The London Borough of Newham commissioned Arup to develop a Just Transition Plan to accelerate its journey to net zero, while addressing  long standing social and health inequalities. The Council aimed to create a framework that integrated climate action with economic resilience, enabling inclusive, community-led solutions and directing investment to support its most vulnerable residents.

Arup collaborated with the London Borough of Newham and Dark Matter Labs to co-develop the UK’s first council-led Just Transition Plan. We analysed key emissions sources in the borough, facilitated diverse stakeholder engagement and co-designed the 3-6-5 framework – aligning climate action with social equity.

As a London borough facing various socio-economic challenges, Newham faces acute climate and health challenges. This plan empowers local communities, aligns with net zero goals and ensures that climate resilience is delivered in an inclusive, fair and sustainable way across the borough.

The 3-6-5 framework for inclusive climate action 

London Borough of Newham’s Just Transition Plan is the UK’s first plan to formally link climate action with social justice. Approved in December 2023, it builds on the borough’s 2019 climate emergency declaration and responds to key local issues – including rising living costs, air pollution and inequality.

This plan introduces a comprehensive framework known as 3-6-5, combining three core principles, six future goals and five enabling mechanisms. The principles - equity, emissions reduction and resilience - guide the overall approach. The six goals define Newham’s vision for the future, while the five enablers identify the systems and partnerships needed to drive lasting change. 

Through this framework, Newham reimagines climate action as a tool for community transformation. The council has committed to improving the health and energy efficiency of homes, schools and workplaces, transitioning to clean energy, promoting sustainable transport and fostering green, connected neighbourhoods. 

By embedding climate goals into everyday services and working closely with residents, local institutions and regional partners, the plan helps turn environmental progress into real improvements in health, quality of life and opportunity for all. 

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London Borough of Newham’s Just Transition Plan is the UK’s first plan to formally link climate action with social justice. Image credit: SUGi

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The council has committed to improving the health and energy efficiency of homes, schools and workplaces, transitioning to clean energy, promoting sustainable transport and fostering green, connected neighbourhoods. Image credit: Community Energy Newham & Repowering London

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Beyond technical delivery, we facilitated deep engagement with residents, communities and council stakeholders throughout 2023, ensuring the plan reflected local lived experiences and priorities.

Aligning environmental goals with everyday community needs

Arup contributed technical insight and methodological expertise to help shape a vision aligned with Newham’s 2030 net zero target, while remaining mindful of the borough’s budget constraints.

Beyond technical delivery, we facilitated deep engagement with residents, communities and council stakeholders throughout 2023, ensuring the plan reflected local lived experiences and priorities.

The resulting plan not only accelerates decarbonisation but also embeds resilience, education and job creation into its core. This helped Newham become a leading example of fair and inclusive climate action.

Jacob Heitland, Director of Climate Action at the London Borough of Newham, says: "Arup provided an amazing multi-disciplined team that went above and beyond our expectations. The engagement was exceptional appreciating that some of this work has never been done before. They presented their work in understandable 'chunks' that were free from jargon and developed for us a new way of working that isn’t actually normal – but we’ve now established a normalcy around it, creating new levels of trust, openness and professionalism with a refreshingly flat structure. No one is too good (or not good enough) to pick up something to help (e.g. from clicking slides to synthesising research). Communication was always clear. They demonstrated real leadership in the climate and just transition space and delivered incredible value for money."

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To create a more equitable, healthy and future proof community in the face of climate change, rapid urbanisation and rising costs, Newham Borough Council, Arup and Dark Matter Labs talk about how they came together to work with the community to co-design a just transition plan.
Partners & collaborators

Dark Matter Labs