London is getting serious about reducing its carbon emissions. After unveiling a new bicycle initiative for the city on Monday, mayor Ken Livingston announced yesterday that owners of low fuel efficiency vehicles will have to pay a larger daily fee to drive in the city beginning in October.
Vehicles emitting 225 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, or more, will be required to pay a 25 pound (US$50) tax per day. The new rule creates a higher tier than the 8 pounds (US$16) daily charge already in place for all but the cleanest cars on London streets.
Livingston said the initiative alone will probably have little effect on emissions. But combined with new recycling initiatives and building rules, he says the fee can help cut London’s carbon emissions by 60% by 2025.
"I believe that this ground-breaking initiative will have an impact throughout the world with other cities following suit as they step up their efforts to halt the slide towards catastrophic climate change," Livingston told a news conference.
He said the new fee would raise approximately 30 million to 50 million pounds (US$60 million to $100 million) a year to be used to cover the cost of the new bicycle initiative, which will provide bicycle rentals every 500 meters throughout the city.
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