Westminster declares an Ecological Emergency

Westminster City Council has announced major new environmental commitments for nature and wildlife in the city.  

At a meeting of Full Council on Wednesday 20 September, the council declared an Ecological Emergency in the City of Westminster, recognising the devastating effects of climate change and development on our natural environment as well as committing the council to further action to protect wildlife and improve biodiversity.

As a result, the council has committed itself to make its housing estates, parks and open spaces more hospitable to a wide range of plants and animals, and will work with local schools, businesses, and community groups to advise on protecting and enhancing habitats.

The council has also received the recommendations of Westminster’s Citizens Climate Assembly. This the first assembly of its kind in Westminster, made up of around 50 randomly selected residents. The group attended a series of workshops during the summer to develop proposals to make Westminster a greener and more sustainable city. The recommendations were presented at the meeting of Full Council on 20 September and include:

• Funding new greening projects to increase biodiversity.

• Increasing recycling rates across the city.
• Ensuring council buildings are equipped with renewable energy technology.

The council is also working on a Green Infrastructure Audit to assess the current condition and quality of green spaces in Westminster. The most recent Open Space Audit data that is available found that only 39% of Westminster SINCs demonstrated ‘average to rich’ or ‘rich’ species diversity, which demonstrates the importance of committing to enhance our green spaces. Earlier this year, the council announced £350k of funding for new green infrastructure projects as part of the Greening Westminster programme. This will enable local resident groups to deliver a series of new green spaces in their communities.

Four years ago this week, on 18 September 2019, Westminster City Council declared a Climate Emergency, and has committed to ambitious targets including becoming a Net Zero council by 2030 and a Net Zero city by 2040. This declaration of an ecological emergency expands upon this, strengthening the council’s commitment to preserve the natural environment and to help minimise the impact of climate change on the city.

Despite Westminster’s location at the heart of London, the city boasts diverse wildlife and a wealth of open spaces. Around 25 per cent of Westminster is made up of parks and green spaces and the city has 33 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs). Westminster’s parks are home to various species of bird and wildfowl including tawny owls and geese. The city is also known to be home to species of bat, hedgehogs, foxes, insects, and invertebrates.

The City Council owns and looks after over 300 different species of trees, providing a network of habitats for birds, invertebrates, and other wildlife.  It is likely there are over a thousand different tree species in Westminster. Some of the more unusual trees in council ownership include nettle trees on Argyll Street, a mature elm on Marylebone High Street (a rare survivor of Dutch elm disease), and Dawn redwoods on Carey Street, behind the Royal Courts of Justice. There are a few remaining mature pear trees in St John’s Wood which are thought to be remnants of the market gardens, making them more than 200 hundred years old. 

Councillor Ryan Jude, Deputy Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Biodiversity, said:

“Tonight’s declaration shows that we recognise the global ecological emergency and the local impacts it has on Westminster residents. It acknowledges that the climate and ecological emergencies are intertwined, and that we must act now to fight both these crises.

“Over the last year, we have already taken steps to improve biodiversity in Westminster, including the 'Greening Westminster' fund, the 'No Mow May' initiative, and the ban on the use of Glyphosate, and this declaration will enable us to build on these achievements, to improve local action to support nature.

“I look forward to working with local partners as we develop our approach to achieving this.”