London to miss 2030 net-zero target, mayor admits

The mayor of London has conceded that the capital will not reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, and has urged ministers to hand him greater control over energy policy. Sir Sadiq Khan said measures introduced during his time in office, including the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (Ulez) and the electrification of London's buses, had delivered significant cuts to carbon emissions. But he argued that without direct authority over the energy grid, which remains largely dependent on fossil fuels, the 2030 goal was likely to slip. Bodies overseen by the Greater London Authority (GLA), such as Transport for London and the London Fire Brigade, remain on track to meet it. The admission came at Mayor's Question Time last week, after Green Party leader and London Assembly member Zack Polanski said City Hall's climate efforts were operating in isolation from one another, despite their individual merits. Sir Sadiq accepted the criticism was "a fair one" and called for funding to be pooled. "The funding comes from different pots of money, it's frustrating," he said. "If we had an integrated settlement, monies devolved to London in one pot, we could have some 'joined-upness'." Last year's government