Archived press release

A year of Boris Johnson - Mayor must do more to green London

30 April 2009

Boris Johnson has failed to set out sufficient measures to keep his pledges to make London the world's greenest city and cut the capital's carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by 2025, Friends of the Earth said today, as the London Mayor approaches his first anniversary of coming into office.

The environmental campaign group urged Mr Johnson to demonstrate a genuine understanding of the urgency and scale of action needed to tackle climate change by putting tackling climate change at the heart of his policy making.

Friends of the Earth London campaigner Jenny Bates said:

"Boris Johnson has yet to show Londoners how he is going to keep his promise of making the city a world-class low carbon capital."

"Abandoning the western extension to the congestion zone and the C-charge for gas-guzzlers, and pursuing a massive new airport in the Thames estuary have seriously undermined his green credentials. They have also overshadowed welcome policies, such as scrapping the six-lane Thames Gateway road bridge and pushing for electric vehicles and cycle hire schemes."

"Mayor Johnson must face up to the challenge of showing that both he and his party have what it takes to tackle climate change and make London a green capital to be proud of."

Friends of the Earth is calling on the Mayor to:

• Set out adequate measures to slash London's carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by 2025 in his climate strategy - documents for which are due out in the coming weeks.
• Tackle traffic and congestion and bring the whole of London within EU limits on air pollution.
• Prioritise new initiatives for cycling and walking and invest in improving public transport.
• Make sure any replacement crossing for the Thames Gateway road Bridge is for use by public transport and not a road crossing - helping to improve access for local people but without adding to congestion and pollution.
• Drop his support for 50 per cent more flights from City airport and for a new airport in the Thames estuary.
• Set out how he will reduce carbon dioxide emissions from homes and buildings.
• Help create jobs in the outer boroughs that will reduce the number of people travelling into the City every day.
• Ensure he has sufficient resources in place to do a proper job of greening London.

Notes:

1. Boris has shown limited leadership on tackling climate change by taking
forward Ken Livingstone's pledge to cut London's carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2025 from 1990 levels. He scrapped his predecessor's plans for a six lane Thames Gateway road bridge and proposed ambitious plans for cycle hire and 100,000 electric cars with charge points. He opposed a third runway at Heathrow on environmental grounds and has promised £15,000 to London councils fighting a judicial review. He has created the Outer London Commission to increase the economic value of outer London boroughs www.london.gov.uk/olc/ which will reduce the number of people commuting into central London. And he has begun planting more trees and aims to plant 10,000 by 2012.

2. However Boris has also proposed measures that will increase London's carbon
dioxide emissions. He has called for a 50 per cent increase in flights at City Airport which will also bring noise and pollution to East London, and he is pursuing a new airport in the Thames estuary - dubbed "Boris Island" - which could have as many as six runways. He also scrapped the western extension to the congestion charge zone even though it was effective and saw 30,000 few cars a day entering the area www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/6723.aspx. He cancelled plans for a £25 C-charge for gas guzzlers, even though this would have encouraged people to buy greener vehicles, and he's suspended the third phase of the Low Emissions Zone, an air quality measure, which was due to affect vans and minibuses from October 2010.

3. During the Mayoral race Friends of the Earth analysed the manifestos of the
three main candidates and gave Boris Johnson 7 out of 10. The analysis is here:
www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/space¬
london_mayor_livingstone_g_29042008.html

4. Ken Livingstone showed genuine leadership on climate change - but could
also be seen as contradictory. He produced a groundbreaking Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) www.london.gov.uk/mayor/environment/climate-change/ccap/index.jsp but supported the Thames Gateway road bridge which would have increased emissions and air pollution in the poorest parts of East London.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust