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The Environment
What does the Mayor do?
It is the Mayor's duty to formulate strategies
on the environment and he has a legal obligation to ensure that
all his policies are consistent with the principles of sustainable
development. As the Mayor has responsibility for other areas, including
planning, transport and economic development in London, he must make
sure other strategies do not conflict with environmental objectives.
The Mayor works with a wide range of environmental groups, executive agencies and other partners to draw up environmental strategies and implement them. Public consultation is undertaken on all draft strategies.
The Mayor must also produce a four-yearly report on the state of London's environment: he published the first of these, Green Capital, in May 2003, and the second, Greener London, in 2007. It covers topics such as the quality of air, water and land, energy use, London's contribution to meeting climate change targets, and traffic levels and emissions.
What has the Mayor done?
The Mayor has produced a number of strategies, including:
- The Air Quality Strategy, focusing in particular on road traffic, a major source of air pollution which affects Londoners' health.
- The Biodiversity Strategy, aimed at protecting and conserving London's natural open spaces and wildlife habitats.
- The Municipal
Waste Management Strategy, examining waste minimisation, recycling, recovery, treatment and disposal
of municipal waste.
- The Ambient Noise Strategy, focusing on noise from road traffic, railways, aircraft and industry and exploring methods of noise minimisation.
- The Energy Strategy, covering energy efficiency, fuel poverty and London's contribution to climate change.
The Mayor established the Policy Commission on the Environment to provide an overview of the issues facing the London. It produced a report in January 2001 containing one hundred recommendations for the Mayor. As well as setting an agenda for environmental strategies, the report looked at how other strategies should take the environment into account.
The Mayor has published many other documents on environmental issues, which are available via the environment publications page.
What does the London Assembly do?
The London Assembly scrutinises the Mayor's approach to environmental issues
and publishes reports commenting on his strategies. It can also conduct investigations into environmental issues of its choice and has produced a number of reports on environmental issues. These are available on the Assembly Reports - Environment page.
What do the boroughs do?
The boroughs work with the Mayor to put into practice the strategies on the environment drawn up by the Mayor. For example, in collecting and disposing of waste, they must take into account the Mayor's municipal waste management strategy.
They are also responsible for promoting and co-ordinating local environmental initiatives, in partnership with the Mayor and on their own.
Further information
Energy - the Changing Climate, Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, June 2000; see also the Commission's website at www.rcep.org.uk
A Better Quality of Life: UK Strategy for Sustainable Development for the United Kingdom, May 1999, Cm 4345. Available from The Stationery Office.
A Way with Waste, the Government's draft National Waste Strategy document. Published by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions in June 1999. (DETR code 99EPO254/2)
Further information on air quality is available from the DEFRA website.
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