Businesses commit to EVs to support London's air quality goals

The Mayor of London's Sadiq Khan has established the London Business Climate Leaders group, which includes a range of businesses committing to projects that will help the Mayor achieve his aim of making London a zero-carbon city by 2050.

Tesco, Sky and Siemens are amongst the group of eleven businesses, who together employ more than 165,000 people in London. They will work with the Mayor on  projects to cut levels of pollution and emissions including transitioning towards zero-emission vehicles by 2025 and using 100 per cent renewable energy in their London properties by 2020.

The new London Business Climate Leaders group includes many property and construction companies, such as Derwent London, Landsec, ISG and Morgan Sindall Group. It also includes multi-national businesses Tesco and Siemens and global media organisations such as Sky, Informa and RELX Group.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m doing everything in my power to reduce London’s carbon footprint, and going further and faster than national government to make London a zero-carbon city by 2050. This network is a great example of how cities and businesses can come together to take bold action on climate change. Not only are these businesses committed to renewable energy, clean transport and reducing waste, they’re also committed to working together to achieve results as quickly as possible.”

The private sector accounts for a large part of London’s emissions. For example, 40 per cent of London’s greenhouse gas emissions come from workplaces. As such, it is vital that the sector acts to tackle climate change.

Members of the group have pledged to Switch to zero emission capable vehicles for company owned vehicles in London and/or support the development of EV charging required in London by installing infrastructure on London based properties by 2025.

They have also commited to purchasing renewable electricity for London based properties and mapping on site renewable potential of London based properties by 2020.

They have also set energy efficiency targets for 2020, 2030 and 2050 that aim toward zero carbon buildings by 2050 in London, and have pledged to reduce waste generated by 50% by 2030 and achieve a 75% recycling rate for business and zero waste to landfill by 2025.

The London Business Climate Leaders will disclose emissions for their London operations by Autumn 2018.

Other London-operating businesses are now being invited to join the initiative and pledge their support for making London a zero-carbon city by 2050.