Three major policies, which Green Party members of the London Assembly have a record of campaigning for, took a major step forward today as the Mayor of London released his new zero carbon pathway for London, along with new targets for reducing car traffic and plans for smarter, fairer road charging.[1]
Zack Polanski AM who is the Green Party group spokesperson for the Environment says:
This new set of policies comes not a moment too soon. My Assembly colleague, Caroline Russell, asked the Mayor for an updated zero carbon plan immediately after he declared a climate emergency. This was prompted by a motion she proposed in 2018. [2]
“And Greens on the Assembly have been pushing for a traffic reduction target and for the outdated congestion charge to be replaced by a smarter, fairer road charging system since day one of Sadiq Khan’s Mayoralty. However, up to today, he has consistently refused to talk seriously about taking steps to implement it.[3]
“Today marks an historic win, showing that where green ideas lead, Mayors eventually follow. This announcement is the first time the Mayor has ever talked seriously about taking any action for a smarter system of charging for road travel.
“But the end of the decade will be too long to wait, and the technology necessary for a fair, smart charging scheme could in fact be in place much sooner.[4] With the right political will and an honest public conversation about the details starting now, we can have this in place in less than three years, improving fairness and safety, while cutting pollution and carbon across London without further delay.
“It is a shame it has taken a funding and climate crisis hitting London at the same time to make this step change in policy happen. We could have got ahead of both crises with a smarter, fairer road charging scheme already in place.
Notes to editors
[1] Mayor announces bold plans to secure a green, clean and healthy future for London, Tuesday 18 January 2022 https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/mayor-announces-bold-p…
Today’s announcement includes a statement from the Mayor saying:
“The report sets out that to achieve anywhere near a 27 per cent reduction in car vehicle kilometres, London will need a new kind of road user charging system implemented by the end of the decade at the latest. Such a system could abolish all existing road user charges – such as the Congestion Charge and ULEZ - and replace them with a simple and fair scheme where drivers pay per mile, with different rates depending on how polluting vehicles are, the level of congestion in the area and access to public transport. Subject to consultation, it is likely there would be exemptions and discounts for those on low incomes and with disabilities, as well as consideration around support for charities and small businesses.”
A consultation is also set to consider four interim options for reducing emissions in London these include an all London ULEZ which Greens noted in 2017 would be necessary for people in outer London to also benefit from clean air: https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/assembly/caroline-russell/ulez…;
[2] Assembly motion calling on the Mayor to declare a climate emergency. December 2018 https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/assembly/call-on-mayor-to-decl…;
[3] Reducing traffic in London, Question to Mayor and TfL Commissioner, June 2016
https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2016/1836
Mayor refuses to discuss smart and fair road charging plans, Sian Berry AM, June 2020 : https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/assembly/sin-berry/mayor-refus…;
We need an honest conversation about who pays for transport in London, Caroline Russell, November 2020 https://www.onlondon.co.uk/caroline-russell-we-need-an-honest-conversat…;
Video showing the multiple times Green group AMs have challenged Sadiq Khan to take action on smarter, fairer road charging: https://twitter.com/sianberry/status/1317841677000781824
[4] In April 2019, Centre for London published Green Light: Next generation road user charging for a healthier, more liveable, London, which set out how London could implement a smart per-mile road charging system before 2025 using existing technology. https://www.centreforlondon.org/reader/green-light/
In December 2021 the Mayor also admitted that a scheme could be in place and raising revenue by the financial year 2025-26. https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2021/4742