Following reports that business minister John Hutton is to advise the Prime Minister to sink EU renewables targets, Green London Mayor candidate Siân Berry has pledged that a Green London would meet its European obligations on renewables even if the Government refused to do so in the rest of the country.
Siân said:
"I’m disappointed by not surprised that Brown’s government is trying to wriggle out of its promise to give this country the renewables industry it deserves. We didn’t need any more evidence that this government doesn’t really care about either climate change or British manufacturing.
"It’s even more pathetic given that the European targets are really not that hard to achieve. London isn’t the Lake District, but even in the city we could meet our share of the UK’s responsibility. I know London isn’t afraid to take the lead when it has to, and if we can’t take part in the renewables revolution with the government’s help, then we’ll lead it without them., U-turn if you want to, Mr Brown – the city’s not for turning."
As Mayor, Siân would introduce a range of policies to make London a world-leading city in clean energy:
– Reduce energy demand and slash fuel poverty by providing free insulation to every home that needs it, starting with those on low incomes and vulnerable groups such as the elderly.
– Low cost loans to householders, community groups and businesses to support installation of technology like solar panels, wind turbines, and woodchip burners. Aim to have 100,000 solar roofs in the city by 2015.
– Street-by-street feasibility studies across London to identify the best energy solutions, and detailed help with paperwork and planning permission for interested households. This is already being piloted by Green councillors in Lewisham.
– Use the new planning powers to introduce a renewables escalator – requiring new builds to source a growing proportion of energy needs from renewables as locally as possible: 25% by 2010, 50% by 2015, and 75% by 2020.
– A series of large-scale public projects to be comissioned around London, especially in the estuary which has potential for both wind power and tidal lagoons.