Islington Council has achieved the distinction of being the top-rated single-tier local authority in the United Kingdom for its commitment to combating climate change, while the Greater London Authority (GLA) has been recognized as the best among combined authorities.
The rankings in Climate Emergency UK’s “climate scorecard” stemmed from the initiatives undertaken by councils to reach net-zero emissions.
Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s head of the environment, remarked that this recognition underscores the dedication demonstrated by the council in their climate efforts.
According to the council, they have implemented various measures, including the decarbonization of Islington’s waste recycling facility, transitioning to electric vehicles while reducing the overall fleet size, and making significant strides to retrofit social housing.
Champion further noted, “Residents of Islington have a profound concern for the environment, and we are committed to empowering them and local businesses to contribute to carbon reduction, fostering a greener and healthier Islington.”
She emphasized that Islington is among six London boroughs particularly vulnerable to climate change, indicating a substantial potential impact on the local population.
After declaring a climate emergency in 2019, Islington Council committed to “ambitious goals” aimed at addressing climate change.
The evaluation conducted by Climate Emergency UK regarding the council’s performance took place from July 2024 to March 2025.
Following are the top ten local authorities listed in the Climate Scorecard:
Source: Climate Emergency UK
Commenting on the rankings, Isaac Beevor, the partnerships director at Climate Emergency UK, expressed satisfaction in seeing councils use scorecards to enhance their performance. However, he urged the government to establish climate action as a legally mandated, fully funded obligation.
Climate Emergency UK indicated that the overall progress toward net-zero emissions among UK councils has been relatively “slow.”
They also noted that the highest scores for 2025 were predominantly seen in London councils, where the GLA already has a legal responsibility to undertake climate actions.
