Greater London Authority

This credit line report aims to investigate the policies affecting the environment in capital of the United Kingdom. A review will be do into the responsibilities of the Greater London confidence (GLA) and the city manager. A critical evaluation of the evidence will be provided. A survey of opinions amongst GSM students will be presented and a conclusion follown on the effectiveness of the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the city manager in tackling key issues which relate to the environment. It has been estimated that London, the capital of England, has a population of much than eight million (www. tandard. co. uk). With a 0. 7% fall in GDP in the second quarter of 2012 (GLAEconomics, 2012) the Mayor of London (MoL) plays an important role in improving London for all (london. gov. uk). The Greater London Authority (GLA) is a top-tier administrative body for London (http//en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Greater_London_Authority) which consists of an elected mayor, the London assemb ly and permanent members of GLA staff who collaboratively name towards design a better capital (www. london. gov. uk/who-runs-london/greater-london-authority).The MoL is responsible for the economic, environmental, social enhancement of the city (www. london. gov. uk/who-runs-london/mayor/role). Plans and policies are developed to tackle the issues effect London such as tape drive, housing, health inequalities and environmental issues (www. london. gov. uk/who-runs-london/mayor/role). Environmental issues can be defined as the over economic consumption of natural resources (Fransson and Garling, 1999) and can be categorise into air, water, radiation and odor pollution (http//www. environment-agency. ov. uk). The United Kingdom (UK), ranked eighth in the world for break down the highest carbon dioxide emissions (http//www. ucsusa. org). The UK generates 586 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. Even though significant efforts are being make to reduce our carbon foot score such as building the worlds largest wind farm, pollution due transferee however still remains a major problem in the UK (http//www. actionforourplanet. com). Environmental concern has uprise on the political agenda since 2003. Various olicies have been introduced since then, relating to the environment. In 2009, a document entitled principal to a Greener London was published setting out the aims for London to reduce its carbon foot print and become one of the worlds greenest cities (https//www. london. gov. uk/priorities/environment/vision-strateg. The Mayors Municipal waste strategy (2011) sets out to modify the life of Londoners by retrofitting London, greening London and cleaner air for London (http//www. london. gov. uk/sites/default/files/Municipal%20Waste_FINAL. pdf).Retrofitting or mordenising our homes and workplaces to be more energy efficient is considered to be a vital action, as this accounts for nearly eighty percent (80%) of the cities emissions. discolor London cons ists of increasing Londons tree coverage and green spaces in order to improve air quality, reduce the impact of extreme weather conditions and increase the vibrancy of the city. The mayor has already make various steps towards achieving cleaner air for London which includes introducing new cleaner hybrid buses (http//www. london. gov. k/priorities/transport/green-transport/hybrid-buses), charging points for electric cars (https//www. sourcelondon. net) and barlays cycle hire is due to be expanding to south west London in 2014 (http//www. tfl. gov. uk/ corporal/media/newscentre/archive/25711. aspx). Nevertheless, evidence shows that air pollution in our capital has exceeding EU limits and proves that London has a long way to go to improve emissions (http//www. london. gov. uk/media/press_releases_london_assembly/new-figures-reveal-limits-harmful-air-pollution-breached-across-capital).The business waste Strategy (2011) sets out to direct the trouble of business waste. London currentl y produces 20 million tones of waste a year. With London growing, this amount is due to increase. The aim of this policy is to educate and encourage Londoners to reduce, reuse and recycle their household and support businesss to dispose of their waste more efficiently and effectively (http//www. london. gov. uk/priorities/environment/vision-strategy/waste). These policies have filtered down to topical anaesthetic councils and a proposal has been drawn in the borough of Croydon to target those who persistently refuse to recycle with a fixed punishment of ? 0 (http//www. croydon. gov. uk/environment/rrandw/recycling-rates/). However, even with the governments increasing efforts to try a reduce waste and encourage recycling, on that point are many areas in society where this is not happening. For example, the governments voluntary scheme to neglect the use if throwaway bags issued by supermarkets has been a disappointment. The use of plastic bags has increased for the second year r acetrack (http//www. guardian. co. uk/environment/2012/jul/05/plastic-bag-use-rise-supermarkets). In response, a proposal making it mandatory to charge all single use carrier bags may be enforced (http//www. ondon. gov. uk/media/press_releases_assembly_member/news-jenny-jones-am-calling-charge-all-single-use-carrier-bags). In conclusion, government will always make proposals and draw up policies however sometimes implementing these policies at a local level is very challenging. Even though the GLA want to see improvements and continuously demand, support needs to be made at a local level to help guide local authorities through continuous changes enforced upon them. REFERENCING FRANSSON, N. GARLING,T. (1999) ENVIRONMENTALCONCERN CONCEPTUAL DEFINITIONS, measure METHODS, AND RESEARCH FINDINGS.Journal of Environmental Psychology, 19 (4) pp 369382 http//www. actionforourplanet. com//top-10-polluting-countries/4541684868 http//www. london. gov. uk/media/press_releases_london_assembly/new- figures-reveal-limits-harmful-air-pollution-breached-across-capital http//www. london. gov. uk/priorities/transport/green-transport/hybrid-buses http//www. london. gov. uk/sites/default/files/Business%20Waste_FINAL. pdf). http//www. london. gov. uk/sites/default/files/Business%20Waste_FINAL. pdf http//www. london. gov. uk/sites/default/files/londons_economy_today_no119_26071