Embed sustainability into all we do, says fire chief

Across all areas of its work, the London Fire Brigade says it is embedding sustainability into everyday decision-making as it responds to escalating climate risks, with environmental impact now considered alongside operational, financial and social priorities rather than as a separate strand of activity.

The Brigade says its latest Sustainable Development Strategy is designed to integrate sustainability into how it plans, trains, procures and delivers services, as it works towards becoming carbon net zero by 2030. A key part of this shift is the use of Sustainable Development Impact Assessments for all major policies and projects, alongside the embedding of sustainability considerations into annual budget setting, meaning decisions on savings, growth and investment are now routinely assessed through an environmental and social viewpoint.

The approach is intended to ensure sustainability is reflected in day-to-day operations as well as long-term planning, with the strategy positioning climate resilience as central to the Brigade’s core prevention, protection and response role.

London Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith said recent extreme weather events had reinforced the urgency of that approach.

“In London the severe impacts of climate change, such as the extreme weather conditions in July 2022 and summer 2025 directly impact the Brigade. Against the backdrop of an increase in the severity of flooding and wildfire incidents, we continue to reduce our overall carbon emissions, working towards our target, aligned with the Mayor of London, of becoming carbon net zero by 2030.”

London Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith

The strategy highlights climate change as one of the most significant emerging operational risks for the service, pointing to increasing pressures from flooding, heatwaves, drought and new technologies such as lithium-ion battery storage. In response, the Brigade says it has strengthened operational preparedness through enhanced training, updated risk information and improved equipment, alongside the introduction of station-level delivery plans to better identify and respond to local hazards such as wildfires.

Embedding sustainability is also being driven through workforce development and governance changes. Environment Matters training is now mandatory for operational staff, supported by new climate-focused learning programmes backed by the Greater London Authority, while internal audit and reporting processes are being used to ensure sustainability considerations are consistently applied across departments.

Alongside operational change, the strategy sets out continued progress on emissions reduction and wider social value goals, including increased use of low-carbon fuels, the development of net zero fire stations and higher levels of spending with small and medium-sized enterprises, which reached 33.7 per cent in 2024/25. Apprenticeship numbers have also risen, with 256 new starters across the organisation and its supply chain in the same period.

The Brigade is also working with partners through the UK Emergency Services Sustainability Charter and the London Anchor Institutions’ Network to align efforts on climate action, procurement and skills.

Jonathan Smith will be speaking at The Emergency Services Show 2026, taking place from 16-17 September at the NEC in Birmingham, where he will join a panel examining the growing operational risks posed by heatwaves and wildfires. Register your interest to attend here.

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