Environmental priorities for London to be probed

1 FEBRUARY 2012

Assembly Members will tomorrow examine the environmental priorities London's Mayor should tackle next term [1], including how to cut carbon emissions[2] and improve air quality in the capital[3].

The Environment Committee will also look at what London’s Mayor should do in future to protect trees and green spaces[4] and to reduce the risk of flooding in London in the event of heavy rainfall[5] . In addition, members will discuss the potential of the green economy[6] to generate jobs in the capital.

The following guests will attend the meeting:

  • Kulveer Ranger – Mayor’s Director of Environment and Digital London
  • John Plowman – Chair, London Sustainable Development Commission (LSDC)
  • Karen Lawrence – Commissioner, LSDC and Director of Delivery, Energy Saving Trust

 

The Environment Committee meeting will take place on Thursday 2 February from 10am in the Chamber at City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1). Media and members of the public are invited to attend.  The meeting can also be viewed via webcast. 

Notes for Editors:

  1. Elections for the Mayor of London for the next four years take place on 3rd May 2012.
  2. The Mayor has a target to reduce carbon emissions by 60 percent of 1990 levels by 2025. See P18 of his Climate Change and Mitigation Strategy
  3. A study commissioned by the Mayor suggested that around 4300 deaths per year in London are partly caused by long-term exposure to harmful airborne particles. See P22 of the Mayor’s Air Quality Strategy.
  4. The London Plan covers biodiversity, green infrastructure, urban greening and food, trees and woodlands. Through the RE:LEAF programme the Mayor has a target to plant 2 million trees and there are also schemes to restore rivers and encourage food growing in the capital.
  5. The Environment Committee’s 2011 report For a Rainy Day highlighted how there could be widespread flood damage and loss of life if London experienced severe rainfall.
  6. Relevant Mayoral initiatives include the London Green Fund, the Green Enterprise District and the Low Carbon Employment and Skills Programme.
  7. See full agenda papers for the meeting
  8. The Chair of the Environment Committee, Murad Qureshi AM, is available for interview.  See contact details below.
  9. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.

For media enquiries, please contact Julie Wheldon/Lisa Moore on 020 7983 4228/4283.  For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.  Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.