| I am passionate about the environment and the need to
address the challenge of global warming. It requires urgent action.
The
congestion charge offers no solutions. Instead of trying to make money out of the
environmental threat, we need to take real steps to cut London's
contribution to global warming.
I believe in carrots rather than sticks.
First and foremost, we need to encourage people out of their cars by
better, more flexible, environmentally friendly public transport.
Secondly, we need to recognise that people will still want cars. We need
to help people choose low or zero emission models through a
combination of incentives and environmental awareness. I am the founder
of Plug in Britain,
an organisation that promotes such vehicles. We need to
provide free road side charging points for electric and plug in hybrid
cars in every street
in London. We must ensure parking regulations favour shared car
ownership schemes. We must get traffic flowing again by reviewing road
design and, in particular, the role of traffic lights and bus lanes.
We should promote alternative sources of energy for
homes and make low energy light bulbs freely available to Londoners.
These measures are just a start, my belief is that
through a combination of new technology and good government we can
ensure that London takes a lead in addressing one of biggest problems
facing civilisation and the planet.
For very good summary of the challenge, despite various inaccuracies - I recommend that people
watch Al Gore's film "An Inconvenient Truth" - released on DVD. |
