SOLIHULL is leading the way on climate action across the West Midlands.
Statistics released by Climate Emergency UK show the borough is the highest scoring local authority for climate action across the West Midlands metropolitan area.
The council has scored 42 per cent – a rise in five percentage points between 2023 and 2025, putting Solihull one percentage point ahead of Birmingham City Council on its sustainability record.
The results were published as part of the second edition of Climate Emergency UK’s Council Climate Action Scorecards – which provides an analysis of climate action by all UK councils, ranking performance in categories including Transport, Buildings and Heating and Planning and Land Use.
Solihull came out in front of Coventry City Council, which is on 40 per cent, and Sandwell Borough Council – the most improved in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) area, rising 13 percentage points from 24 per cent to 37 per cent – while it is far ahead of Dudley and Walsall, both on 23 per cent, and Wolverhampton City Council, scoring 15 per cent.
Leader of Solihull Council Councillor Karen Grinsell, leader of Solihull Council, said: “We are really proud of our efforts in Solihull to tackle climate change and invest in the future of our borough through collaboration with individuals, families, businesses, and community groups.
“We measure our progress primarily against our own Net Zero Action Plan and benchmarks set by CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project).
“We know we have a long way to go to towards our target of becoming a net zero borough by 2041 and will continue to work with the community to deliver our vision.”
In the categories assessed by Climate Emergency UK, Solihull performed particularly strongly in Buildings and Heating with 74 percent – 20 per entage points above the national average for single tier authorities.
The council is decarbonising housing across the borough, through implementing energy efficiency schemes such as the Home Upgrade Grant and the ongoing Solar Together group-buying scheme, as well as the council’s own initiative to deliver high-quality, low-carbon new housing in Kingshurst.
Steph, who recently moved into her new property in Kingshurst with a heat pump and solar panels installed said: “I’m really thrilled. I’ve lived in and around the area my whole life so it’s great to be so close to friends and family.
“All the energy saving tech means I can easily keep on top of my energy use, and [it] will help keep my bills down. It feels like a fresh start.”
Kate, a resident of Shirley who applied for HUG2 energy efficiency grant funding through Solihull Council’s partner Act on Energy last year, and had upgrade work delivered by contractor Dodd Group, said: “We were really impressed with the advice given and the work from the contractors in making sure everything was carried out to a high standard.
“We are really interested in sustainable energy. Having environmentally-friendly sources supply our electricity and heating adds value to our house and improves our carbon footprint.”
The council is also investing in the Solihull Energy district heat network in the town centre, to reduce its own carbon emissions while providing a reliable and affordable alternative heat source for Solihull Energy customers.
It is playing a leading role in the £5.9million SCALE project to run a fleet of three self-driving vehicles from Birmingham International Airport to Birmingham Business Park via the NEC, and is making good progress towards the aim of planting 250,000 trees by 2030.
