

Climate and Play: A research study

University College London (UCL) collaborated with Islington Council to explore how the changing climate affects children's outdoor play and wellbeing. The project gathered insights from children's experiences and mapped accessible greenspaces, highlighting the connection between people and their local environments. The research aims to inform policymakers and planners in creating safer, greener, and more adaptable play spaces.

Community Greening Partnership

A five-year collaboration between Islington Council, Octopus Community Network, and the National Trust has been established to empower communities to take action on nature and climate. This partnership will develop Nature Anchors through community centres to support community-led green spaces. Community centres within the Octopus Network will coordinate delivery, with a focus on community leadership in co-designing and implementing greening measures to support the council's target of creating 1.5 hectares of new greenspace. The model builds on the framework developed through the Nature Neighbourhoods programme in Tufnell Park.

Islington Greener Together

The Islington Greener Together (IGT) programme has facilitated the creation of more publicly accessible green spaces by encouraging community-submitted project ideas. Following a successful first round, seven projects have been selected for feasibility and design development for round 2. Greening projects have been delivered at Godson Street, Wharfdale Road, Noel Road, Hazellville Road, and Ronalds Road, creating 73 square metres of new green space. Two remaining projects at Linton Street and Marriott Road are currently in the development stage.

Liveable Neighbourhoods Schools Street, Cycleways and Greening

Islington Council has continued to develop Liveable Neighbourhoods, transforming local streets into greener, safer, and healthier spaces. This has included building the Mildmay and Cally Liveable Neighbourhoods, a new School Street at Mildmay, and a segregated cycle crossing of Essex Road. Construction has begun on the St John Street public realm scheme, and consultations have been completed for a proposed Secondary School Street at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and the Annette Road liveable neighbourhood. The People Friendly Pavements programme has improved walking and wheeling routes, with 220m of pavement improvements completed on Caledonian Road and plans for a further 350m in 2026/27. Seven other locations have had pavement resurfacing, totalling 330m. In total, 36% of the 1.5 hectares of additional greening target has been achieved, with 28% more planned. Specific examples of work include transformations at Freeling Street East and West, and Frederica Street, with Tilloch Street under construction.

Supporting Green Enterprise and Innovation

A partnership between Islington Council and Manor Gardens Welfare Trust has established Jean's Café, a community-run, zero-waste, plant-based café at Jean Stokes Community Centre. The café provides meals made from surplus food and has delivered £170,000 worth of social value, with carbon savings of 5554kg compared to meat-based meals. The initiative has served over 900 plant-based meals, provided training for 46 catering staff, and hosted community events reaching over 500 residents.

The council has also focused on increasing the sustainability of local economy areas and businesses. The Islington Sustainability Network (ISN) has grown to over 150 members and launched a members' charter. The ISN has organised retrofit site visits, published newsletter case studies, and held its first sustainability summer fair. A climate business resilience toolkit, developed for ISN, was launched in November 2025 to help businesses identify and mitigate climate-related risks.

UK Shared Prosperity Funded Project

To mark World Car Free Day in September, a £20,000 funding pot was established for local businesses and community organisations to host events encouraging walking, cycling, and wheeling. Funded via the UK Shared Prosperity programme with grants of up to £5,000, the project resulted in six events attended by approximately 1,833 people, with 14,389 people engaged and 91 volunteering opportunities supported.

Green Skills in Islington

Islington's Adult Community Learning (ACL) offers a range of green skills and sustainability courses. These include Digital Skills for Green Living, Cycle Mechanic Courses (leading to City and Guilds qualifications), and Eco-Family Arts and Crafts sessions. Big Green Week in June 2025 included 12 workshops and 54 enrollments, with plans for repeat events in 2026. The Green Skills hub at Holloway Park has increased women's participation in trades by delivering a fully funded plumbing pre-apprenticeship to 10 women, with six progressing to work experience and three securing apprenticeships. A Women in Trades event attracted over 40 attendees. A Green Futures Event and Green Skills Fair, in collaboration with Camden and Westminster Councils, and the London Clean Air Initiative, had approximately 821 attendees.

Waste and Recycling

The North London Joint Waste Strategy (NLWA) was approved by Islington and other constituent boroughs. The Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan (RRP) has been extended until Summer 2026, with a new RRP being developed. A recycling communications and engagement campaign has aimed to motivate residents to recycle more and contaminate less, with increased website views and leaflet distribution. The food waste campaign demonstrated that personalised engagement, practical support, and clear messaging can influence recycling habits. Food waste recycling services have been rolled out to suitable estate properties and are being extended to flats above shops.

Regular textile repair and upcycling events, electrical item repairs, clothes swaps, and furniture repair cafés continue. Investment in recycling facilities on estates is ongoing. In the first half of 2025/26, Islington's household recycling rate was 33.9%, with residual waste per household projected at a record low of 251kg for the year. A recycling survey received almost 500 responses, and a subsequent recycling summit generated ideas for improvement, with committee recommendations to be agreed in April.

Engaging, Empowering and Partnering

Islington Council has received awards including best single-tier local authority for climate change efforts, Bikeability Large Organisation of the Year, and healthiest inner London borough. The Islington Climate Panel concluded and launched a report on building climate resilience, leading to the establishment of an internal delivery group focused on improving preparation for and response to climate-related risks, including cool space mapping and heatwave resilience leaflets distributed to over 3,200 vulnerable residents. The new Islington Climate Action Plan incorporates climate resilience, with input from Climate Panel members and residents through workshops and pop-up sessions.

To build a climate-conscious council, new mandatory climate action training is being launched, and environmental implications are being reviewed in decision-making reports and council procurement. Six training sessions were delivered to 64 staff to identify and minimise negative environmental impacts. Externally, Islington has collaborated with other boroughs through the London Councils' Climate Change Programme. The Anchor Institutions group for carbon emission reduction is developing priorities, including a commitment to reduce scope 3 emissions across supply chains and explore climate adaptation and resilience. The council has produced guidance for schools to establish Climate Action Plans and established a cross-service Sustainability in Education network.

Finance and Investment

A £28.797m capital programme for climate action has been approved by Full Council, including £16.774m for Liveable Neighbourhoods and £1.300m for new greenspace. The Net Zero Project Pipeline, published with 30 London Boroughs, identifies 987 projects valued at approximately £35bn, with around £4bn within Islington. The council is supporting the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's Advanced Zoning Programme, targeting heat network ambitions for the south of the borough. Green finance initiatives and private finance are being explored, including participation in the GLA and London Councils' Climate Budgeting Workshops. The Islington Council Pension Fund has reported a 48% reduction in emissions compared to a 2016 baseline. The council continues to work on commercial models and potential delivery partners for heat networks, as highlighted in the Investment Prospectus for Bunhill Heat Network.