Category: 3. Business

Hounslow Council has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling climate change, setting out how ambitious plans to cut carbon emissions will be delivered in ways that benefit residents, communities and the local economy.  

To support the delivery of an updated Climate Emergency Action Plan, the Council’s cabinet last night (16 December) approved plans for borough-wide low-carbon energy infrastructure, including work to deliver a Heat Network that will provide cleaner, more efficient heating to homes and buildings across Hounslow. 

The Climate Emergency Action Plan 2026-2030 sets out the Council’s strategic priorities for the next five years, building on the progress made since the Council first declared a climate emergency in 2019 and adopted its original ten-year action plan in 2020.  

Together, the Plan and the wider borough energy proposals set out how the Council will support residents, businesses and communities to reduce emissions while creating a greener, more resilient and thriving borough. 

The Climate Emergency Action Plan 2026-2030 focuses on four key priorities: 

• Decarbonisation of Council operations and estate to achieve net zero by 2030 

• Influence a reduction in wider borough emissions 

• Make the borough resilient to the impacts of climate change 

• Promote sustainable lifestyles for residents and staff 

As part of delivering borough-wide emissions reductions set out in the Plan, Cabinet agreed to establish a Strategic Energy Partnership. This will be a long-term working arrangement between the Council and an external delivery partner, bringing specialist skills, investment and experience to help turn climate plans into real projects. 

Cabinet also agreed to progress plans for an innovative borough-wide Heat Network, which will use waste heat from Thames Water Mogden Sewage Treatment Works to supply low-carbon heating to homes, hospitals, schools and commercial buildings across the borough. This approach has the potential to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, cut carbon emissions, improve air quality and support long-term energy affordability.  

Councillor Katherine Dunne, Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport at Hounslow Council, said: 

This decision is about improving everyday life in Hounslow — from warmer, more efficient buildings to a borough that is better prepared for the future. 

 

The updated Action Plan gives us a clear direction for the next five years, helping us cut costs, attract investment and support sustainable growth while delivering practical benefits for residents and businesses across the borough.

The Plan also reflects wider borough priorities including support for sustainable travel, community energy initiatives and improvements to nature and green spaces.  

Electron beam treatment of wastewater is highly effective, but still relatively unknown in many industrial sectors. To increase the awareness of this application, Brazil has made the unit mobile, with support from the Republic of Korea. Worldwide, only a handful of transportable e-beam accelerators are in use for industrial applications. The truck-mounted accelerator will be able to visit industrial sites around the country with ease – showcasing how e-beam irradiation can solve wastewater challenges and providing an opportunity for in-person training. The mobile irradiator has already been tested for various applications in chemical, oil, and sanitation sectors, such as São Paulo Sanitation Company and Petrobras. It has also been used for training purposes including with the National Industrial Apprenticeship Service.  

“Together, we developed the mobile unit, which uses nuclear technology — an e-beam accelerator — to degrade organic compounds in wastewater,” said Wilson Calvo, Director of Research and Development, CNEN. “The main proposal is to reuse this water, for example from clothing production or industrial applications,” he said. 

The unit, equipped with a 700 keV, 28.5 mA and 20 kW industrial electron accelerator, was established by the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN), which is part of CNEN, supported by the IAEA technical cooperation programme, the Brazilian Innovation Agency, the National Research Council and Truckvan. Wastewater flows directly through the unit, where it is irradiated by the e-beam accelerator. This breaks down toxins and makes any additional conventional treatments more efficient. Up to 1000 cubic metres of wastewater can be treated every day.  

Washington, D.C.: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has formally completed its review of the Short-Term Liquidity Line (SLL) on December 17th. The Review concluded that the SLL will terminate in April 2027, at the end of the seven-year period following its establishment, in line with the original design of the instrument.

Introduced in 2020, the SLL was established as a revolving and renewable backstop for countries with very strong economic fundamentals, policies, and track records of policy implementation. It provides liquidity support for members facing potential short-term, moderate balance of payments difficulties, reflected in pressures on the capital account and reserves and resulting from volatility in international capital markets. The SLL aims to help prevent emerging liquidity pressures from escalating into broader macroeconomic or financial instability. Since its inception, uptake has been limited.

The 2025 review was informed by an IMF staff paper. Staff’s analysis highlighted the SLL’s role within the Global Financial Safety Net (GFSN) since the pandemic and its distinctive features within the IMF’s precautionary toolkit, including revolving access and cost advantages. However, the review also noted that the SLL’s attractiveness may be constrained compared to the FCL, which covers broader balance of payments problems, offers higher access, a longer repayment period, and has a more established signaling effect, while sharing the same qualification criteria.

An informal meeting with Executive Directors was held on November 10, 2025, to discuss the review and the future of the SLL. The staff paper considered the merit of a short-term extension of the SLL term through October 2028, to allow for a decision on the SLL to be made in the context of the next comprehensive review of the IMF instruments available for precautionary lending. A range of views was expressed by Executive Directors with indications that support for such a short-term extension would be insufficient. Qualifying countries may request approval of SLL arrangements up until it is scheduled to lapse on April 14, 2027. Pursuant to the SLL policy, approved arrangements during this period will remain in effect until the earlier of the expiration or cancellation of the arrangement by the member.

Looking ahead, a comprehensive review of the IMF’s instruments available for precautionary lending is tentatively planned for 2028. This review will incorporate lessons learned since the 2023 review of the FCL, SLL and PLL, and broad-based feedback from stakeholders. The objective will be to assess the IMF’s toolkit available for precautionary lending holistically, strengthen their effectiveness in supporting members’ balance of payments positions and crisis prevention, and address any gaps or overlaps. The review will build on recent and ongoing work related to the Global Financial Safety Net and the Review of Program Design and Conditionality, ensuring the IMF maintains a robust, flexible, and well-communicated toolkit that supports the resilience of the GFSN and meets the evolving needs of its diverse membership.

Guilford County is asking residents and businesses to share feedback through a brief online survey on how they manage garbage and recycling as the county develops its upcoming Solid Waste Management Plan. The survey gathers information on service satisfaction, recycling habits, accessibility, and community priorities related to waste management.

Residents and businesses can visit GuilfordCountyNC.gov/LetsTalkTrash through Friday, Jan. 16, to share their input on waste and recycling services.

“Our online survey gives everyone in Guilford County a chance to share what’s working well and where improvements are needed with waste and recycling services,” said Bonnie Ware, community environmental program manager. “Whether you’re a homeowner, renter, or business owner, your input will help Guilford County Environmental Services plan more efficient, sustainable, and responsive services.”

The Solid Waste Management Plan will guide future decisions about collection programs, infrastructure investments, recycling initiatives, and environmental protection. Community input is essential to ensure the plan reflects the needs and experiences of Guilford County residents and businesses.

For more information about Guilford County Environmental Services, visit GuilfordCountyNC.gov/Recycles.