Ken Livingstone : Political Environmental Leader
This article is part of EcoWorldly’s week-long spotlight on Politicians You Can Believe In. To read more, subscribe to our RSS feed, or view our posts about politics.
Ken Livingstone, the former Mayor of London, has had a colourful professional life.
Always a social radical, he pushed the boundaries of London politics as leader of the Greater London Council in the early 1980s. By constantly attacking the Thatcher government’s policies he ensured unemployment, race issues and nuclear disarmament remained high on the news agenda.
After a hiatus as a Member of Parliament he returned to the tiller as Mayor of London in 2000 and surprised many by his comparatively moderate stance on many issues.
However, he had lost none of his radicalism and he quickly set about pushing the boundaries once more, but this time in a green direction. Here are five of his world leading initiatives, which politicians of all hues ought to take notice of.
The Congestion Charge
This is his most well known scheme. In order to reduce congestion and air pollution in very the centre of London, all privately owned vehicles have to pay a levy when crossing a cordon. None can escape as the cordon is under 24 hour CCTV surveillance. The area was to be increased to cover “posh” Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea but this will probably be scrapped by Livingstone’s successor, Boris Johnson.
Low Emissions Zone
This covers all 600 square miles of Greater London and is designed to bring down vehicle-produced air pollution. Older diesel powered vehicles, such as lorries, coaches and minibuses have to be below specific emissions levels to operate within the zone. If they don’t they either have to pay a daily charge or a penalty, or they will be removed from the streets.
London Hydrogen Partnership
Launched in 2002 this is a far reaching scheme to ensure London has a viable infrastructure for hydrogen and fuel cell technology in the future. Current projects include introducing the technology into all of London’s schools; while the city’s first wholly hydrogen powered theatre has recently opened.
Biodiversity Strategy
Also launched in 2002 the strategy contains 14 policies and over 70 proposals. It places a statutory obligation to promote biodiversity upon the city’s 32 boroughs and 7m residents.
Green Homes Programme
Part of the city’s Climate Change Action Plan, focussed upon upgrading the 60% of the city’s housing stock built before 1945. Links up to the commitment to cut the city’s carbon emissions by 60% by 2025 and the Urban Heat Island, which shows the city is nearly 10 degrees centigrade warmer than the surrounding countryside.
Normally best known for keeping newts as pets (yes, NEWTS!), Livingstone deserves a lasting mention in the annals of history as one of the most visionary environmental urban leaders.
The question is: who will improve upon his record?
Picture Credit: “Ken Livingstone - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2008″ by H2g2bob from Wikimedia Commons under Attribution Share Alike License.
