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Sadiq Khan Pledges Zero Emissions By 2050
22 - Jun - 2017

Sadiq Khan Pledges Zero Emissions by 2050

London mayor Sadiq Khan has announced plans to achieve zero emission on the city’s transport system by 2050.

In the blueprint, he pledges to reduce the number of car journeys by three million each day. He also plans to increase the number of people walking, cycling or using public transport from 64 per cent last year to 80 per cent by 2041.

Mr. Khan said the capital needs to reduce the number of polluting vehicles for a greener and healthier city. This, considering that London’s population is expected to grow to 10.5 million in the next 25 years.

By 2025, a zero-emission zone will be created in central London, which will be extended to the entire city by 2050.

The mayor’s office said all taxis and minicabs will be non-polluting by 2033, while the entire bus fleet consisting of 9,200 vehicles will be zero emission by 2037.

The blueprint also includes proposes that all new vehicles driven in inner London will be zero emission by 2040, allowing for zero emission on the entire transport system by 2050.

Paul Morozzo, clean air campaigner at Greenpeace, said the mayor’s plans were an ambitious, well-thought-through long term vision for the London transport system”.

Cycling UK’s policy director, Roger Geffen also lauded the pledge to have more investment in walking and cycling, terming it a “breath of fresh air from our otherwise polluted capital”.

 “Sadiq Khan’s Strategy has laid down the gauntlet to other city and county council leaders to set out similarly ambitious plans for their areas," he said.

 “A new Clean Air Act could really help local authorities not only to reduce road traffic and the pollution and congestion it causes, but also to invest in high-quality cycle networks and other healthy transport solutions for their areas.”

The mayor’s vision is already being implemented, with an Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expected to be launched in London by 2020. This will see all cars, motorbikes, vans and heavy goods vehicles required to meet emission standards.

Starting next year, all new double-deck buses will be hybrid, electric or hydrogen, while all single-buses will have zero emissions by 2020.

By Airport Pickups London