Investment will cut carbon emissions from street lighting by up to 50%

28 February 2022

Carbon emissions from street lighting are set to be cut by up to 50 per cent through a multimillion pound investment programme by the council.

The programme was on track to be delivered by 2030 through the council’s £100m climate budget.  An additional £2.18m, announced at the Council Assembly on 23 February 2022, will now see these improvements delivered ahead of schedule to be in place by 2026.

The switch to new, LED lighting for all 17,129 street lights will reduce carbon dioxide emissions, reduce light pollution, help improve street safety and improve visibility for pedestrians and traffic. It’s a key part of ongoing work to tackle climate change and deliver the council’s Climate Change Strategy to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Councillor Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency and Sustainable Development said: “I am proud that we were one of the first councils to declare a climate emergency, the first council to announce its intention to divest from fossil fuels, and that our climate action plan has recently been rated as the second best in London.

“On top of all of Southwark’s existing carbon cutting projects, our additional £25m investment will help speed up our ambitions to deliver our promises in our climate strategy, and our commitment to LED lighting is just one part of that ongoing work.”

Councillor Catherine Rose, Cabinet Member for Transport, Parks and Sport said: “The new LED lighting is far more energy efficient than the older street lighting. It will help tackle light pollution and will help maintain our role as a leading council in London in work to tackle the Climate Emergency.

“I am pleased our additional £25m investment will help make the vital changes we need to tackle climate change and deliver the changes we need to become carbon neutral by 2030.”

Research shows that LED lighting improvements are good for residents and the environment. They encourage people to enjoy their local area better, increase footfall to local businesses, which is vital post the COVID-19 pandemic, and avoid intrusive light entering residents’ homes.

All of the older and redundant lamps will be recycled by the council’s waste disposal facility, to make the changes as environmentally friendly as possible and there will be no impact to residents as the work takes place. 

Page last updated: 16 April 2024