| the role of Mayor of London was created at the | | | | also passed policies that have resulted in an 83% |
| turn of the millennium, Ken Livingston has been | | | | increase in recycling, and a 20% reduction in CO2 |
| synonymous the position; he won the first two | | | | emissions from construction projects. But his |
| elections, in 2000 as an independent candidate, | | | | commitment to environmental policy is perhaps |
| and then as a representative of New Labour in | | | | best characterised by the London Climate Change |
| 2004. Of the last decade, then, it has been | | | | Action Plan, which set a CO2 emissions reduction |
| through his policy that Greater London has | | | | target of 60% by 2025. |
| experienced its relationship with the environment. | | | | On the back of these policies, the environmental |
| Perhaps the most environmentally minded of | | | | organisation Friends of the Earth named Livingston |
| Livingstone's policies is also seen by many as his | | | | the most genuinely eco-friendly candidate for the |
| most controversial, and that was the introduction | | | | mayoral elections in 2008, though he lost to |
| of the London congestion charge, which came into | | | | Conservative candidate Boris Johnson. |
| force in 2003. Though it continues to divide opinion | | | | Now, following Johnson's first 100 days as the |
| on Livingstone's political credentials, it is generally | | | | Mayor of London, the same orginsation have |
| deemed praiseworthy by environmentalists, who | | | | published a scathing report on his recent |
| highlight the 21% drop in traffic and the 83% | | | | environmental policies. It details the Mayor's plans |
| increase in cycling across the congestion zone. | | | | to increase flights from London terminals by 50%, |
| With experts estimating that 20% of the U.K's | | | | and proposals to scrap any legislation that would |
| annual carbon emissions are being released by | | | | include congestion charges based on climate |
| cars, the environmental impact of the congestion | | | | change concerns. |
| charge policy cannot be criticised. | | | | With estimates showing that Britain is the |
| Indeed London is now reported to be the first | | | | European nation with the most CO2 emissions |
| major city in the world to affect a genuine shift | | | | from air trips, and some experts suggesting that |
| from public to private transport; a shift that | | | | the emissions rate for the sector could raise by |
| Livingstone is always keen to promote: | | | | as much as 10% per year, many environmental |
| "The congestion charge and the biggest | | | | orginisations are seconding the criticisms of |
| investment programme since the second world | | | | Friends of the Earth. |
| war has enabled London to become the first | | | | In defence of Mr. Johnson, he has just accepted |
| major city in the world to achieve a shift away | | | | the position of chairman in the newly formed The |
| from the private car to public transport. The | | | | London Waste and Recycling Board, which he |
| charge is also reducing pollution and I am building | | | | granted a £60m budget. But with the |
| on this by altering the charge to penalise the big | | | | guardian also reporting that the Mayor has |
| vehicles which contribute most to climate change | | | | canceled an order for what is possibly the biggest |
| and exempting the cleanest cars. Nationally and | | | | hydrogen car collection in the world, critics of his |
| internationally cities are following London's example | | | | first few months in office can be forgiven for |
| and considering introducing a similar charge. The | | | | remaining skeptical. |
| congestion charge has made London a world | | | | Whether or not Johnson will continue to build on |
| leader in doing something about traffic congestion | | | | the environmental policies of Ken Livingstone |
| and pollution rather than just talking about it." | | | | remains to be seen. |
| During his eight years of leadership, Livingstone | | | | |