London mayor elections: Sadiq Khan launches climate 'action plan' for London

Labour's mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan has launched what he says is a "new climate action plan" for London.

Mr Khan says this includes his Net Zero Schools initiative, and a recommitment to making the capital net zero by 2030.

Mr Khan attended a campaign event at a school in north London to launch the plan, alongside shadow energy secretary Ed Miliband.

The Tories, the Lib Dems and Greens have all criticised Mr Khan's record.

'Crucial crossroads moment'

At the event in Stoke Newington on Friday, Mr Khan said he was "proud of what we've done in London to tackle air pollution and the climate crisis", but was now "determined to go even further with a new 10-point climate action plan for our city, which includes exciting new initiatives like putting solar panels on school roofs".

As part of his plan Mr Khan aims to deliver a 100% zero-emission bus fleet in London by 2030, put air pollution filters in primary schools, provide more than 40,000 new public bike parking spaces by 2030 and more than double the number of electric vehicle charging points to 40,000 by 2030.

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He has also pledged to help schools reach net zero, strengthen a programme to make homes and offices more energy-efficient and expand his School Streets initiative by restricting car access outside schools during drop-off and pick-up.

Among Labour's broader climate pledges for London are creating jobs in green industries, increasing investment in walking and cycling and planting more trees.

Mr Khan warned that the environment and net zero were crucial issues on the ballot paper, saying "the choice couldn't be starker" and "London is at a crucial crossroads moment".

"One path leads to clean air and our city continuing to be at the forefront of the fight to save our planet, while the other is a path that takes our city backwards, with toxic air polluting children's lungs and the consequences of having a climate science denier leading our city.

"Only voting Labour in London will keep green politics alive," he argued.

Mr Khan told supporters his Conservative opponent Susan Hall was "a proud anti-green candidate" and claimed she had promoted climate science denial, taking "a Trumpian approach to the climate crisis" - referring to former US President Donald Trump.

"She has opposed all the green policies we've introduced since 2016, backed the reintroduction of fracking," he added.

Ms Hall's key pledges include scrapping the expansion of the Ulez scheme on her first day in office.

A spokesperson for the Conservative Party said: "Susan supports a fair and practical transition to net zero, while Sadiq Khan believes in hitting Londoners in the pocket with his Ulez expansion and pay-per-mile plans. She will scrap both on day one of her mayoralty."

'Drastic rise in private jet use'

Mr Khan told reporters he did not believe recent polling suggesting he had a lead over Ms Hall, stressing the mayoral election is "neck and neck" between him and his Conservative opponent.

Mr Miliband said: "If there is a Labour government elected we will be incredibly close partners with Sadiq as mayor of London."

He added there was a "wider choice at this mayoral election... which is between Sadiq's climate leadership and Susan Hall's climate denial and delay".

"Frankly, if Susan Hall was elected as the mayor of London it would be a global embarrassment for Britain which prides itself on climate leadership."

However, the Conservative Party spokesperson said Ms Hall had never denied climate change and "these bizarre tactics from Sadiq Khan's campaign are getting more and more desperate".

Green Party mayoral candidate Zoë Garbett said Mr Khan "talks big on climate issues, but you only have to take a look at what he has actually achieved to see there is very little in the way of action", citing the Silvertown Tunnel as "catastrophic not only for the environment but also air pollution in east London".

"Add that to his refusal to condemn the drastic rise in private jet use in and out of London, his sponsorship deal with United Airlines and his failure to help Londoners to get solar on their homes and there are eight years of broken promises on climate action.

"Only a Green mayor will take the level of action needed to reduce emissions, prepare our city and protect our workers from the increasing impacts we are seeing as a result of climate breakdown."

Liberal Democrat candidate Rob Blackie said: "Climate change is incredibly important for London.

"But if you look at Sadiq's record, he said he would cut carbon emissions dramatically and actually he's going to miss his main target by eight years unless he changes things dramatically.

"Looking at what he's proposed today it's pretty small stuff, and very unlikely to make a big difference."

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