Ensuring quality of life in Europe's cities and towns - New Bridges

Towards integrated urban management
Box 3.6
London Climate Change Action Plan (the United Kingdom) — clear vision and
concrete targets
How local integrated action can make a European
and global difference: the London Climate Change
Action Plan
Initial situation
London produces 8 % of the CO 2
emissions of the United
Kingdom which in turn is the world's eighth largest emitter
of these emissions. Without any action London's emissions
will increase even further in the future. Stabilising the
global carbon emissions at a level where catastrophic
climate changes are avoided will require enormous
emission reductions throughout the developed world. As
the challenge is huge, a clear vision, concrete targets, and
strong political leadership are absolutely necessary.
Solution
Prior to the creation of the Greater London Authority
(GLA) there was no strategic capacity to plan and manage
change in one of the world's major cities. The GLA
brought together economic, developmental, transport and
environmental planning for eight million people under the
leadership of a single mayor accountable to an elected
assembly. Following several actions from the year 2000
onwards, the GLA produced a 'Climate Change Action Plan'
in February 2007 with the specific aim 'to deliver decisive
action in London with the urgency that is required' to
tackle the potential threats to London of Climate Change.
'The Mayor's new target for London, therefore, is to
stabilise CO 2
emissions in 2025 at 60 % below 1990 levels,
Photo: © EEA
with steady progress towards this over the next 20 years. As part of London's ambitious target 30 % is
to be achieved within the responsibility of the GLA and the other 30 % as part of national government
action such as decarbonising the electricity grid. This target is considerably more ambitious than the UK
government's current aspiration of a 60 % reduction from 2000 levels by 2050' (the new UK government
target is now 80 % by 2050).
The plan focuses on the next 10 years in the context of achieving the 2025 target. It comprises all
CO 2
relevant urban activities and lists many concrete measures and targets in its different actions and
programmes, such as The Green Homes Programme, Green Organisations Programme, Energy Efficiency
Programme and Requirements for new developments, Transport Related Programmes, and the Delivery
Mechanisms.
Results, lessons learnt and transfer potential
The adoption of such ambitious targets and development of concrete measures is a success in itself, in
particular, as the newly elected city government has endorsed this plan and is on the way to propose
revised implementation measures. In part this achievement arises as a result of raising general
awareness over the last years due to intensive work by the administration and others in the United
Kingdom and, in particular, the broad partnership-approach including the private sector. The clear target
and the Action Plan help to combine and streamline the efforts of each partner, thereby reaching the
necessary effectiveness. These partnerships will be crucial for London to deliver and achieve its targets
especially in the light of governmental changes, energy and financial crisis.
With its ambitious approach, London has inspired others and has taken a political lead on climate change
among large cities; for example, in the C40 Large Cities climate leadership group. Consequently, the
results of London's Climate Change policy stretch across Europe and the world.
More information: http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/environment/climate-change/ccap/index.jsp.
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