Southwark Council Failed to Reduce Fossil Fuel Fleet Since Year it Declared Climate Emergency

Southwark Council failed to reduce the amount of fossil fuel vehicles it has in its fleet since 2019, the Liberal Democrats revealed on Thursday.

The Southwark Liberal Democrats discovered from internal correspondence that there has been an increase of nine fossil fuel vehicles since 2019, which is when the council declared a climate emergency.

Labour rejected a Liberal Democrat budget amendment in 2021 that would have forced the council to cut its fossil fuel fleet and replace vehicles only with electric alternatives.

Although the council has purchased 17 electric vehicles for its fleet in the past three years, this pales in comparison to the action of other local authorities.

Suffolk County Council, for example, announced this year that it will switch to an all-electric fleet of dozens of vehicles in mid-2023.

Southwark Council Fossil Fuel Vehicles in Fleet

Commenting, Cllr Graham Neale, Southwark Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson said:

“Liberal-Democrat-run Southwark Council was the first authority to use bio-diesel fuel in its fleet. We had a practical vision to reduce CO2 emissions nearly 20 years ago. But, this current fleet contract seems like a lazy, retrograde step. It’s miles away from a commitment to saving the planet for our children. Southwark Labour is saying one thing, and then cutting corners on the environment.”