Sadiq Khan, the current mayor of London, encourages Londoners to use more sustainable means of transport, such as cycling and walking, whilst the previous mayor, Boris Johnson introduced a scheme called ‘Boris Bikes,’ where it is now possible to hire a bike for free, and cycle around London. These alternative routes of transport have helped reduce the number of cars on the streets, and the subsequent emissions that they cause. London is also synonymous with the London Underground, where commuters can get around London travelling by Tube, more environmentally friendly than cars. 1.35 billion passengers are estimated to use the Tube each year, saving many car journeys. Ultra-Low Emissions Zones are in place, meaning that more polluting vehicles have to pay. This scheme is set to expand and continue.

London is also trying to cut down on energy emissions. More homes are having insulation put in, solar panels added, and inefficient boilers removed, in order to cut down on energy. Another strategy that could be employed for the future is painting houses white, as new inventions have meant that white paint can now reflect over 98% of sunlight. This paint could be used to help more houses in London remove air conditioning, saving a lot of electricity. Mayor Sadiq Khan also aims to reduce gas, mainly used for heating up homes, which takes up 30% of all energy emissions. New buildings must now be ‘lean, clean and green,’ meaning that they must try to reduce energy usage, and the energy that they use must be efficient and renewable if possible. Another aim is for the Underground, which can act as a source of heat for the houses above it, to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Waste is another key issue that the mayor is aiming to cut down on. Over 40% of waste is recycled, however Khan would like this figure to be over 50% by 2030. Within 5 years, all biodegradable and plastic waste will not be sent to landfill. Plastic bottles are a larger contributor to plastic waste, and there are now places to refill water bottles in order for people to simply use one water bottle, rather than throwing multiple bottles away each week. Urban farming is also seen as a way to make food more sustainably, using less water to make crops, and less energy. These farms are run off renewable energy and can grow crops. These farms are growing and will help face the growing need for crops as natural resources become scarcer.

All of these policies have helped London to become the most environmentally friendly city in the world, whilst future policies will help London to become even more sustainable, becoming Carbon-Neutral before 2050.