The choice for London on the environment
- A clean, green future with Ken and the Greens, or environmental backwardness with Boris Johnson
Sian Berry and Ken Livingstone were today campaigning together, calling on Londoners to protect London's environmental future by voting to stop Kyoto-bashing Boris Johnson becoming Mayor.
They said the choice for Londoners on the environment was the clearest for any major policy issue. Ken and Sian published their agreement on the six key green tests for the London Mayoral candidates. These are:
- Support the Kyoto Treaty on climate change
- Back a £25 a day congestion charge for gas guzzlers like some 4x4s
- Commit to full roll-out of the Low Emission Zone to cut pollution from lorries
- Oppose airport expansion
- Policy that 50% of new homes should be affordable
- Maintain the current congestion charge zone
- Boris Johnson has opposed every single one of these points. He has
- Been one of the few politicians in the world to support George W Bush in opposing the Kyoto Treaty
- Opposed the £25 a day congestion charge for gas guzzlers
- Described the Low Emission Zone as the ‘most punitive, draconian fining regime in the whole of Europe.'
- Said his single most important big idea for London was to build a new airport in the Thames Estuary.
- Opposed the policy that 50% of new homes should be affordable
- Would not support maintaining the current congestion charging zone
On the key environmental tests for London, Boris Johnson fails to score a single point. In a departure from usual Liberal Democrat policy, Brian Paddick, with just two points, also doesn't score much better. Both Ken and Sian Berry scored six out of six.
As leading environment campaigner, Jonathon Porritt, put it "The prospect of Boris as Mayor of London is just so scary".
Ken Livingstone said
‘Over the last eight years, working with Green Party Members on the London Assembly, we have turned London into an environmental leader. That did not happen by chance, it took decisive leadership and a clear policy framework starting from implementing the Kyoto Treaty on climate change.
‘Londoners now face a stark choice. Boris Johnson is an environmental vandal, whose main contribution to environmental policy was as a cheerleader for George W Bush's disastrous decision to oppose the Kyoto climate treaty.
‘It didn't seem possible six weeks ago, but Boris Johnson's environmental policies have got even worse during the course of the campaign. At the start he tried to hoodwink Londoners with his opposition to a new Heathrow runway, but his minders couldn't keep the true Boris under wraps throughout, and last week he revealed that his "big idea" for London is to build a new airport in the Thames Gateway.
‘With the Green Party calling on its supporters to cast their second preference votes for me they are saying do not permit a candidate who would take London backwards on green policies to get elected on May 1st.
‘The election is neck and neck and everyone who cares about the environment needs to vote with the first and second preferences for myself and Sian Berry if we are to stop Boris Johnson wrecking London's environment.'
Sian Berry said
‘I'm asking Londoners to vote Siân 1, Ken 2 and Green on the Assembly, because it is the best way to keep London out of the clutches of Boris Johnson and ensure we have an Assembly with the teeth to provide real, democratic oversight of the Mayor.
‘There are a hundred reasons why Boris Johnson should not be Mayor of London. But his dinosaur views on the environment alone are enough to show what a disaster he would be for our city. The man who backed Bush against the Kyoto treaty and who doesn't believe there's a risk from passive smoking cannot be trusted with our future - or even, really, with his own. He's a 19th century man in a 21st century city.
‘In contrast, Ken Livingstone has worked with the Green Assembly Members over the past four years, and the city is seeing the benefits - free insulation for pensioners and people on benefits, a tripling of the cycling budget, and green space protected and improved across East London.
‘To cast your second round vote for a candidate who won't be in the second round is the same as not using it at all. Don't abstain in the second round - you have to choose between Livingstone and Johnson and the choice should be obvious. Vote Siân 1, Ken 2 and Green on the Assembly."
Jeremy Leggett, Chairman of the UK's leading solar business, SolarCentury, said
‘Ken Livingstone and the Green Party in London have shown genuine leadership on climate change. Clean tech businesses in London would have a real chance under him as Mayor.
"Under a climate change denier like Boris Johnson, we would have to fear for our futures, and for the jobs of all the hundreds who work for us. We would also have to fear for the physical security of the city itself, under the assault of unmitigated global warming, were others to follow Johnson's 'lead' on climate change."
Notes to editors
Jeremy Leggett is Chairman of the leading solar energy firm, SolarCentury, and was recently selected as global news channel, CNN's, ‘principle voice' on alternative energy. He was described by Time Magazine as 'one of the key players in putting the climate issue on the world agenda' and prior to setting up SolarCentury was an award-winning scientist, oil-industry consultant, and Greenpeace campaigner. His first book "The Carbon War" has been described by the Sunday Times as "the best book yet on the politics of global warming." Jeremy Leggett is available for comment on 07717 822 103