ADD2854 London Climate Action Week 2026

1.1.    The delivery plan for the strategic programme Reducing Non-Residential Emissions describes how the GLA will work to: 

•    drive down emissions from London’s buildings
•    support a flexible low-carbon energy system
•    enable the financing of the transition to net-zero
•    reduce waste
•    connect Londoners with our net-zero ambition. 

1.2.    London Climate Action Week (LCAW) takes place from 20-28 June 2026. It is a key moment in London’s climate calendar; and an important opportunity to showcase the Mayor’s leadership on climate and environmental action. The week brings together international partners, city networks, businesses, civil society and communities; and reinforces London’s position as a global leader on climate action.

1.3.    For 2026, there has been a clear emphasis on broadening LCAW’s reach and impact. This means ensuring events go beyond sector and professional audiences to deliver meaningful, accessible engagement with Londoners. It has focused on telling a clear story about how the Mayor is building a greener, fairer and more climate-resilient city; and what this means, in practice, for people and communities across London.

1.4.    Demonstrating London’s international leadership, as set out in the Reducing Non-Residential Emissions programme, LCAW 2026 also supports wider environmental and climate priorities. It will do so by showcasing delivery; strengthening partnerships; and increasing public awareness and understanding of London’s response to the climate emergency. Action from the GLA is encouraging Londoners to be part of the transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient city. 

1.5.    This decision supports LCAW activity supported by the Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Mete Coban. The activity is as follows: 

•    Youth Summit: This event, held at the Tate Modern, was co-hosted by Deputy Mayor Mete Coban and Earth Minutes. It convened over 150 Londoners to engage in climate action; and make the case for youth representation in climate summits.
•    Youth Pledge video: A social media asset featuring Deputy Mayor Mete Coban and climate activists. The pledge calls on organisations to commit to creating opportunities for young people, enabling them to be represented at future climate weeks.
•    London Climate Action Plan design and youth workshop – a public-facing report setting out progress towards net zero and making London greener. The workshop convened young Londoners to share their views about the climate crisis and their priorities for climate action. 

1.6.    This decision supports the Reducing Non-Residential Emissions programme approved under Mayoral Decision (MD) 3397. Under the programme delivery plan, this proposal sits within project 5.1: maintaining London’s role in climate leadership. It focuses on connecting Londoners with our net-zero ambition, including through external events and communications such as LCAW.
 

2.1.    This activity supports the outcome of London as a net-zero carbon city, as set out in the Reducing Non-Residential Emissions delivery plan:

2.2.    The objectives are to:

•    bring together businesses, investors, community organisations and city leaders, to accelerate the action needed to tackle the climate crisis
•    bring together city mayors, so they can work together to accelerate solutions; and deliver investment that benefits London and cities across the world
•    mobilise and celebrate collective efforts to tackle the climate crisis
•    ensure that young people, and underrepresented communities, shape the solutions and feel the benefits of action
•    demonstrate the real-world impact of London’s climate policies
•    increase Londoners’ awareness of how climate action benefits them directly.

The activity will:

•    help Londoners engage with climate action – especially those from young and under-served audiences
•    move youth representation higher up the agenda at climate weeks; and help to ensure youth voices are included in climate decision-making
•    connect partners; share what is already working; and build the relationships needed to take climate action across the year
•    mobilise support for climate action in London; and help turn ambition into meaningful change.
 

3.1.    Under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, the Mayor and GLA must comply with the public sector equality duty (PSED) and must have due regard to the need to:

•    eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010
•    advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not
•    foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.

3.2.    The ‘protected characteristics’ are: age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership (but only in respect of the requirements to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination), race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, and sexual orientation. 

3.3.    Consideration of the PSED is not a one-off task. The duty must be complied with before taking a decision, at the time of taking a decision, and after the decision has been taken, to ensure that equalities impacts are kept under ongoing review.

3.4.    Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Londoners, and lower-income Londoners, are more likely to live in areas without decent access to green and blue spaces; or where the quality of these spaces is poor. Extreme heat, and the effects of occupying buildings that are not adapted for climate change, are disproportionately felt among certain groups. This is especially the case for those with pre-existing mental and physical health conditions; the very old and young; those on low incomes; outdoor workers; rough sleepers; and those with protected characteristics.

3.5.    The activities under this decision form will help to reach new audiences, specifically young people, with the intention of engaging the communities most impacted by climate change but least able to take action to protect themselves.  
 

4.1.    The following risks and mitigations have been considered:

4.2.    No conflicts of interest are noted.

4.3.    This work links to project 5.1 (maintaining London’s role in climate leadership) in the Reducing Non-Residential Emissions programme.

4.4.    All procurement of suppliers will be conducted in accordance with the Contracts and Funding Code.

5.1.    Approval is requested to spend £30,000, in 2026-27, to deliver a package of support activities for LCAW, comprising: 

•    the Youth Summit
•    the Youth Pledge video
•    London Climate Action Plan design
•    the London Climate Action plan youth workshop. 

5.1.    This will be funded from the Reducing Non-Residential Emissions programme (MD3397). It will use the budget from project 5.1 (maintaining London’s role in climate leadership) to deliver a package of key activity for LCAW. The proposed spending is financed by GLA resources, as agreed in the budget for this financial year.

5.2.    Future year’s budgets will still be subject to the annual budget setting process. Any contracts that cover future years will need to have break clauses. Any changes in the anticipated profile of spend across the years will be reflected as updates during the budget-setting process.
 

6.1.    The work under this decision form has been delivered according to the following timetable: