Sir Sadiq Khan was accused on Tuesday of showing “an astounding level of complacency” by failing to set “interim targets” for his mission to achieve net zero in London by 2030.
Zack Polanski, the Green Party’s deputy leader, said that without such targets, there was a danger that by the end of the mayor’s current term in 2028, London will be “nowhere near” net zero and Sir Sadiq will “swan off into the sunset”.
Sir Sadiq’s deputy mayor for the environment, Mete Coban, insisted there were “many mechanisms” by which City Hall can be held to account as it strives to slash carbon emissions across the capital.
According to the latest data, London’s net greenhouse gas emissions have dropped from 48.67 million tonnes in 2005 to 28.32 million tonnes in 2022 - a reduction of 42 per cent. When Sir Sadiq took office in 2016, the figure stood at 35.88 million tonnes.
Mr Polanski, who chairs the London Assembly’s environment committee, took issue with the fact that the mayor has not set any targets for the years leading up to 2030 - for example, of bringing net emissions below 20 million tonnes by a particular year.
He asked Mr Coban: “The mayor is saying we’re going to do these big things by 2030 - that will be another term if he chooses to run for another term, or he’ll be out of office.
“Is it acceptable for someone to set a target for when they’re out of office, when actually they could be setting interim targets, so we [the Assembly] can be holding them to account as the voice of Londoners?”
Mr Coban said London was showing “real leadership on climate action”, pointing out that the mayor had already brought forward the capital’s net zero target from 2050 to 2030. He added that it was entirely fair for Sir Sadiq to set a target for 2030, as the public often criticises politicians for not having “plans beyond our terms [of office]”.
The deputy mayor said: “I think what Londoners want to see is for us to deliver on the 2030 target, and that’s what we’re focused on.”
.png?trim=0%2C167%2C0%2C166)
Mr Polanski replied: “Do you not think there’s a problem though, if we get to 2028 and we’re nowhere near net zero. Sadiq Khan swans off into the sunset, and who gets held accountable?”
He added that aiming for net zero by 2030 “on a wing and a prayer”, without being able to explain when particular milestones will be achieved on the way towards that target, showed “an astounding level of complacency” from the mayor.
Mr Coban said Sir Sadiq’s office would continue to “report on what progress we’re making” in reaching net zero, while assuring the committee that there were ways in which “Londoners can hold us to account”.
The deputy mayor did not give a direct answer when asked by Mr Polanski whether City Hall officials were working towards any interim targets in private and were simply choosing not to share them.
“What we have is a very ambitious manifesto, that will help us reach our net zero ambitions if we carry on with the delivery, and that’s what we’re focused on,” said Mr Coban.
The mayor admitted in December last year that London was “still not on target” to achieve net zero by 2030, but said the arrival of a Labour Government had made him more hopeful of getting there. He said ministers were providing the capital with vital support in insulating buildings, electrifying the bus fleet, and creating new jobs in industries focused on tackling climate change.
Sir Sadiq’s office has previously stated that between half and two thirds of London’s net zero target will be dependent on Government action, rather than anything City Hall can do with its existing powers.
