The London Environment Strategy - overview


Image result for london environment strategy 

The Mayor published the London Environment Strategy (LES) as a draft on 11 Aug 2017, open for consultation until 17 Nov.

This post summarises the section relating to Green Infrastructure. I’ve given more details on this section in an extract. Links to the GLA website are at the end of this post.

I will publish comments on the strategy in a later post.

Introduction
The Mayor sets out a bold ambition - “to make London the greenest global city” - which means that this strategy could be important for those who care about London’s wildlife and the green spaces that support it. The LES sets a direction for London to be greener, cleaner and ready for the future. It is an integrated strategy that covers air quality, waste, noise, climate change mitigation and adaptation - as well as green spaces and biodiversity.

Although 47% of London is classified as green or blue open space, almost half of Londoners have poor access to parks. Added to which, Councils now have less money to spend on maintaining parks, and London’s green spaces are under increasing pressure from development. So there are problems with the quantity, quality and inter-connectedness of green spaces in London. As green space has been lost and in some cases reduced in quality, the range of plants and animals that live in London has decreased. These pressures will increase as London’s population grows from 8.7m today to 11m in 2050.

Green infrastructure and natural capital
The LES introduces the in-vogue concepts of green infrastructure and natural capital accounting in what it calls a “radical new approach”. Green infrastructure means the whole network of green and blue spaces including parks, green spaces, trees, woodlands, hedges, rivers, wetlands and green roofs.

We all know that this green infrastructure can improve biodiversity and ecological resilience. But it can also reduce the impacts of climate change, store carbon, improve air quality, improve water quality, promote healthier lives, reduce car dependency, and encourage more walking and cycling. These benefits are called “ecosystem services”.

We are quick to identify the cost of maintaining a local park, but don’t take into account the financial benefits it provides to the local community and economy – from better physical and mental health and increased property prices to reduced flood and heat risk. Natural capital describes the economic benefits to people of these services that the environment provides for free, and presents the benefits of green infrastructure in a similar way to other capital assets, like buildings. As an example, a natural capital account was drawn up in 2015 for Beam Parklands, a multi-functional green space in the Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

Aims
The central aim of the LES for green infrastructure is for “London to be a National Park City where more than half of its area is green; where the natural environment is protected; and the network of green infrastructure is managed to benefit all Londoners”.

There is limited space for new parks in London, so green infrastructure will be promoted through the planning system – to protect and better manage what’s there already, and to incorporate new green infrastructure as London grows. Parks will be made more accessible and better connected via greener streets. Buildings themselves will become greener, with green roofs and walls, and drainage systems that allow rainwater to flow back to rivers and streams more naturally. Habitats will be protected and enhanced to ensure green space improvements serve to increase the diversity of London’s plant and animal species.

The detailed proposals for green infrastructure are grouped under 3 objectives:
  1. Make more than half of London’s area green by 2050
  2. Conserve and enhance wildlife and natural habitats
  3. Value London’s natural capital as an economic asset and support investment in green infrastructure
Some key proposals are outlined below.

Much of the strategy will be delivered through London Boroughs, partners (like London Wildlife Trust, civil society organisations, charities), developers, and local communities. There will be many ways for people and special interest groups to get involved.

Make more than half of London’s area green by 2050
To be achieved by protecting, enhancing and increasing green areas so that they provide green infrastructure services that London needs now and in the future.
  • Make London the first National Park City by supporting the Greater London National Park City initiative. This aims to apply the principles of a National Park to a city, ensuring that all Londoners have free and easy access to high quality green space.
  • Establish a Greener City Fund to support boroughs, local communities and environmental organisations to plant more trees and improve green spaces (launched in August 2017).
  • Increase and improve green infrastructure in areas where Londoners, especially children, have the least amount of green space.
  • Use a new Urban Greening Factor to make sure that new developments are greener.
  • Convene a London Tree Partnership to coordinate research and guidance on the benefits of trees, and foster schemes for street tree sponsorship.
  • Get communities more involved in caring for green spaces around them.

Conserve and enhance wildlife and natural habitats
Achieved by protecting a core network of nature conservation sites and ensuring a net gain in biodiversity.
  • Use the planning system to protect London’s biodiversity, offsetting any reductions caused by new developments with increases elsewhere.
  • Protect London’s Green Belt from further development.
  • Work with wildlife organisations to produce an updated list of priority species that are of particular conservation importance in London.
  • Work with partners to ensure that data on London’s ecology and natural environment is collected and shared to inform decision making.

Value London’s Natural Capital as an economic asset
To address underinvestment and improve the management of London’s green infrastructure through new business models and improved awareness of the benefits of London’s green infrastructure.
  • Set up a London Green Spaces Commission to roll out new ways for the Mayor, London boroughs, community groups and others to fund, manage and value green spaces and nature
  • Publish and promote a natural capital accounting framework for London to identify the economic value of London’s green spaces.

Further information
Full strategy (400 pages)
Executive Summary (27 pages)

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