| |
|
|
Climate Change and the Political Climate
In this essay, I am keen to set out my beliefs and attitudes towards climate
change and the measures that should, could and can be taken by Londoners
to address it. In it I highlight:
• The state of the Climate Change debate
• The scale of the measures needed to be taken
• What should Londoners be asked to do?
• The standards I would advocate as Mayor of London.
The state of the Climate Change debate
As far as Climate Change is concerned, certain phenomena are at work: the
ice caps are receding. Temperatures are rising. Weather patterns are
changing. The extent to which man is the sole cause of these changes or has
the power to reverse them cannot be proven. That there are many factors at
play is clearly true.
But how does this affect the Mayor, the people of London and the political
climate?
The scale of the measures needed to be taken
The Kyoto Protocol entered into in 1997 set targets for the reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions. Certain countries, such as the United States,
have not even gone as far as the token stage of moderating behaviour.
Unless all countries participate equally in climate control measures, those that
do make the effort are in danger of rendering themselves economically
uncompetitive. Ironically this favours the more-polluting countries and
industries - which will then create more environmental damage as they
increase production to satisfy their new-found increase in demand!
So, what should Londoners' attitude be towards Climate Change and their
readiness to restrict their own consumption, movement and economy?
What should Londoners be asked to do?
Whatever we do in London alone is not going to alter the climate. The UK
emissions are a tiny percentage of the global problem. Nor will we be able to
make a significant difference until countries such as the US and China
moderate their actions.
However, we can make our own immediate environment more pleasant whilst
'doing our bit' to slow down and perhaps even reverse global warming. We
can set an example.
I don't claim to be an expert on green issues. I do know that it makes
common sense to be careful about the quantity of precious resources we use
and to clean up the mess after ourselves. That is why I will engage the best
brains in London to make recommendations to me about future initiatives.
Air Quality
No-one wants to breathe bad air. Sensible measures to reduce atmospheric
pollution, incineration, exhaust fumes, etc, are, in theory, desirable. Where I
draw the line, though, is in the inconsistent attacks on select groups.
Ken Livingstone's witch hunt against 4x4s is a classic example of his
prejudiced thinking. He conveniently overlooks the fact that new 4x4s have
highly sophisticated engine-management systems which render them less
harmful to the environment than a typical seven year old average saloon car.
Ken Livingstone's attack on 4x4 owners is inconsistent: it is nothing less than
the good old-fashioned socialist politics of envy.
The next example of inconsistency will be his pursuit of the Low Emission
Zone (LEZ); Ken Livingstone is proposing to hammer drivers and owners of
vehicles that emit pollution above certain levels. In theory, a perfectly noble
idea - and yet, in practice, what will it mean?
Firms operating lorries to supply shops and food in London will have to pay
higher taxes: the produce they carry will bear the higher costs, which the
consumer will have to pay. The costs of living in London, therefore, will rise
again. In other words, the lorries will still come, the exhaust will still be
produced but, because of Ken Livingstone's LEZ Tax, the goods they carry
will simply be more expensive. What a spectacular lose/lose for Londoners.
And the inconsistencies occur as while the citizens of London are getting hit
by yet another of Ken Livingstone's gimmicky taxes an airliner will fly over
London every 90 seconds undoing any of the good done on the ground.
I am all for considering atmospheric improvements. But they have got to
make sense; they must not unequally punish particular groups, when
comparable groups are ignored; all polluters must participate proportionately;
and measures should not increase Londoners' cost of living or render London
uncompetitive relative to other business centres. The LEZ falls on the wrong
side of every rational analysis.
Waste
On other environmental issues, how should we be disposing of our waste?
Recycling is environmentally sympathetic and should be encouraged, but how
can we do more? In South London we have SELCHP, run by Veolia
Environmental Services, which burns waste under controlled exhaust and
produces electricity. Can we do more of the same? I would want to hear from
all those currently involved in environmental services about realistic practical
ideas of how to take things further.
Water
Then there is the problem of providing London with enough water. That the
water table has dropped dramatically around London in the last fifty years is a
given. We also know that consumption is rising rapidly. So would I resist the
establishment of a desalination plant? No, I would welcome the initiative and
even discuss how we can make it as energy efficient and as environmentally
friendly as possible whilst providing Londoners with the water they need.
Sea Water
Whilst discussing water, there is an urgent need to address the problem of
rising sea levels. The Thames Barrier was a tremendous piece of
forethought, which has already served London well. Nevertheless we must
never forget that London is fed by a tidal estuary with the incoming tide having
an effect as far up river as Richmond. The Thames Barrier is not going to
serve our needs for that much longer and we need to be thinking, now, about
the future protection of London.
Green Spaces
I have always likened London to a series of villages. In some parts of London
you can still see the centres of the original communities, such as Hampstead,
Greenwich, Richmond and so on. London is known as a city of parks and
green spaces. I am proud of that reputation and it is one which I believe we
should enhance and build upon. Wherever we can and whenever we are
planning new developments I believe we should encourage space to be set
aside for green areas.
Civic Pride
With the 2012 Olympics fast approaching we should be doing everything in
our powers to ensure that London looks its best. Streets need to be litter free,
construction sites should be responsibly managed to minimize dust and
disruption and our air should be as clear as possible.
So should we legislate for these things? Definitely not. Laws that are unequal
undermine faith in government. Instead we need to set an example and work
to change attitudes. Building pride in London as a clean and pleasant city
with its green lungs and environmentally friendly waste management should
be the way forward. I know that if Londoners are shown how they can make
their city a better place to live in - if they are involved and empowered in these
projects - then I have faith in their readiness to participate.
The standards I would advocate as Mayor of London
Does my focusing on the benefits to the individual of environmental measures
and my lack of readiness to take regulatory action mean that I am closed to
any form of institutional action? No it doesn't.
To illustrate my approach to subjects of this kind, I am keen to explore any
technology from anywhere around the world that could materially reduce
people's environmental impact while altering their life style as little as
possible.
As already mentioned, I am keen to form teams of the finest brains to look at
these matters and make recommendations to me as Mayor of London.
Summary
Making London environmentally friendly is important not just to protect us
against climate change but because it will make London a better place to live
for all of us. However, we should never allow London to be disadvantaged
commercially because others elsewhere can't be bothered or wish to protect
their own interests.
Making our environment better means keeping our Capital clean, responsibly
managing consumption of precious resources, minimizing our production of
waste and the recycling of materials whenever possible in whatever way. It
also means making sure we have the water to maintain a healthy lifestyle
whilst protecting our city from rising sea levels.
All this and much more cannot be done through legislation. It requires the
experts to advise us on new technology and techniques, and it requires every
Londoner being open to playing their part. It is in the spiritual leadership of
this culture change where I relish playing my part as Mayor of London.
|
| |
|
