London election on 1st May important for environment

The Mayoral and GLA elections are on Thursday 1st May. There are big differences between the candidates on issues which affect air pollution and climate change.

While he has by no means solved the problem of air pollution, Ken Livingstone has tried to tackle the issue by his congestion charge and Low Emissions Zone. He has also set out to make London a leading world city in a bid to reduce carbon emissions. The Green Party members of the GLA (Greater London Authority) have used their votes to make Livingstone do much more on energy saving.

It is telling that Boris Johnson for the Conservatives is considering scrapping the western extension of the congestion zone and will get rid of the £25 congestion charge for gas guzzlers. He was opposed to signing the Kyoto protocol, the only world-wide agreement on climate change. He campaigned for George Bush, the world’s greatest climate villain in 2000 and 2004 and he is a fanatical supporter of the Iraq war. Many believe the real reason for the Iraq war was to get their oil.

Brian Paddick for the LibDems also plans to scrap the western extension of the congestion zone and get rid of the Low Emissions Zone.

Despite the green rhetoric, these Conservative and LibDem policies will increase both air pollution and carbon emissions in London.

While not advising people how to vote, it is worth pointing out that both Ken Livingstone (nominally Labour) and Sian Berry of the Green Party are both urging supporters to vote for them first and the other second. With the proportional representation and multiple vote system for mayor and the London Assembly, one does not have to make a choice between them; one can vote for both in either order.

April 08