Local activists target the Mayoral elections

By Quentin Given, Coordinator, Tottenham & Wood Green Friends of the Earth

Climate activists in Haringey and Enfield are targeting the London Mayoral elections in hopes of getting the strongest possible policies that will cut carbon emissions, from the winning candidate.

The London Mayor has huge powers over transport and planning, as well as sway over housing and energy policies, therefore what they do – or don’t do – affects us all. For example, the Ultra-Low Emission Zone that is to come into force in October will affect many drivers with older cars who live or drive inside the North Circular.

Friends of the Earth groups in Haringey, and Enfield Help the Climate, are asking all the GLA candidates for the Enfield and Haringey constituency to commit to pressing the Mayor to make climate a top priority.

This would mean speeding up the shift from driving to walking and cycling, increasing safe cycle lanes, and possibly using a Road User Charging Scheme to discourage unnecessary car use. It would also mean opposing any expansion of airports, ramping up the installation of energy efficiency in older homes, and the installation of solar panels on many more roofs.

Beth McKinlay of Tottenham & Wood Green Friends of the Earth said: “Climate breakdown is still the biggest threat to our future.

“It is vital that we use every opportunity to cut emissions as fast as possible, and the Mayor has a crucial role in that.

“We have already met Joanne McCartney, the sitting member for Enfield and Haringey, and Labour’s candidate for May. We are now seeking meetings with the other candidates. We are determined to make climate an issue in these elections.”

Haringey Unison, the youth magazine Exposure, Muswell Hill Sustainability Group and others are supporting the campaign.

The elections are due in May. They were re-scheduled from May 2020 and could be postponed again if the Covid-19 pandemic makes it unsafe to go ahead.

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