London mayor Sadiq Khan launches England’s first-ever hydrogen buses. Photo: @Sadiqkhan

• CLIMATE Action Week, running to July 4, is a reminder that we still have a long way to go to cut down on carbon emissions and air pollution, to meet our global environmental commitments. But in our capital, we have seen a lot of progress being made on this.

Over the last five years measures taken by City Hall, such as the introduction of the ULEZ, ultra low emission zone, in central London, have helped towards a 94 per cent decrease in the number of Londoners living in areas exceeding nitrogen dioxide pollution limits.

We also know that investment in green infrastructure in London not only boosts the UK’s progress towards becoming net-zero carbon but also pays dividends for other regions in our country.

June 27 saw City Hall roll out England’s first-ever fleet of hydrogen buses which will add to the 500 electric buses already on London’s roads, helping to clamp down on toxic air levels.

The manufacturing of these buses also created jobs in many other parts of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, Oxford, Nottingham and Runcorn.

We must now see a commitment from the government to introduce a new Clean Air Act and amend their Environment Bill to give cities like London more powers and resources to fight against the climate emergency.

SEM MOEMA AM
Labour, Assembly Member