How London could follow in the footsteps of Europe’s greenest city

11 MARCH 2010

More renewable energy plants, diverting waste from landfill and increased numbers of cycle lanes could all help London on the road to becoming a low carbon city, the London Assembly heard today.

The London Assembly’s Environment Committee today hosted an expert from Copenhagen to help it examine how the Mayor’s proposed Climate Change strategy[1]  will meet his aims to cut carbon emissions by 60% by 2025 [2].

Copenhagen has become the greenest city in Europe [3] and plans to become the first carbon neutral capital in the world by 2025.

Peter Elsman, former Managing Director of the Environment, Water and Energy Department at the City of Copenhagen, suggested a number of key initiatives that could help London reduce its carbon emissions including:

  • Incinerating more of London’s waste to produce heat and power instead of it going to landfill
  • The creation of more local low emission and renewable energy plants
  • Better insulation of buildings and use of heat maps so people could clearly see the energy efficiency of their homes
  • More cycle lanes

Murad Qureshi, AM, Chair of the Committee, said: “London wants to become a low carbon city but it has a long way to go compared with league leaders such as Copenhagen. I hope that what we have heard today will help London to reach its carbon reduction goals.”

The Committee also questioned the Mayor’s environmental advisor Isabel Dedring on the draft Climate Change Mitigation and Energy Strategy looking at areas such as renewable energy, transport, the economy and low-carbon technology.

Ms Dedring acknowledged that one of the challenges to reducing carbon emissions is the significant differences across the capital in carbon emissions per household, with factors such as house size and vehicle power making the biggest contribution to an individual’s carbon footprint. The Committee was told the GLA group is committed to working with all boroughs to tackle the issue.

The Committee will submit its formal response to the Mayor’s Climate Change Mitigation and Energy Strategy this month.

Notes to editors:

  1. Available at http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/environment/vision-strategy/climate-change-mitigation
  2. Compared to 1990 levels
  3. Copenhagen is top of the European Green City Index, Available at: http://www.siemens.com/press/pool/de/events/corporate/2009-12-Cop15/European_Green_City_Index.pdf
  4. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.

Murad Qureshi is available for interviews.  Please contact Lisa Moore or Julie Wheldon in the Assembly media office on 020 7983 4228 or 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.