Response from Michael Pusey MBE (Taking The Initiative Party):

Dear Léonie,

Thank you for your email and for the important work Croydon Climate Action continues to do in raising awareness and building partnerships around the climate and ecological crisis facing our borough.

I agree wholeheartedly with the concerns outlined in your message and with the conclusions of the Croydon Climate Crisis Commission Report. The climate and ecological emergency is no longer a distant issue. It is already impacting people’s lives here in Croydon through rising living costs, poor air quality, housing insecurity, flooding, extreme heat, pressure on public services, and worsening inequalities. As always, the most vulnerable communities are suffering first and hardest.

If elected Executive Mayor of Croydon in 2026, I believe tackling the climate and ecological crisis must go hand in hand with tackling poverty, inequality, poor housing, public health challenges, and economic insecurity. Climate justice and social justice are inseparable.

In response to your questions:

1. Delivering the step change needed to tackle the climate and ecological crisis in Croydon

I will prioritise a practical and community-driven Green Croydon agenda focused on delivering visible improvements in people’s daily lives while reducing emissions and increasing resilience.

This will include:

• Expanding renewable energy infrastructure across the borough, including solar-powered street lighting, community energy initiatives, and support for cleaner technologies.

• Increasing investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and sustainable transport solutions while ensuring transport policies are fair and workable for residents and local businesses.

• Delivering greener and healthier neighbourhoods through tree planting, biodiversity projects, pollinator protection initiatives, and investment in parks and open spaces.

• Creating green jobs, apprenticeships, and training opportunities for young people and unemployed residents in sectors such as environmental management, retrofit construction, renewable energy, horticulture, and green technology.

• Supporting the retrofit and modernisation of existing housing stock to improve energy efficiency, reduce fuel poverty, and improve public health outcomes.

• Tackling waste, fly-tipping, and environmental neglect through stronger enforcement, community clean-up partnerships, and investment in local environmental services.

• Developing targeted support for vulnerable residents during extreme weather events and climate-related emergencies.

Croydon must become a borough that is cleaner, greener, healthier, and more resilient while creating economic opportunity for local people.

2. Working together with diverse groups and stakeholders across the borough

I strongly agree that meaningful progress can only happen through genuine partnership and co-design.

As Mayor, I would establish a borough-wide Climate and Community Partnership bringing together residents, schools, businesses, trade unions, charities, environmental groups, faith organisations, universities, youth representatives, health partners, housing providers, and local campaign groups.

This partnership would:

• Shape climate policy collaboratively rather than through top-down decision making.

• Ensure transparency, accountability, and regular public reporting on progress.

• Create opportunities for local communities to participate directly in projects and decision-making.

• Support grassroots organisations already delivering environmental and social impact work in Croydon.

• Encourage innovation and investment by working with businesses and educational institutions to develop sustainable local enterprise.

Croydon has enormous talent, expertise, and passion within its communities. The role of leadership is to bring people together around shared solutions.

3. Embedding social vulnerability into climate policy solutions

A one-size-fits-all approach will not work in a borough as diverse as Croydon.

Climate policy must recognise the very different realities experienced by residents across our communities. Those already affected by poverty, disability, poor housing, ill health, insecure employment, or social exclusion are often least equipped to deal with rising energy costs, poor air quality, flooding, overheating, or food insecurity.

My administration would therefore ensure that climate policy is rooted in fairness and inclusion by:

• Prioritising investment in the areas most vulnerable to climate impacts.

• Embedding equality impact assessments into environmental policy and infrastructure planning.

• Working closely with public health, housing, youth, and community services to ensure joined-up solutions.

• Ensuring affordable housing developments meet strong environmental and energy standards.

• Supporting low-income households with access to energy-saving measures and affordable transport options.

• Expanding opportunities for young people and underrepresented communities to participate in green industries and decision-making processes.

Climate action cannot become another source of inequality. It must instead become a pathway to a fairer, healthier, and more prosperous Croydon for all.

Thank you again for reaching out. I welcome the opportunity to continue engaging with Croydon Climate Action and all stakeholders committed to building a sustainable future for our borough.

Kind regards,

Michael Pusey MBE