The Environment Committee of the Greater London Authority Council met on Tuesday 3 March 2026 to discuss a range of environmental priorities for London. Key topics included the GLA's environment budget for 2026/27, progress on swimmable rivers, climate resilience, the Green Roots Fund, and the environmental impact of data centres. The Committee also heard updates on net zero progress, the Warm Homes Plan, and air quality initiatives.

Q&A with the Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy

The meeting featured a question and answer session with Mete Coban MBE, the Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, and Megan Life, the Assistant Director of Environment and Energy at the GLA. Discussions covered the GLA's environment budget for 2026/27, with a stated priority on clean and healthy waterways and a reduction in staff on the warmer homes side of things, though warmer homes delivery itself would not be deprioritised. The Committee raised concerns about planned redundancies within the Environment and Energy Team, with proposals to delete 31 posts and create 15, a net reduction of 16 roles. Megan Life explained that this was part of wider GLA savings and aimed to protect frontline delivery while restructuring to create a new team for Clean and Healthy Waterways.

Swimmable Rivers and Clean Waterways

The Deputy Mayor confirmed that the Swimmable Rivers Plan was in its final stages of drafting and expected to be published this side of the summer. While water quality would be an objective and have associated indicators, the specifics were to be published in due course. The £5 million fund for swimmable rivers aims to deliver tangible benefits over the next three years, with a focus on identifying sites to improve water quality and accessibility. The Committee also discussed the £122 million fine received by Thames Water, with Assembly Member Thomas Turrell questioning whether such funds should be reinvested into improving river quality. The Deputy Mayor expressed support for councils receiving more money and powers.

Climate Resilience and Flood Defences

Regarding climate resilience, the Deputy Mayor highlighted the upcoming publication of a Heat Risk Plan and the acceleration of work on the London Surface Water Strategy. The GLA has audited its land holdings along the Thames and is appointing consultants to identify investment needs for flood defences. Conversations are ongoing with the Government regarding the Thames Barrier, with the GLA acting as an active partner in the Thames Estuary Plan.

Trees and Green Infrastructure

The Committee discussed the implementation of findings from Kew Gardens research, including the London Public Realm Tree Map and a toolkit for boroughs on green infrastructure strategies. The Green Roots Fund has a focus on community involvement, with a portion of funding dedicated to tree planting and ongoing maintenance. The Deputy Mayor confirmed that 620,000 trees have been planted since the Mayor took office, with a focus on planting the right kind of tree for equity and impact.

Data Centres and Air Quality

The environmental impact of data centres was a significant concern, with discussions focusing on energy and water consumption, as well as air quality impacts from backup generators. The GLA is working to incorporate a dedicated data centre policy into the London Plan to mitigate these impacts. The Committee also heard about the Mayor's commitment to bringing London's air quality into compliance with WHO guidelines by 2030, with work underway with Imperial College London and Global Action Plan to develop a pathway. Poppy Lyle, Head of Air Quality, confirmed that research would be published by the end of the year to inform future policy.

Airports and Heathrow Expansion

The environmental impacts of airport expansion, particularly Heathrow, were discussed, with the Deputy Mayor reiterating the Mayor's clear opposition due to concerns about climate commitments, air quality, and noise pollution. The Committee pressed for a commitment to meet with the Aviation Minister and join legal challenges against expansion.

Green Finance and Community Energy

The effectiveness of the Mayor's EDGE Fund was questioned, as it had yet to make its first deal. The Green Finance Taskforce is expected to conclude soon, with recommendations anticipated within six months. The Community Energy Fund's eighth round received over 118 applications, with £630,000 committed. The GLA is seeking to unlock more funding from the Government for community energy projects.

Waste and Circular Economy

The Committee reviewed progress on recycling targets, noting a positive increase in rates. The Simpler Recycling scheme and the upcoming deposit return scheme are expected to further improve performance. The GLA, through ReLondon, is working to exchange best practices and encourage reuse and reduction. The removal of Reduction and Recycling Plans was discussed, with the rationale being that national reforms now provide a more consistent framework.

Other Matters

The Committee also noted its work programme and the additional activity undertaken, including a site visit to the Hemiko Heat Network. The date of the next meeting was not yet set, pending the London Assembly's Annual Meeting in May 2026.

The meeting concluded with thanks to the Chair, Committee Members, and officers for their work throughout the year.