Analysis

London leads in green city awards shortlist

London is one of 26 global cities shortlisted for 31 projects

Global climate change awards recognise UK capital as a leading city. Global climate change awards announced tonight in New York

- results will be published when anounced tomorrow - 

London has emerged as a leading global city on climate change leadership having been shortlisted in more categories of the C40 and Siemens ‘City Climate Leadership Awards 2014’ than any other international city. From a total of 87 entries into 10 categories London has been shortlisted three times for its work on air quality, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas monitoring.

A total of 31 projects will battle to be global leaders on climate change at the awards ceremony in New York on 22nd September. Only Mexico City and Shenzhen, China have also received multiple recognition with each shortlisted for two categories.

    C40 chief executive Mark Watts will be discussing how environmental policies can drive the development of modern and sustainable cities at the Environmental Industries Commission Annual Conference on 2nd December 2014.

    For more information and to book a place visit the EIC Conference website here

    In the air quality category London’s New Taxi for London scheme aims to ensure that all of the city’s iconic black cabs are zero or ultra low emission by 2020, with all new vehicles compliant by 2018.

    Part of the Mayor’s Ultra Low Emission Zone announced in February 2013 the scheme aims to tackle emissions from the 23,000 taxis that account for 35% of the larger particulate emissions in the city known as PM10, and 15% of NOx. This is supported by grants and loans to aid replacement of vehicles.

    London is competing against Taipei and Mexico City in the category. The Asian city was recognised for its clean air programme tackling transport which involved reducing emissions from diesel vehicles and providing bicycles to reduce motorised transport. Today there are 5265 bikes at 160 stations as part of the “You Bike” initiative.

    In Mexico City a new monitoring programme to tackle “black carbon” was launched in January 2014. Black carbon absorbs sunlight and emits heat making it the third  largest contributor to the radiative heat causing climate change. Measuring this will enable the creation of new policies to reduce the emissions.

    In the energy efficiency in the built environment category London is shortlisted against Los Angeles and New York. The UK city has been recognised for its work on retrofitting public buildings and housing stock with energy efficiency improvements.

    To date 356 buildings have been upgraded costing £44m. New York too has been tackling emissions from buildings through its Greener Greater Buildings Plan, which saw new energy efficiency laws force larger buildings to measure and benchmark energy and water use and make the information public.  

    In Los Angeles street lighting has been replaced with LED fixtures. With 140,000 lights changed it is the biggest programme of its kind in the world.

    Carbon measurement and planning is another category where London has been shortlisted for its work to expand the scope of greenhouse gas measurement to provide a more thorough assessment of emissions. Seattle and Vancouver are also shortlisted.

    Other categories include intelligent city infrastructure, adaptation and resilience; green energy; sustainable communities; finance and economic development; solid waste management and urban transportation.

    This year marks the second collaboration between C40 and Siemens on the City Climate Leadership Awards. An independent, seven-member judging panel consisting of former city mayors, architects, representatives of the World Bank, as well as C40 and Siemens will select the ten winners in New York on 22nd September.

    • Read more about the shortlisted projects here

     

    More from Infrastructure Intelligence on C40's climate change and sustainable development work:

    Climate positive - C40's urban labs 

    C40 summit reveals cities are stepping up to the challenge 

     

    If you would like to contact Bernadette Ballantyne about this, or any other story, please email bernadette.ballantyne@infrastructure-intelligence.com:2016-1.