After a record-setting summer heatwave we are now living through the impacts of climate change. Summers like the last one are likely to become more normal and we need to prepare as well as doing all we can to reduce our emissions.

As we mark Ealing Climate Week, it is a chance to reflect on the progress we have made together over the last few years and look ahead to what still needs to be done.

Tackling the climate crisis is one of Ealing Council’s top priorities because climate action is not just about protecting the environment. It is about improving people’s everyday lives through cleaner air, warmer homes, lower energy bills, better public spaces and healthier communities.

We have made real progress.

We have expanded electric vehicle charging across the borough, introduced more School Streets, supported active travel through new cycling infrastructure, improved the energy efficiency of council homes and public buildings, and invested in renewable energy.

Just this week, the council opened up a £100,000 Better Spaces fund to local community organisations and faith groups. Until 15 November, you can put in an application to ask for a share of this money to make buildings cheaper to run, warmer in winter, cooler in summer, and better able to cope with extreme weather and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Your building could use this money for things like shutters, solar panels, heat pumps or insulation.

We have also planted tens of thousands of trees, created new habitats for wildlife (including the now-famous beavers in Greenford), expanded food waste recycling and strengthened our commitment to protecting and enhancing our green spaces.

These achievements have only been possible because of the vital role played by residents, community groups, schools, businesses and local organisations. From community growing projects to reducing waste, choosing greener ways to travel and taking action to make homes more energy efficient, people across our borough are helping to drive change every day.

But there is more to do. In the years ahead, we will continue to invest in home retrofit programmes, expand green infrastructure, plant more trees, support cleaner transport, increase renewable energy generation and help communities adapt to the impacts of a changing climate.

We are determined not only to reduce emissions, but also to build a borough that is resilient, prosperous and fairer for future generations.

This Climate Week, I want to thank all our residents who are playing their part. Together, as a community, we will continue to do all we can to reduce our impact on climate change and make sure everyone is able to live comfortably regardless of the weather.