The borough has seen a significant drop in greenhouse gas emissions per person, according to a new report from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
According to the newly released figures, Ealing has seen a significant decrease of 49% in carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions per person since records began in 2005, significantly better than the national average.
This equates to an overall total decrease of 40% in emissions from 2005 which is in line with the London average too.
The report gives the latest estimates of the overall reduction in greenhouse emissions, as well as those per person, for UK local authority areas for 2005-2021. These emissions are usually attributed to transport, the domestic sector, industry, agriculture and the waste management sector.
Carbon dioxide emissions across the UK have dropped overall by 39% since 2005 with a significant fall in 2020 at the height of the pandemic. Coming out of lockdown between 2020 and 2021, there was an 8% increase across the capital as the economy resumed. However, emissions are still lower overall than before the pandemic.
There is still more work to do to reduce harmful emissions such as nitrous oxide and particulate matter, small invisible particles that people breathe in and can damage their health.
Driving change locally
Ealing Council is committed to make the borough carbon neutral by 2030 – a huge ambition that it can only achieve with the help of residents and businesses. It requires everyone in the borough to commit to reducing their ‘carbon footprint’ so we can all enjoy clean air, good health and a thriving economy.
Councillor Deirdre Costigan, Ealing Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for climate action, said: “Working towards a net zero borough, we have already achieved a lot – being one of the top three London boroughs for recycling; installing hundreds of new electric vehicle charging points; being the capital’s cheapest for bike storage; defending the borough from flooding; retrofitting homes; and protecting and growing the borough’s biodiversity.
“I am delighted that carbon emissions have dropped so significantly in Ealing – but we are determined to continue investing in active travel, phasing out gas boilers and clamping down on idling to reduce our emissions even further.
“We will continue supporting local people and businesses to take steps to address climate change that contribute to a more environmentally friendly future for our borough.”
During this year’s London Climate Action Week, local people joined a virtual panel talk discussing how climate change effects residents in Ealing. Watch a recording of the panel talk on YouTube.
Why not have a look at some simple measures to make your homes more energy efficient in hot and cold weather and save you money. See 10 Things everyone can do to reduce energy use at home on the council’s website.
Everyone has a ‘carbon footprint’ – from the food you eat and clothes you wear, to the energy you use, and the holidays you take. Why not measure yours to see where you can really make a difference by using the free WWF Footprint Calculator?
