We sat down with Mark Thomlinson, Head of Sustainability & Climate at Ealing Council, to talk about the upcoming Ealing Climate Week.
The Green Londoner: What is Ealing Climate Week, and why is it important for the borough right now?
Ealing has nearly 380,000 residents, and we know most people care about climate change and want to get involved in some way. Ealing Climate Week is about making that easier. It’s a way to show the diversity of what’s already happening across the borough, to shine a spotlight on local nature, climate action, and the many partners working on this agenda.
The idea is to make it resonate with everyone — whether you’re into cycling, food, gardening, or policy. Over 50 partner events will be running, from cycle rides and school uniform swaps to garden harvesting workshops and urban planning talks. We’re connecting residents to opportunities in a way that feels engaging, delightful, and sometimes surprising.
We chose September deliberately. We didn’t want to clash with London Climate Action Week in June. This way, we keep the focus here in Ealing, and it also marks a fresh start alongside the new school term.
What will be the main highlights of the week?
The overarching theme this year is “Better Living.” It’s about showing how climate action can improve people’s lives right now — whether through financial resilience (like insulation that cuts bills), better health (more walking and cycling), or more comfortable homes.
We’ll also be publishing the first elements of a progress report on Ealing’s Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy. This comes out every two years and gives residents a clear sense of where we’re making headway. It’s a way to show that climate action isn’t just about sacrifice; it brings real benefits and evidence-based improvements to daily life.
Some flagship events include:
- A Climate Summit on Wednesday, free to all and inviting the borough’s leading actors on climate and nature, opened by the leader of the council
- A business breakfast to support local companies on sustainability opportunities.
- Community activities across all seven towns in the borough, including led cycle rides (with Cycle Sisters supporting women who are less confident on the roads), tiny forest discovery days, and climate-friendly shopping initiatives (such as discounts at The Ealing Grocer).
- Walking tours with Ealing Transition and volunteering opportunities with groups like GoodGym.
We’re also bringing practical, hands-on advice directly to residents — whether through planners and urbanists talking about home retrofits, or experts helping households with things like rainwater butts, solar panels, or low-carbon heating.
Who can get involved, and how?
The simple answer is: anyone. Check out ealingclimateweek.org — you’ll find all the events listed there, plus guidance if you’d like to volunteer or even host your own event.
You don’t have to be a climate activist to take part. It could be as simple as popping along to one of our allotment open days, trying a new activity, learning about local biodiversity, or just meeting new people in your community. A lot of the week is about those social connections as much as the environmental outcomes.
If you’d like to get more directly involved, you can email climateaction@ealing.gov.uk to volunteer, advertise an idea, or run your own session.
