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Candidates from all parties and none standing for election to Enfield Council next month are being challenged to agree that if elected they will press for implementation of a list of measures designed to "confront, tackle and adapt to the climate emergency".

The challenge is laid out in a "manifesto" sent to all candidates by Enfield Climate Action Forum (EnCAF), a coalition which brings together more than a hundred Enfield-based organisations and is also open to individuals living in the borough.

The manifesto asks candidates to acknowledge the profound risks created by climate change, the need to both mitigate and adapt to its effects and to protect the most vulnerable people and ensure that measures taken do not cause suffering for the most disadvantaged members of the community.

It sets out a list of actions needed to cut waste; reduce car use; cut pollution; ensure that the planning system works to reduce rather than exacerbate climate risk; and mitigate flood risk.

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A manifesto from Enfield Climate Action Forum (EnCaf) to confront, tackle and adapt to the climate emergency

The emergency that is climate change creates a profound risk to the health and wellbeing of Enfield residents, workers and visitors of all ages.

The crisis that is climate change is an ecological catastrophe in waiting. It is essential to both mitigate and adapt to climate change, and to protect the most vulnerable.

It is vital that the most disadvantaged members of our community do not suffer as we move towards a green economy. We support climate justice.

Building individual and collective resilience is critical to tackling the impact of climate change and is a whole community endeavour. Collaboration with civil society is essential, for instance through local networks such as Enfield Climate Action Forum (EnCaf).

Therefore by signing this manifesto, I commit, if elected as a councillor, to the following actions ..."


CUT WASTE

  • Adopt the London Plan's target of 65 per cent recycling of household, commercial and industrial wastes by 2030 as a minimum target for Enfield.
  • Commit to less than 10 per cent of Enfield's waste going to either landfill or Energy from Waste incineration by 2040.
  • Support a policy that ensures all residents have access to food waste and dry recycling services and bins by 2023.
  • Provide adequate and environment friendly waste bins in all public places, including parks and outside fast food shops.

CUT UNNECESSARY CAR USE

  • Set an example by walking, cycling and using public transport.
  • Ensure our roads, pavements and green spaces are safe for children, families, prams and buggies, walkers. older people. wheelchair users and those with disabilities.
  • Use traffic control measures to minimise the traffic flow through residential areas.
  • Ensure our roads are safe for cyclists.
  • Implement policies to eliminate the school run, as far as possible.
  • Extend school streets across the borough.

INVEST IN SUSTAINABLE ASSETS

  • Divest from assets which do not contribute to a decarbonised economy.

CUT POLLUTION

  • Bring air quality to within statutory limits throughout Enfield. Install appropriate means of measuring air quality (NOX and particulates) in all areas likely to exceed statutory limits (e.g. A406. A1010. Bullsmoor Lane). Rigorously monitor near schools. Take measures to restrict traffic when statutory limits are exceeded.
  • Lobby the Mayor of London to extend the Ultra-Low Emission Zone to the M25.

PLAN FOR THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY

  • Ensure building regs are fit for purpose in a climate emergency. Green space and shade, sufficient for leisure, good health and the mitigation of the heat island effect a,re equitably distributed across Enfield.
  • All new builds to passivhaus standards
  • A retrofit programme of insulation (against heat and cold stress) in all council homes and buildings. Work with residents and landlords to encourage the same across all homes in
  • Create tiny forests in the east of Enfield wherever space is available
  • Limit all new buildings to a maximum of 11 storeys (the height of the Civic Centre) and prioritise building designs that reduce the impact of high temperatures and the need for air conditioning.
  • Restrict use of air conditioning in planning policy unless it embraces the new technologies of near carbon zero
  • Ensure buildings are re-purposed and demolition reduced to minimum.

USE LAND WISELY

  • Use Enfield's most valued asset, its lan,. for agriculture. forestry, leisure and tourism to provide skilled jobs, locally grown food and a thriving local land-based economy.
  • Invest in the use of agricultural land for agroforestry and market gardening.
  • Support efforts to protect native plants and wildlife.
  • Make parks fully accessible, safe and enjoyable for all
  • Optimise use of brownfield sites for genuinely affordable family homes.
  • Prohibit building on the green bel,. which should be prioritised for leisure, food production and a thriving land-based economy.

MITIGATE THE RISK OF FLOODS

  • Continue the programme of flood relief, rain gardens and wetlands.

EDUCATE!

  • Work with schools. volunteers and environmental activists to ensure young people have the support to be environmental and climate advocates.

ADDRESS THE RISKS TO PUBLIC HEALTH

Recognise the connection between climate change and public health. Take measures collaboratively with civil society and other statutory authorities to assess and address its impact.

Links

Enfield Climate Action Forum

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Karl Brown posted a reply
20 Apr 2022 08:54
Love the intent – even if I don’t understand why buildings restricted to 11 storeys is climate change positive – but I wonder if less might be more, and perhaps some better focus within that?
“Lobby the Mayor of London to extend the Ultra-Low Emission Zone to the M25”. This has been reported as his intent (by end 2023), so perhaps he is not the sensible lobbying target.
“Prohibit building on the green belt”. It is, right through the planning hierarchy from the NPPF, always subject to….. The grey areas are inevitably planning-detail heavy battles involving PINS. No complete prohibition has stuck or is expected to stick so I struggle to see any chance of a fundamental legal plus planning regs change occurring.
(air) Pollution focus appears to be exclusively focused on road transport. Certainly an issue but far from the whole story needing attention and action, eg seek to restrict wood burning?
In “cutting waste” I think a target to actually cut waste – such as is actually in place – is better than a focus on recycling (which is not cutting waste, simply moving it about). London is targeted to reduce the weight of waste generated per household.
On recycling itself, the desire for Enfield to commit to a 2030 65% recycling target for household waste (more correctly I imagine, Local Authority collected waste – they are not the same thing) plus commercial & industrial wastes is already a done deal. The adopted North London Waste Plan, of which Enfield is a party, commits to - almost - exactly that. It forms part of Enfield’s Development Plan, along with the Local plan and the London Plan, and so will capture this targeting. The NLWP commitment is to the London Plan’s London-wide 65% collective target which, I have always assumed, although it has not been made clear, potentially allows some overperformers balanced by some underperformers. Given London’s very unequal spread of C&I production across the boroughs that makes sense. Both household waste and LACW waste have 50% recycling targets by 2025. That said, under current legislation and processes I wouldn’t be holding my breath on either; and that’s not an Enfield specific issue.
The implied 90% recycling target by 2040 looks a tad ambitious. The most aggressive circular economy forecasts I have seen for LACW and C&I fall way short of such levels. (It would be worth being specific on the categories of waste implied in this ambition, or all waste if that is the case.)
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