Citizens’ Climate Assembly

50 Westminster residents were selected at random to attend assembly sessions and address the following issue:

  • How can we overcome the main barriers to Westminster becoming a net zero city by 2040 together? How do we ensure this is delivered in the fairest way?

Recommendations from these sessions will be reported to the council and will inform an updated version of Westminster Council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan.

What are the barriers to Westminster becoming a net zero city?

  • Common myths and a lack of critical thinking in our public discourse

  • Policy is not evidence-based

Some statistics

  • Only 34% of households have access to a car

  • Car ownership is not fairly distributed amongst Westminster citizens

  • The majority of the Westminster citizens use sustainable transport on a regular basis (2021):

    • All forms 83%

    • walking 43%

    • cycling 3%

    • public transport 38%

Benefits of active transport and reducing car use

  • Good for climate : reduces CO2 emissions

  • Good for you : longer healthier lives through more active lifestyle

  • Good for communities : improving social cohesion and mental well-being

  • Good for Westminster : reduce road danger, improve air and environmental quality

What do we need to do?

Implement the Healthy Streets Scorecard Measures

1. Borough-wide Low Traffic Neighbourhoods

2. A default 20mph speed limit on all borough and Transport for London controlled roads

3. Small-area Controlled Parking Zones borough-wide

4. Protected cycle lanes on main roads

5. Traffic-free streets around all schools and safe walking and cycling routes to school

6. Bus priority on all routes 24/7