Environment & Sustainability

An online petition on the 38 Degrees website is calling on the Mayor of London to include the whole of Greater London in the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone, for it to cover all types of vehicle and for it to come into force by 2019. The  petition was created by Daniel Jones of Enfield Green Party. “We call on the Mayor of London and Transport for London to introduce an Ultra Low Emission Zone for all vehicles to cover the whole of Greater London by 2019.” Why is this important?.......

In a particularly bad time for air quality (not yet over), a couple of newspaper headlines that bring home the problem. The front page of yesterday' Evening Standard A  London  head teacher today issued a heartfelt “cry for help” to protect her pupils from toxic air which has blighted the capital for days. Effie Demetriou of Bowes Primary School, next to the North Circular, begged  Sadiq Khan  and Transport for London to act and cut local pollution........

Air pollution levels in London and elsewhere in the UK have been alarmingly high since before the weekend.  Yesterday central London registered the highest possible alert level:  10: Black.  And the extremely high and dangerous levels reached outer London.  8: Red at sites in Enfield - a value associated with central London on particularly bad days. Pollution peaks in London 23 Jan 2017 recorded by www.londonair.org.uk (Source: Evening Standard) Calls for action are growing.......

Surveyors working with London Wildlife Trust’s Water for Wildlife project spotted a pair of willow emerald damselflies whilst looking for dragonflies and damselflies in Clissold Park, Hackney, in late September. By tracking such insects the project is mapping out the health of London’s freshwater ecosystems. Research volunteer Sonja Todd spotted the male and female willow emerald damselfly in reeds growing in the New River in the park. Read the full story on the London Wildlife.......

The Mayor of London has launched the second phase of his consultation on proposed measures to improve air quality in the Capital. The consultation phase, which runs until 18 December, invites the public to comment on detailed proposals for an Emission Surcharge payable by drivers whose vehicles do not meet stipulated conditions when driving in the Congestion Zone.  It also asks for feedback on the possible earlier introduction of an Ultra Low Emissions Zone and its possible enlargement to.......

Vehicle Idling Action are recruiting volunteers to become Clean Air Champions in twelve London boroughs - including Enfield. Join our Vehicle Idling Action campaign and be part of a movement to bring much needed positive environmental changes to our communities. Together we can spread awareness about the negative impacts of engine idling, creating long-term behavioural changes in drivers to immediately reduce localised air pollution. We are establishing a team of enthusiastic, willing,.......

Palmers Green is to be the trailblazer for a project which will return to children some of the independence that has been taken away from them in recent years. London's first Play Quarter will build on the existing Play Street schemes in and around Palmers Green - in Devonshire Road, Old Park Road, New River Crescent, Riverside, The Mall and Orpington Road.  Those streets are now not only home to more active, happy children with new friends next door, but they have also become friendlier,.......

During September the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign will be running free events at various locations in London.  Visitors to the Healthy Lungs for Life "bubble" will be offered free tests of lung function (spirometry), advice on lung health and how to protect against air pollution, and a chance to take part in an interactive game. The main organisations behind the campaign, which is Europe-wide, are the European Respiratory Society and the European Lung Foundation. On Monday 5.......

It is a little known fact that running a car engine while not in traffic is illegal.  Another little known fact is that turning off engines while stationary, even for a very short time, significantly reduces emissions of toxic exhaust fumes and climate-changing greenhouse gases. Recently the City of London Police began enforcing the law against running engines while parked, and there are plans to extend this to more London boroughs - unfortunately, Enfield is not on the list. An online.......

The Mayor of London's public consultation on measures to resolve the capital's air quality crisis finishes on Friday 29th July.  Recently published reports question the adequacy of Sadiq Khan's proposals and suggest much tougher controls, especially in relation to diesel cars. See this earlier article for information about the consultation. Call to completely remove diesel cars A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research, drawing on analysis by Kings College London, calls.......