Tfl Environment Report 2006
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Transport for London Environment Report 2006 MAYOR OF LONDON Transport for London Contents Commissioner’s foreword 3 Section 1 Summary and introduction 1.1 Summary 6 1.2 Introduction 11 Section 2 Changing demand for transport 2.1 Changing demand for transport 14 2.1.1 Getting the best out of the existing public transport system 15 2.1.2 Investing in new public transport capacity 16 2.1.3 Promoting and improving facilities for walking and cycling 16 2.1.4 Managing demand for travel 19 2.1.5 Reducing the impacts of freight distribution 19 Section 3 Environmental management 3.1 Environmental management 22 3.1.1 Environmental management systems 22 3.1.2 Setting objectives and monitoring performance 23 Section 4 TfL’s environmental performance 4.1 Climate change 28 4.1.1 London’s CO2 emissions and targets for reduction 28 4.1.2 TfL’s CO2 emissions and energy consumption 30 4.1.3 Reducing CO2 emissions from TfL and transport in London 32 4.1.4 Adapting to the impacts of climate change 36 4.2 Air pollution 36 4.2.1 Air pollution in London and targets for reduction 36 4.2.2TfL’s air pollutant emissions 39 4.3 Noise 43 4.4 Resource consumption 45 4.5 The built environment 48 4.6 Waste management 50 4.7 Transport of waste 53 4.8 The natural environment 54 4.9 Water consumption 55 Section 5 Looking to the future 5.1 Looking to the future 60 Section 6 6.1 Feedback 64 6.2 Glossary 64 Appendix A: Detailed data tables 65 References 80 End notes 81 Commissioner’s foreword A clean, healthy environment is crucial for London’s future, alongside a successful economy and an inclusive society. This report focuses on Transport for London’s (TfL’s) work to deliver environmental improvements across the Capital’s transport system, including actions to address climate change. Climate change is a major challenge, with potentially disastrous environmental, economic and social implications. Addressing climate change is a priority for TfL, both in terms of reducing transport-related greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), and ensuring that London’s transport system can cope with changing weather conditions. In 2006, TfL developed strategies to tackle the climate change impacts of transport. Simultaneously, solutions were considered of five per cent from car usage to public that will enable the transport system to transport, walking and cycling, saving around adapt to the consequences of a changing 500,000 car journeys per day and an estimated climate, including options for cooling 210,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. London Underground (LU). In 2005/06, 18 per cent of the electricity TfL is actively seeking to reduce the we used was from renewable energy sources, environmental impact of its own operations and trials of low emission technologies, such and transport in London. Congestion Charging as hydrogen fuel cell and hybrid diesel-electric has achieved reductions in CO2 emissions vehicles, continued. Innovative paving which and air pollution since its introduction, while absorbs pollution from the atmosphere was the new London Construction Consolidation installed on a central London street. TfL’s efforts Centre (LCCC) has already demonstrated to reduce, reuse and recycle also continued, environmental benefits in its first few months with the use of recycled rubber tyres in level by reducing freight traffic. In 2005/06, we crossing installations and the expansion of invested significant amounts to support newspaper recycling schemes at LU stations. walking and cycling and continued to manage TfL has been looking further ahead to demand for travel through a programme of identify its priorities for tackling climate incentives and information. Since TfL was change and improving the environment over formed in 2000, there has been a modal shift Environment report 2006 | 3 the next 20 years, as part of the development of the Transport 2025 vision. Plans for the near future include extending the Congestion Charging zone and a London-wide Low Emission Zone (LEZ) that would require heavy goods vehicles, buses, coaches, vans and minibuses to meet minimum emissions standards. TfL’s £10bn Investment Programme includes major schemes such as LU improvements, and rail extensions and capacity increases, which will enable more people to switch from the car to public transport, reducing congestion and improving London’s environment. While TfL recognises that there is still a long way to go to make London’s transport system truly sustainable, it is laying the groundwork for this. Peter Hendy Commissioner TfL 4 | Environment report 2006 Section 1 – Summary and introduction Environment report 2006 | 5 Increasing the frequency, length and 1.1 Summary geographical scope of public transport services is expected to have a beneficial TfL is committed to supporting the Mayor’s impact on the environment by encouraging vision for sustainable development in London. a shift away from private motor vehicles. Environmental improvement is an essential Since TfL was formed in 2000, a modal shift element of sustainable development, alongside of five per cent has been achieved, saving social inclusion and economic growth. As the 50,000 car journeys per day. However, it is integrated authority responsible for transport important to note that increasing public in the Capital, TfL has a major role to play in transport services will also impact the delivering the Mayor’s environmental strategies environment, until suitable environmentally and underpinning sustainable development. friendly technologies such as alternative fuels Transport is one of the main sources of can be implemented on a large scale. CO2 emissions in London and TfL is focusing Progress against TfL’s environmental its efforts on reducing the contribution of objectives is monitored using a series of key transport to climate change, while enabling the performance indicators (KPIs). The performance transport system to adapt to the changing headlines for 2005/06 are summarised in table weather conditions that are anticipated. 1, alongside key achievements and plans for Reduction of transport related air pollution the future. As environmental KPIs were and noise are also high priority objectives, and introduced for the first time in 2003/04, TfL has a role to play in reducing the impacts of reporting processes are still improving and the transport system on the built environment, data have been included on some operations resource and water consumption, waste, and and activities for the first time this year. biodiversity in the Capital. For the purpose of identifying trends, TfL is working to address climate change comparisons have been made between and the other environmental impacts of 2004/05 and 2005/06 performance on a its operations, while enhancing the public like-for-like basis where possible. transport network so that it remains a safe, TfL will continue to place environmental reliable and economic alternative to private improvement, particularly climate change motor vehicles. It is actively managing travel mitigation, high on its agenda. Adapting to demand and encouraging Londoners to use more the expected results of climate change will sustainable modes of transport, particularly also be a key challenge. Extension of the walking and cycling. Congestion Charging has Congestion Charging zone and introduction had a demonstrable impact on air quality and of a London-wide LEZ will help to reduce CO2 emissions in the Charging zone, by the impacts of road transport, while the affecting how people travel. TfL is also Investment Programme will continue to make developing the London Freight Plan, and public transport, walking and cycling more projects like the LCCC, to encourage a shift attractive alternatives to the car. away from transporting freight by road towards more sustainable alternatives, while ensuring that goods are distributed efficiently. 6 | Environment report 2006 TfL will continue to monitor and seek improvements to its own operational impacts on the environment, and the wider impacts of transport in London. In 2006/07, TfL will develop plans to comprehensively embed sustainability into its planning, projects and operations, and work towards developing sustainability reporting. TfL is proud to be supporting the Mayor’s vision of a sustainable London and will continue to develop plans and activities to help deliver its contribution towards that vision. Table 1: TfL’s environmental performance headlines Objective Performance during Achievements and 2005/06 future plans Reduce •CO2 emissions • Preparation of a Climate Change Action Plan greenhouse gas increased by 2 per cent for TfL commenced. TfL is also contributing emissions • Energy use in head office to a plan for London as a whole buildings decreased • More efficient use of energy in LU stations by 0.4 per cent per was encouraged. Future campaigns are employee, but increased planned for other TfL locations by 11 per cent • Hydrogen fuel cell and hybrid diesel-electric per square metre bus trials continued, leading to plans of floor space to implement both technologies on a • Proportion of electricity larger scale procured from • Renewable energy was procured through renewable energy electricity contracts and renewable energy sources increased from technologies were installed on TfL sites. 15 to 18 per cent Growth in both areas will be pursued in future Environment report 2006 | 7 Table 1: TfL’s environmental performance headlines – continued Reduce • Emissions of oxides • Vehicle technology improvements, such pollutant of nitrogen