Dozens gather outside London city hall to rally for increased action on climate change in 2019
According to a report presented to the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee this week, London is struggling to meet its greenhouse gas emissions goals for 2030.
Their target to reduce emissions 55% from 2005 levels by 2030 is the first in a series of targets they need to meet before reaching their goal of net-zero emissions by 2045.
According to the report, total GHG emissions in 2023 were 3.11 million megatonnes, which is only 20 per cent lower than 2005 levels. Councillor Skylar Franke pointed out during the meeting that if the city wants to meet its 2030 goals, GHG emissions will need to be reduced by 35%, which is more than they have been reduced in the last 19 years since 2005.
Councillors pointed to several roadblocks in the way of meeting their targets, such as a lack of funding and resources for environmental programs, the prevalence of natural gas as a method of generating electricity, and the inability of council to control individual choices.
“We can lead, by example, as a city, but we cannot force people to change their behaviours,” said Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis during the meeting.
He says a great amount of the emissions in London are going to be addressed by individual uptake.
“By people choosing to go to a heat pump instead of a furnace, by people choosing to bike to the corner store instead of taking their car for a five-minute trip–those are where individual habits can be encouraged, but not forced.”
