The Mayor of London says he wants to bring forward the introduction of zero-emission zones in some parts of the capital from 2025 to 2020.

The new timeframe was revealed as Sadiq Khan presented his environment strategy to the London Assembly for consideration before final publication in the coming weeks.

He wants to make London a zero-carbon city by 2050, with energy efficient buildings, clean transport and energy, and increasing recycling.

His desire to introduce zero emission zones, which he claims are in response to the views of businesses, will accelerate the roll-out of electric vehicles.  

Khan, said: “By continuing to invest in our environment and work with boroughs and communities, we can improve the health and wellbeing of everyone living in London.”

The final draft of the Mayor’s Environment Strategy includes, air quality concentration maps and an ambition to increase London’s current solar capacity by 20 times, by having 1GW of solar installed in the capital by 2030 and 2GW by 2050.

The strategy also includes a proposal on carbon budgets, aimed at reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted in London for the next 15 years.

The first aims for a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions from 1990 levels in 2018-2022, which is a greater reduction than that set by Government. This is compliant with the Paris climate agreement to limit global climate change to 1.5 degrees.

In addition, the Mayor will fund thousands more trees and improvements to community green spaces, and help London’s boroughs invest in parks.

Since the start of his Mayoralty he has directly funded the planting of over 70,000 trees, with City Hall partners planting an additional 40,000 in 2016/17 alone. A further £4 million has been committed to support more tree planting.

Executive director of groundwork in London, Lindy Kelly, said: “As a community charity with the environment at our core, Groundwork London fully supports the Mayor of London’s Environment Strategy as a vital part of safeguarding London’s environment, and we are looking forward to supporting the Mayor in its delivery, for the benefit of London and Londoners.

“The fact that so many of London's people and organisations have taken part in the consultation shows just how important the environment is to everyone.

“Grant schemes, such as the Mayor’s Greener City Fund, which Groundwork London administers, are vital in providing Londoners with the chance to create better open spaces and lead greener, healthier lives.

“We welcome more Mayoral initiatives like this to come as part of the new Environment Strategy.”

• Find out more about Clean Air Zones at Fleet Live 2018 on October 9-10 at the NEC in Birmingham. Visit the website.

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