London: Leading climate change

Cities have a central role to play in tackling climate change as they are responsible for 80% of international greenhouse gas emissions and consume 75% of the world’s energy. That’s why cities must work together, taking concerted action and showing leadership on this issue.

The C40 – major global cities initiative – is a partnership of the world’s leading cities all committed to reducing their CO2 emissions. London is a founding partner of the C40 and has taken a strong leadership role.

And London’s leadership is evident – not just in the role it is taking in working along side other cities – but also in the bold goals established for the Capital.

Ambitious target for London

In February 2007 the Mayor launched the Climate Change Action Plan for London which is the most comprehensive climate change action programme adopted by any city in the world.

The CCAP has set an ambitious target for London – a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2025. This is a more ambitious target than the UK Government target of 60% by 2050 and reflects the latest evidence from Stern, The Tyndall Centre and the IPCC reports.

The plan sets out the priority action that the Mayor will be focussing on with regard to mitigating climate change. The plan will be achieved by mobilising the combined efforts of businesses, the public sector and residents.

Energy consumption and the efficiency of buildings makes a significant contribution to CO2 emissions across London, and across the UK as a whole. Emissions from the commercial and public sectors constitute 15 million tonnes of CO2 annually mainly due to electricity usage including lighting, heating and computing. Both the public and private sector, and homeowners are now working to contribute to achieving London’s 60% reduction.

The public and private sectors need to do their bit and this section provides an overview of what is already underway in London – for London – and in collaboration with other major cities.

CCAP programmes

Organisations have a role to play in tackling climate change. Achieving the CCAP CO2 reduction targets requires concerted action across all sectors. With rising energy prices and the importance of CSR policies on customer purchasing behaviour, it makes economic sense to act now. Green Organisations is the CCAP programme established to support organisations in playing their part.

About the Green Organisations programme

The Green Organisations programme is the London Development Agency’s premiere initiative aimed at big businesses and large public sector organisations.

The programme consists of two complimentary services; the Better Buildings Partnership and the Green500. Both are aimed at motivating, rewarding and actively supporting organisations to reduce their carbon footprint in London.

We believe the Green Organisations programme is a world first.

Better Buildings Partnership (BBP)

This is an exclusive collaboration of London’s major commercial property owners and allied organisations, all working together to remove barriers that make it difficult to improve the sustainability of existing commercial properties.

Working with more than 10 of London’s top commercial property owners, the BBP initiative will tackle three priority issues:

  • Green leases
  • The valuation of sustainable buildings
  • Standard terms for managing agents and letting agents.

Participating organisations will have agreed carbon targets and achievement annual awards from the Mayor.

Find out more about the Better Buildings Partnership.

Green500

Aimed at large organisations which occupy London’s commercial property, the Green500 offers a carbon management service which provides a carbon audit, tailored action plan, annual CO2 target and project management support. The service is also supported by a performance based awards scheme.

Limited to the top 500 organisations in London, the awards are intended to recognise member organisations that have achieved their targets. Additional awards include best in class and a combined landlord and tenant award..

With all awards presented by the Mayor of London, it is intended that Green500 awards become the gold-standard for recognition of excellence, with all results published.

Find out more about the Green 500.

We believe that this combination of services, which brings commercial property owners and occupiers together with Government to achieve joint CO2 targets, represents a global first and if successful, could provide a blueprint for other cities and countries to adopt.

London implementation of the C40 Climate Change Initiative

Recently the Mayor of London joined with ex-US President Bill Clinton and mayors from cities across the world to announce the creation of a Buildings Energy Efficiency Programme. Under this initiative, London is piloting a new commercial model of carbon management and building retrofit that will provide guaranteed energy savings across a portfolio of buildings and which is effectively cost neutral.

This is currently being piloted by GLA group and will be rolled out to wider public sector & private sector in 2008.

Eight companies from the UK and abroad have been shortlisted, as part of the tender process to make the Greater London Authority Group’s buildings more energy efficient.

The buildings in the first round of upgrades would include landmark offices such as Transport for London’s HQ at Windsor House.

London’s transport infrastructure

London is the only city in the world to have decreased its CO2 emissions per head of capita on 2000 levels.

The commitment to drive these emissions down further is evident in ongoing improvements to London’s transport infrastructure.

Transport for London is itself making major environmentally friendly changes to its fleet. Some of these changes include six new single-decker diesel-electric hybrid buses all of which have been operating on route 360 since March 2006. These vehicles operate using a combination of a conventional diesel engine and an electric motor, reducing emissions of local pollutants and carbon dioxide by at least 30% compared to a conventional diesel bus.

Transport for London’s Travel Demand Management Programme: supporting large organisations to set up a workplace travel plan that saves time and money by reducing travel costs and the need for car parking and fleet management.

Further information:

Defra: The UK Climate Change Programme