London councils sit on more than 130 million pounds, they must finance local climate work, and can reveal the Guardian.
More than 170 million pounds was collected through the mayor of the carbon displacement fund in London, which is required to pay the developers to alleviate emissions from new projects, as it was presented in 2016. However, 33 local authorities in the capital spent less than 40 million pounds between them. some They said They do not have resources, experience or time to determine how they are spent.
The funds collected from this fund must be spent on carbon reduction measures in local areas. These include housing energy efficiency improvements in the council and other buildings that will reduce energy bills for tenants, as well as renewable energy projects and regions heating plans. Money can also be granted as grants to society, and some councils have used them to finance education projects, tree planting, and community food transplant plans.
Data, obtained by freedom of information requests, appear widely in spending by councils until the end of last year. Some authorities spent all the funding they collected from developers while others spent anything. The vast majority spent less than 20 % of the money.
The trustee told a number of councils that some of their unproductive money – about 15 million pounds in total – was allocated for projects, but they have not yet spent. At the same time, the numbers of the Greater London Authority Display The councils contain at least 150 million pounds on the road from developers.
Zac Bolanski, deputy leader of the Green Party and head of the London Environment Committee, said the progress was “slow and unacceptable.”
He said: “Thousands of London residents are stuck in cold, wet houses and mold while their bills continue to climb.” “It is inconceivable that although the money is available to fix this, the councils sit on the money year after year, leaving the suffering most vulnerable to suffering.”
Bolanski said the situation “Rex is from satisfaction” and blamed the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, for his failure to present a clear clear plan.
Tower Hamlets (20 million pounds), Islington (18.5 million pounds) and Westminster (16.1 million pounds) received the largest number of money corresponding to developers. Tower Hamlets spent a little more than 5.3 million pounds, and Westminster spent 2.4 million pounds – about 15 %. They both say they have more money for projects. Isington spent 12.1 million pounds, more than any area in London with some distance and about 65 % of its bowl.
“Khan needs” obtaining a grip “on his policy to achieve his pure goal of London by 2030.
He said: “These funds could have been spent on re -modernization, tree cultivation, our winds, or the support of society’s energy.” “I used some councils the fund, so there is no correct excuse for those who spent the past decade to refuse to spend a huge pile of money allocated to climate. We expect that all London residents will intensify their climate work by spending these funds.”
He added: “This position highlights defects in these plans: if the money does not spend, emissions will not be compensated for new developments.”
A spokesman for the city hall told the newspaper “Urgent Talks” on the trustee who was taking place with councils on speeding up the delivery of projects. They said that the amount of the money collected and spent by the councils has increased on an annual basis, but they added: “The main challenge is the handable project pipeline available for financing.”
The London councils, an umbrella group representing the capital area, said that there are undoubtedly “challenges to overcome them”, and indicated that the recommended price of Khan, which is 95 pounds, per ton of carbon dioxide emitted from it has decreased since then since then It was appointed in 2021.
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“The town finds that carbon displacement boxes often fail to cover the cost of projects needed to mitigate the operational emissions resulting from a new development,” said a spokesman. Councils I told the Greater London Authority Last year, in addition to the lack of required financing, they had no time, experience or resources to get projects out of the land.
London councils have now launched a series of workshops to advise the town on how to spend money.
The majority of the developers of the London councils receive 95 pounds, a recommended ton2But this is only evidence. As of last year, three councils began to work in imposing more fees on developers-not to collect more money, but to discourage compensation, which the Climate Change Committee says “should not be relied upon” for carbon removal buildings.
15 other councils It is said that looking at raising the costs of displacement. Beevor urged all councils to do so, saying that they will encourage developers to hit net zero emissions on the site and remove the need for completely mitigation projects.
The Merton Council, which was presented in the leading 2003 “Merton Base” New developments require 10 % of its energy from renewable energy sources, and now developers are earning 300 pounds per ton2. Lewisham set a new price of 104 pounds, while Westminster is now imposing 330 pounds for electricity -based plans and 880 pounds for gas -based plans.
Harinji Council in February All outstanding carbon displacement financing is allocated To projects including the Haringey Community Carbon Fund box, which is granted grants for community removal projects such as solar panels, Wood Wood workshops, school uniforms and recycling the football fund.
Of the 33 local authorities in London, 28 climate emergency companies announced in 2019 or 2020, declaring bold net goals and comprehensive obligations to reduce the use of private vehicles, and pension funds from fossil fuel companies and improve energy efficiency in the council.
Last year, the local government association found that two -thirds of the councils were not confident in achieving zero goals, saying that climate work was “”throttle“With a complex network of complex Whitehal financing utensils.
