Without Scope 3 emissions, Mayor’s climate targets for transport are just “hot air”

Despite the urgent need for investment, the Mayor of London has admitted, in answer to questions from Siân Berry AM, that his transport policies lack the kind of targets required to meet his own climate goals.

In his written response, the Mayor acknowledged Transport for London (TfL) is already one year late in setting a target to reduce scope 3 emissions, which constitute the overwhelming majority of emissions TfL can influence.

Moreover, the Mayor relayed that he only expects to have a target for them by “the end of 2023,” leaving open the possibility that setting the critical emissions goal could be kicked further down the road. [1] This admission comes at a time when TfL’s own resources for climate action are still insufficient to reduce their emissions in line with the 2030 net zero goal. [2]

Green Party London Assembly Member Siân Berry said:

“Rhetoric is no substitute for action. While Londoners watch their Mayor give speeches abroad, the simple truth is he has failed to even articulate, much less achieve, a critical component of his own climate agenda.

“The Mayor must plan for a reduction in all emissions TfL can influence. That means not just the emissions from the buses that run in the city, but also the data centre that powers the services to tell you when that bus will arrive, as well as the way the bus driver gets to work in the morning. The Mayor and TfL can influence and support much greater reductions in carbon emissions by working on the widest scope.”

“We need a government and a Mayor that recognise climate as the greatest threat to all Londoners. Local government needs real investment in climate action and the capacity both to plan and act on reducing all emissions, including scope 3 emissions.”

Scope 3 emissions refer to all indirect emissions generated from everything except purchased energy. These might include everyday actions like staff travel or raw materials. [3] Originally, TfL had committed to set a scope 3 emissions target by the end of 2022 for carbon emissions from their infrastructure and supply chain. [4] This new information confirms that work reaching this crucial target will be unlikely to start this year.