The Mayor's approach

Without action, London’s carbon emissions will grow from 44 million tonnes to 51 million tonnes by 2025. The Climate Change Action Plan shows how London can reduct its carbon dioxide emissions by concerntrating on four key areas:

• Homes are responsible for 38 per cent of emissions. The plan sets out how annual domestic carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by 7.7 million tonnes by 2025. By making our homes more energy efficient, the average London household could save £300 per year off their fuel bills, as well as cutting emissions. Savings could also be made by switching to more efficient local energy systems
• Commercial and public sector buildings - both commercial and public sector - are responsible for 33 per cent of the capital’s emissions. If all of London’s employers introduced simple changes like turning off lights and IT equipment at night, we could cut emissions by over three million tonnes a year.
• Transport is responsible for 22 per cent of London’s emissions. CO2 emissions from road transport would fall by as much as 30 per cent if people simply bought the most fuel-efficient version of the car they want. Further options include banding the Congestion Charge according to CO2 emissions, developing new bus technologies (including plans for hybrid bus fleet), and promoting cycling and walking.

The Climate Change Action Plan lists a number of measures that could save London 20 million tonnes of carbon per year by 2025. However, scientists believe an additional 13 million tonnes of savings are needed. The plan argues government must introduce comprehensive carbon pricing to encourage the faster take-up of existing energy efficiency measures.

Planning new build and development can save roughly one million tonnes of CO2 in 2025 through ensuring new development is built to higher standards. The draft Further Alterations to the London Plan recently published by the Mayor requires that new buildings are designed and constructed to high standards of energy efficiency and renewable energy use, and that the use of decentralised energy is prioritised.

The GLA is working to promote and persuade action on climate change through awareness campaigns, and research commissioning by working with a number of partnerships, including the London Climate Change Partnership (LCCP) the London Energy Partnership (LEP) and the London Hydrogen Partnership (LHP) and has established the London Climate Change Agency (LCCA) to deliver on climate change.

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