Climate group representatives at the Town Hall

CLIMATE change action groups met with councillors to discuss urgent measures to prepare for challenges posed by the climate emergency.

Representatives from eight Islington-based climate groups approached the Town Hall to encourage a “cross-party, non-partisan” meeting to discuss how Islington could respond to “mounting risks”.

Martin Franklin, who was involved in organising the meeting, told the Tribune: “After such a hot summer, it’s clear that we are now seeing the effects of the climate emergency that the government and council both declared in 2019. What we need is cooperation. The borough’s council housing is woefully equipped for the heat, we have huge food waste issues and much of the borough is susceptible to flooding.

“Everybody who knows about the challenges we face knows we have to make changes, so let’s get on and do them.”

Sixteen councillors, including both party leaders Una O’Halloran and Benali Hamdache, attended the meeting. It was organised by the Islington Environment Forum, Islington Climate Centre and the Islington Environmental Alliance. The meeting identified a number of policies that both parties could “progress with jointly”.

Mr Franklin added: “We wanted to find practical solutions, not to dwell on the past. Figure out where we are and how we can move beyond that.

“It was frank and open, we discussed obstacles and hopefully the suggestions we made can be developed into practical policy.”

It was agreed at the meeting that another would be scheduled for early 2027 to monitor progress.