Building a carbon-neutral and sustainable Elmbridge together with the community

Since declaring a climate emergency in 2019, we have been dedicated to making Elmbridge carbon-neutral and sustainable. We are now inviting residents to join us in shaping our response to climate change.

To help us develop an effective plan that aligns with the community's needs and achieves our ambitious carbon-neutral goals, we are taking the next step by recruiting an Elmbridge Climate Change Citizens’ Panel.

What is the Climate Change Citizens' Panel and how it will work?

The panel is a way to involve residents in making important local climate change decisions that will impact the entire community. To recruit panel members, we will send letters to randomly selected households that reflect the demographic make-up of Elmbridge residents. From this sample, we will enlist the help of 22 representatives to form the Climate Change Citizens' Panel.

The Panel will meet in person on five occasions between June and October. Members will share their opinions, discuss ideas, and hear from a range of climate change experts before working on a set of key recommendations for Elmbridge. 

The recommendations made by the Panel will help shape the climate change plans and actions set out by Elmbridge Borough Council in the next year and beyond, as the proposal for local government reorganisation in Surrey becomes clearer.

Prioritising the views of the wider community

In February 2025, we carried out a survey with Elmbridge residents to gather their views on our climate change priorities for the borough: clean energy, clean air, the 5 Rs (refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle), biodiversity, community champions, and sustainability in business. Their feedback and suggestions will also be reviewed by the Climate Change Citizens' Panel and included in their actionable recommendations.

Ensuring fairness and objectivity in the climate change citizens' panel

The process will be led by independent facilitators from Shared Future, a social enterprise and community interest company with extensive experience in Citizens' Panel facilitation. An advisory group has also been set up to ensure the Panel is run fairly and objectively. It includes representatives from Elmbridge Borough Council, Walton Charity, Brooklands Technical College, Surrey Climate Commission, Green Elmbridge, Surrey County Council, Claygate Parish Council, Surrey University, and NHS Surrey Heartlands.

What will happen after the panel?

Recommendations will be written by the Citizens’ Panel members with support from the facilitators. We will respond to all recommendations made by the Panel, confirming what actions will be taken.

Cllr Ashley Tilling, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, Environmental Services, and Sustainability, said, "We look forward to working with the Elmbridge Citizens' Climate Panel to develop solid carbon-reduction plans that will impact our residents and future generations. The panel will complement other climate action engagement work across the borough, including community conferences, school engagement, and events. This is a great opportunity to hear from our diverse community and will play an instrumental role in shaping our local response to climate change, creating a healthier and more sustainable future for all."

Read more information on our vision for a greener and more sustainable Elmbridge.

Find out more about the Elmbridge Climate Change Citizens' Panel