Local residents are taking centre stage in shaping Islington’s approach to becoming a greener and healthier borough

With climate change bringing hotter summers and more unpredictable weather, Islington Council brought together a ‘climate panel’ of 35 residents, chosen by lottery to reflect the borough’s diversity, to develop strategies for reducing climate risks and building resilience among communities.

Over the course of eight sessions, panel members delved into various aspects of climate science and worked collaboratively to develop proposals to make the borough more sustainable.

Joe, one of the panellists, shares his motivation for joining the initiative: “I had a letter through the door, and I felt inspired to participate because I love the borough. I fell in love with it instantly, I think there is such a nice atmosphere and community here, and I would like to be part of that.”

For Joe, the key to making Islington more resilient lies in fostering stronger community connections. “From my understanding, and from what I’ve learned from the panel, it’s all about community. It’s about being able to connect with people. And I think that, as a society, people are becoming less connected. So, by bringing people together and building collective resilience, by understanding what each other needs and what vulnerability looks like, I think that’s the key to all this. It’s educating people and facilitating those connections.”

The sentiment is echoed by Amany: “I wanted to see how people think about climate change, hear from the community itself and understand what problems they are facing because of it.”

Amany appreciates the council’s efforts to ensure inclusivity throughout the panel process. “The information the council are giving is really helpful, and they’re trying to make things as simple as possible so everyone can get it, no matter how good you are at English, whether you come from the UK or another country. They have been really supportive in listening to everyone and providing information in the simplest way.” She is optimistic about the panel’s impact on future policies. “When we find those solutions, I hope that the government will consider and apply them.”

Sylvie, another panel member, joined the initiative out of deep concern for the future, especially for the younger generation. “I’m very concerned about climate change — not just for my own life, but for  the kids. You see what the future holds and how slow politics is,” she explains, which is why she eagerly became part of the panel. “If there is the opportunity to give feedback, and to have an input, then yeah, here I am!”

Sylvie envisions a network of local support as key to building a more resilient Islington. “It would be nice if there was a network of support for each other. Supporting local businesses and buying locally is important.”

The Climate Panel’s proposals include ideas for greening streets, enhancing local ecosystems and promoting sustainable practices across the borough.  These community-driven suggestions aim to create a more connected, informed and resilient Islington. The council can enable these changes by using its resources to encourage community conversations and action.

As Joe aptly puts it: “The residents are what makes Islington, Islington. It’s the people who live here, and the council has a unique position to connect people in ways that are very hard to do on your own. The council can facilitate conversations, and by connecting people, they can make a real positive difference and see a flourishing and resilient Islington.”

Over the summer, the council has been developing the panel members’ proposals into a report and will meet with them in the autumn to develop these further and take their ideas forward.

You can keep up to date with the progress of the panel via the council website: islington.gov.uk/ClimatePanel