Climate action

Waste

Our vision, as set out in our Climate Action Plan (PDF, 9037.32 KB), is that by 2040 people who live or work in Enfield will have reduced the amount of waste they produce. No waste will end up in landfill, and waste will be used as a resource.

This will mean:

• waste will be recycled or composted from all buildings in Enfield
• businesses in Enfield will have reduced the plastic they sell to customers
• everyone in Enfield will understand the importance of keeping resources in use for as long as possible, getting the highest possible value from them, and then recovering and regenerating products and materials at the end of their ‘service life’. This is sometimes referred to as the ‘circular economy.’
• everyone will be encouraged to buy their food locally, and to use local land for growing food

Our Rubbish and Recycling page explains more about what goes into which bins and how you can recycle more effectively.

Enfield Council, along with partners such as the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) will from time to time host events to help those living and working in the borough to reduce, reuse, repair and recycle. View the latest events hosted by the NLWA.

Tree planting

We are delivering a broad programme of tree planting in recognition of the many benefits trees can deliver, including:

• capturing carbon to fight climate change
• making better places for people and wildlife
• helping to keep streets cool during the summer by providing shade
• soaking up rainwater to help reduce the risk of flooding

This programme includes London's largest woodland creation project at Enfield Chase, as well as planting more trees in streets, schools and parks all over the borough.

We are working with a range of partners to create these new woodlands, including The Mayor of London, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Thames21.

The map shows:

• where the new woodland creation project is taking place in Enfield Chase
• street trees to be planted in 2021/22
• parks and open spaces where trees have been planted in recent years
• parks and open spaces where trees are being considered for woodland creation in the near future

View our tree planting update (PDF).

Blue and Green Strategy

Over the next ten years, we aim to become the greenest London borough by creating more publicly accessible green spaces and areas of woodland. You can find out more about these ambitions in our Blue and Green Strategy.

Trees in your area

We recognise that extra tree planting is needed, particularly in the east of Enfield, to make sure green spaces are better balanced across the borough.

We want to hear from you about the places you think would be best to plant trees. Is there a space on your street, school or local park that would be ideal for a single tree or even a mini-woodland?

If you would like to propose an idea, visit the Let’s Talk Blue and Green Hub. You will be able to drop a pin on a map with suggestions on where you would like a tree to be planted.

Woodland creation

We are committed to developing a planting programme across urban areas. We are also planting thousands of new trees as part of the Enfield Chase restoration project in the north of the borough.

The Enfield Chase restoration project, led by Enfield Council, will create a publicly accessible and sustainable native broad-leaf woodland. This will initially come with a commitment to plant 100,000 trees by 2022. There are plans to extend the planting strategy even further across
Enfield in the future.

The planting project will be delivered in partnership with Thames21 and is funded by the Mayor of London, Enfield Council and the Forestry Commission.

We have created a simple restoration map (PDF, 10995.41 KB) setting out the scope of the project and a tree species leaflet (PDF, 1898.22 KB) showing the native UK species that will be planted across 60 hectares.

Enfield Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Ian Barnes explains more in this short clip about the council’s plans.

Volunteering

We are working with Thames21 on London's largest woodland creation project, and volunteers are needed to help plant and take care of thousands of trees. Thames21 also hosts regular volunteer planting and river restoration events. To volunteer, please secure your place in advance. All volunteering activities are COVID-safe and conducted in line with government and public health guidance.

Schools climate action

Enfield schools make up more than a quarter of the council’s carbon emissions. We are committed to supporting schools in reducing their carbon emissions and helping to influence behaviour change beyond the school gates. Together we can become a carbon neutral borough by 2040.

Read our Enfield Schools Climate Action Handbook (PDF, 7516.75 KB) which has been created to support all Enfield schools on their climate action journey. It sets out some of the ways in which schools can take climate action, and provides information about helpful resources available from the council.

The handbook is for teaching staff, leadership teams, business managers, governors or any member of the school team working to make your school a more sustainable place.

Fuel poverty

Prices have risen further in the past few months so more people are at risk of fuel poverty.

Here are a few tips for how you can save on energy and reduce your bills:

• Turn down and switch off – try putting heating a degree or two lower and switch off lights and appliances when not in use
• Keep things closed – close doors to keep in heat and pull the curtains or drop the blinds when it gets dark (remember to also keep rooms ventilated to reduce the likelihood of damp and the spread of diseases including COVID-19)
• Use what you need – only use the hot water you need, for example have a shorter shower or boil just enough for a brew
• Make small improvements – draught proofing and switching to LED light bulbs are cost effective ways to reduce energy use

The Energy Saving Trust has more on quick tips for saving energy at home and the SHINE service offers help with energy bills and ways to keep well and warm.

You could also try lowering your costs by joining an energy collective buying scheme such as the Big London Energy Switch.

Help if you're struggling to pay your bills

Citizens Advice has a range of useful guides and information including one specifically about getting help with paying energy bills. Their website also has a page with information about currently trending topics.

If you are aged 50 or over, or you know someone who is that might need help, Age UK can help with applying for energy grants, understanding energy bills and resolving issues with energy suppliers. You can contact AGE UK on 0800 678 1602 (local rates apply).

The North Enfield Foodbank can provide access to debt advice as well as to a fuel bank.

Enfield Council has a Welfare Advice and Debt Support team, who provide information about helping with financial hardship. If you are in crisis now and cannot afford food or basic essentials, please call 020 8379 1000.

If you are struggling to pay your rent or are in arrears, the council has an advisory service that might be able to help.

Net Zero Innovation Programme

The Net Zero Innovation Programme (NZIP) develops partnerships of researchers and councils across England, and supports them in tackling the climate emergency through a series of projects.

Enfield Council has been chosen as part of the Net Zero Innovation Fund in partnership with the NZIP to take part in the programme.

The main aim of the programme is to reduce carbon emissions, increase biodiversity, move to net zero, and improve the quality of life of our residents and the local environment by 2040.

We are currently partnered with UCL (University College London) on a project that will identify and study opportunities for urban and peri-urban industrial areas to become low carbon. The project will focus on the Eley industrial Estate in Enfield and is due to finish by July 2022.

As part of the project, there will be a workshop in June and an event in June or July (dates to be confirmed). This will be a chance for local businesses to give their opinions and any suggestions for the project.

For more information on the NZIP, visit Local Government Association.

If you're a business local to the Eley Estate and are interested in getting involved with the project, please register your interest by emailing rajay.williams@enfield.gov.uk.

Energy efficient housing

Energy used to power homes accounts for 39% of Enfield’s borough wide carbon emissions.

Less energy efficient homes have an impact on the health and wealth of our residents.

We have been investing in our own housing stock to make improvements by:

• installing 400 heat pumps in 8 blocks to replace inefficient electric heating
• adding external wall insulation to over 30 properties, with funding secured for another 70
• connecting existing homes to the Energetik heat network
• delivering whole house retrofit using the Energiesprong approach

The council is joint lead for the Retrofit London programme, which is aiming for the average Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating for homes across London to be a minimum of B by 2030.

Energiesprong

In March 2021, Enfield Council agreed to do a pilot Energiesprong project.

Energiesprong retrofits existing buildings to improve their energy efficiency.

External works can include:

• applying an insulated exterior wall structure to the surface of your existing walls
• removing your existing windows and doors and replacing them with high-performance, triple-glazed windows and doors
• removing existing roof surfaces and replacing them with an insulated roof structure with integrated solar panels to generate electricity
• fitting a new electric-powered ‘air source heat pump’ and ventilation system. The air source heat pump will be connected to your existing central heating pipes, radiators, and hot water system.

The solar panels on your roof will provide electrical power for your heating and hot water. Any excess power generated by the solar panels that is not needed for your heating systems will contribute to your lighting and electricity use.

Internal works can include:

• replacing your heating system with a new low-carbon, electric-powered air source heat pump
• disconnecting your gas meter and removing all gas appliances, including your boiler, hob and oven, and replacing them with electrical appliances
• installing new energy/ventilation systems and connecting each room to the new ventilation system
• replacing any gas ovens or gas hobs with an energy-efficient electric model
• connecting electrical cables from the solar panels to the meter and consumer unit
• connecting the new heating system to your existing pipework and radiators

View the Energiesprong pilot project presentation (PDF, 536.96 KB), which includes information for residents who have been contacted about being involved.

Energiesprong have pioneered this zero-carbon retrofit system on more than 7,000 homes in Holland, and around 50 homes across England (in Nottingham, Devon and Essex) over the last two years.

As well as living in a warmer home, tenants will benefit from reduced energy bills and being part of the necessary change to a more environmentally friendly way of living.

Edmonton Future Neighbourhoods Strategy

We have secured funding from the Greater London Authority for our Edmonton Future Neighbourhoods Strategy. This is part of the London-wide Future Neighbourhoods 2030 (FN2030) programme.

The background

The FN2030 programme uses a place-based approach. It supports the development of strategies which have 4 overarching objectives:

• To improve London’s natural environment and air quality, and tackle the climate and ecological emergencies
• To promote and incentivise activities that sustain and grow London’s green economy
• To prioritise interventions reducing health inequalities and social injustices
• To engage Londoners and businesses in their journey to become a zero-pollution and greener city

The strategies also support neighbourhoods to develop projects ready for funding outside of this FN2030 programme, across the following key themes:

• retrofitting of homes, and commercial and public buildings
• creating a decarbonised, smart and integrated energy system
• improving air quality and creating zero-emission zones
• developing climate-adapted, resilient and green neighbourhoods
• zero-waste and circular economy

The strategy

Our Edmonton Future Neighbourhoods 2030 Strategy and Action Plan (PDF, 6152.6 KB) maps out these initiatives for Edmonton.

If you have any comments or feedback, please email climate.emergency@enfield.gov.uk.