Climate change plans

Since we declared a climate emergency in 2019, we have been working to improve sustainability.  Read on to find out more about our journey so far. 

2019

• July: we declare a Climate Emergency and pledge to become a carbon neutral organisation by 2030.
• LED lighting upgrade in the Civic Centre (council office) as part of the Surrey Works Programme. 

2020

• September: first Carbon Management and Reduction Plan 2030 (PDF) (CMRP) published. (The latest version of our CMRP is published in July 2023). We also endorsed the strategic ambitions and priorities of Surrey’s Climate Change Strategy.
• Local community involvement in the planting of new trees to improve their local areas.

2021

• Spring: new grass verge management approach on a section of Hampton Court Way between Thames Ditton and Molesey, leaving  grass verges uncut until autumn to create a mini green highway to encourage new habitats and boost biodiversity.
   
• November: Esher Church School and Grovelands Primary School both win Greenredeem competition prize for their waste reduction projects part of wider Rethink Waste campaign inviting residents to sign up and carry out activities to help reduce waste and win points for doing so. 

2022

• Rolling out programme of electric vehicle charging points in Elmbridge owned car parks. 4 EVCs installed in the Hollyhedge Road car park in Cobham, the Churchfield Road car park in Weybridge and the Civic Centre car park in Esher. Each with twin charger providing a maximum 22kW to one vehicle, or 11kW to two vehicles when both sockets are in use.
   
• November: increasing biodiversity and woodland regeneration works on Weybridge Heath. Clearing of 75% of the Undergrowth, holly removal and canopy thinning to let light through and enable native plant regrowth, as well as improve public access.  
   
• December: solar panel installation at the council owned Xcel Leisure Complex and at Centres for the Community in Walton, Cobham, Claygate, Hersham and Molesey, as well as Hersham Village Hall, as part of retrofit measures. The 973 solar panels at Xcel are estimated to reduce electrical consumption on site and an estimated 75t CO2 saving per year.

2023

February

• Launch of #IdleFreeElmbridge, a campaign to raise awareness surrounding idling and the potential risks it poses to Elmbridge’s air quality. In partnership local businesses, communities, schools and residents who sign up and pledge to support the campaign. Presentations given to schools to support campaign.
   
• Green Fleet Strategy 2030 (PDF) is approved, setting out our plan to decarbonise the council’s fleet vehicles and support phased vehicle replacement programme by 2030.
   
• Advice on open fires and woodburning stoves. Shared guidance to improve the quality of the air we breathe, as well as maximising efficiency for those using them.

March

• Launch of Vision 2030 for Elmbridge with sustainability and climate change at its heart : a sustainable, thriving Elmbridge driven by the power of our community.
   
• Support to  inspirational Elmbridge Eco Hub and their diverse service offerings, which include a community fridge, repair shop and library of things, helping residents to reduce their food and general waste.
   
• Support to Cobham Ethical Vegan Market on Hollyhedge Road. Created by small independent businesses and highlighting the best of vegan street food, artisan bakes, craft vegan cheeses, handmade cosmetics, ethical clothing and jewellery, arts and crafts.

April 

• Partnering with CSR Sustain to help us meet the minimum energy efficiency requirements (MEES) on 150 properties and support us with MEES compliance. We achieve 96% compliance against the April 2023 MEES deadline.

May 

• Launch of Green Business Boost programme to support businesses to decarbonise and become more competitive.

June 

•  Intallation of a solar panel car port in the Civic Centre pay and display car park, working alongside Joju Solar, one of the UK’s leading designers and installers of solar panels.

July 

• Launch of Sustainable Elmbridge engagement strategy (PDF) and action plan (PDF), setting out how we can engage with and support community groups focused on climate change.
   
• Launch of biodiversity and ecology work programme (PDF) setting out how we are working to create the best environment for wildlife and biodiversity to thrive, as part of our Elmbridge Vision 2030.
   
• Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding agreed as part of the strategic priority programme (PDF) for sustainability projects, including the Green Fleet Strategy and countryside improvements.

August 

• Publication of DM Advice Note 7 – Supporting biodiversity and encouraging nature in development (PDF). This guidance helps ensure new developments protect and enhance biodiversity by conserving habitats, creating new ones, and strengthening links to green infrastructure. It includes supplementary planning documents and guidance for the development to preserve, manage and, where possible, enhance biodiversity.  

September 

• Launch of Climate change champions, our internal climate change champions group, which brings together colleagues from across the organisation to further embed sustainability into our day-to-day operations.

November 

• Climate community champions conference. Aims:
  • to deepen our engagement with our climate change and sustainability groups in Elmbridge.
  • feed back on current plans and get feedback.
  • feed into our engagement action plan and the start of our carbon neutral borough by 2050 plans.
     
• Installation of additional EVCs for our fleet as well expanding the network of EVCs in Elmbridge which residents can use at the Civic Centre, Community Transport Depot, Drewitts Court Pay and Display Car Park, and at the Claygate, Cobham, Hersham, Molesey and Walton Centres for the Community. 

2024

February

• Sustainable Elmbridge hub launched to give our residents more interactive and accessible information on how they can help improve sustainability in Elmbridge.
   
• Our Strategic Risk Register (PDF) is approved by Cabinet and Council. It acknowledges the impact of climate change.

April

• Expansion of air pollution monitoring, with a new station installed in Esher High Street. We now have 3 real time monitoring stations, 2 measuring nitrogen dioxide and 1 measuring particulates. Residents can see current nitrogen dioxide levels at Hampton Court Parade, East Molesey and Weybridge High Street and particulate levels in Esher High Street on UK air quality. We also carry out non automatic monitoring within the district using over 40 passive diffusion tubes to measure nitrogen dioxide.

May

• New sustainable procurement policy (PDF) is published which aims to meet the needs for goods, services, works and utilities in a way that achieves value for money for the council, society and the economy, while minimising damage to the environment. 

July

• We are supporting Surrey Solar Together scheme, which has relaunched for another round, giving our residents another way to move forward with their solar panel plans.
   
• Draft Local Plan examination: a sustainable Elmbridge is at the heart of our draft Local Plan which sets out on how we can connect communities through active travel methods such as walking and cycling, and building energy-efficient homes as part of the Elmbridge Design Code. Updates on the examination in public process are available to view. 
   
• We are setting our background and provision priorities for our off-street electric vehicle chargepoints (EVC) in the EBC public EVC provision report (PDF) and the delivery option (PDF) for future EVC provision in our council car parks. 
   
• Launch of the Elmbridge Community Climate Action Fund (ECCAF) to support community groups and organisations to help deliver carbon reduction projects and initiatives to improve sustainability in Elmbridge. 
   
• Green Fleet Strategy monitoring: read our progress in the most recently published quarterly climate change update (PDF) highlighting we now have 8 electric vehicles in our fleet of 30. The EVs include 3 pool cars for employees to use, which will help to decrease our business travel emissions.
   
• Launch of Single Use Plastic (SUP) Policy, which aims to reduce, and remove where possible, the use of Single Use Plastic from the council’s operations and services.
   
• Publication of our latest Annual Status Report (PDF) for air quality for 2023 with updates on the Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP), actions and priorities, including the engagement with schools on anti-idling and air quality as part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) air quality grants for school projects we secured. 
   
• Sustainable Elmbridge engagement: Climate Panel initiative. We are moving forward with holding a climate panel (PDF) to engage with a wider range of residents to help shape the plans for a carbon neutral borough by 2050. 
   
• Publication of new Sustainable Procurement Policy to meet the needs for goods, services, works and utilities in a way that achieves value for money for the council, communities, and the economy, while minimising damage to the environment.

August

• We are working on reducing engine-idling in the borough together with the community and businesses. Businesses can now get involved by signing a pledge to become an idle free organisation. In doing so they receive a useful anti-idling information pack to encourage their employees to switch off their engines.

September

• Boost for active travel during car free week with ‘Smoothie Bike drop-in’ events in Cobham, Walton and Weybridge.

October

• Relaunch of new airTEXT service tailored to send air pollution alerts and health advice to residents and visitors who may be more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution.
   
• Launch of Single Use Plastic business toolkit including posters, digital banners and a short you-tube animation illustrating tangible actions for businesses to share with their employees and business partners. 

November

• Free climate change training for community groups to equip them with the knowledge and tools to create impactful environmental projects.

December

• Together with Wild Capital, we have completed Surrey's first habitat bank in Cobham, located within the River Mole Biodiversity Opportunity Area and now officially listed on the national Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) register. This project supports Elmbridge in meeting its sustainable development goals by creating, restoring and protecting vital habitats.
   
• Promotion of Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 (HUG2), grant funding made available to low-income or stretched-income households with hard-to-heat properties to improve home energy efficiency.  

2025

February 

• Free online training opportunities for community groups on behaviour change with insights from the UCL Climate Action Unit.
   
• Promotion of free energy improvement guide for Surrey residents planning to improve their homes with energy-efficient upgrades.

March

• Enhancing Xcel's sustainability and energy efficiency for the future with a new solar thermal system, LED lighting and a pool cover, as well as new solar photovoltaic panels and a battery storage system at the Sports Hub.  
   
• Launch of resident climate change survey to gain input and feedback on building a greener Elmbridge and shaping initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint and meet carbon reduction targets by 2050 ran from February into March.   

April

• Launch of Elmbridge Community Climate Action Fund (ECCAF) to support local projects that promote sustainability and reduce carbon emissions in the community. 

May

• Empowering the next generation at Junior Citizen 2025. The Junior Citizen Programme, held in March and April, hosted workshops for year 6 pupils to learn essential health and safety skills, including sessions from Oxshott Net Zero on Take the JUMP. 
   
• Recruitment of Elmbridge Climate Change Citizens’ Panel to help develop an effective carbon-neutral plan that aligns with the community's needs. 
   
• Improvement works in Claygate to clear waste and prevent future fly-tipping with CCTV and installing earth bunds with wildflowers to improve biodiversity.  

June

• Launch of the Solar Together panel group buying scheme with Surrey County Council to help residents save money and reduce carbon emissions by collectively purchasing solar panels and related technology at discounted rates.  
   
• The Elmbridge Climate Change Citizen’s Panel launches their climate action journey at their first workshop on Saturday 14 June at the Low Carbon Centre, Brooklands Technical College, Weybridge.They begin shaping our local response to climate change. 
   
• Relaunch of Clean air day and free airTEXT service. A reminder of how the air we breathe affects our health and offering tips and inspiration to make lasting changes that support cleaner air in Elmbridge and beyond. 
   
• To celebrate Great Big Green Week, we invite residents to make simple swaps and repairs, including clothes swaps and visiting repair cafes, that will contribute to making our communities better, greener and healthier for the future. Primary schools also invited to run as many eco-friendly activities as possible to win a prize.  

July 2025

• The second Climate Change Citizens’ Panel session takes place on Saturday 5 July 2025 at Brooklands Technical College in Weybridge, bringing participants together once again to explore the environmental impact of transport in Surrey and its contribution to carbon emissions.  

September

• The Elmbridge Climate Change Citizens’ Panel meets for a third session earlier this month, bringing together residents, experts and local organisations focused on driving behaviour change towards a more sustainable future. This time, they focus on green spaces, housing and planning.
   
• We mark Recycle Week 2025, the UK’s biggest annual recycling campaign, as well as Second Hand September with a promotional campaign encouraging everyone to recycle more of those everyday items that often get overlooked, and to buy second-hand and pre-loved items.  
   
• We help promote Surrey County Council's new two group-buying schemes for residents: Switch Together (for heat pump installation) and the Big Community Switch to save money on energy bills.