April 10, 2008

TfL-Commissioned Research Shows £25 C-Charge Will Increase CO2 by 182,000 Tonnes in the greater London area. 

It will save 2,200 tonnes in the Congestion Charge zone but will add a staggering 184,000 tonnes in the surrounding Greater London area.

In the report, prepared for TfL by King’s College London’s ‘Environmental Research Group’, which used models to assess the impact of the new charge on emissions, the new charge is predicted to create a “very high disbenefit” not only for CO2 but also for NOx, NO2 and PM10, all crucial air quality components.

Porsche, the luxury car maker, are going to use both the evidence and it’s suppression as part of their case against the Mayor.  Andy Goss, Managing Director of Porsche Cars GB, said, “We always knew the environmental impact of this unfair tax would be minimal, now we know it will make matters worse. The Mayor and TfL need to explain why this report was not disclosed and why they want to increase taxes on motorists that will increase CO2.”

The predictions that were previously released by TFL, relating to the impact of the increased charge on CO2 emissions only took the air quality inside the zone into account.  TFL has never publicly released estimates taking into account the effect on the whole of Greater London.  They had suggested in their ‘Report to the Mayor following consultation’ that the impact of the increased charge was difficult to asses.  However other documents provided to the Mayor accepted that if the position outside the congestion charge zone was considered, then this “could reduce the CO2 benefits.”   Not only does the new evidence, detailed in the hidden report, asses the impact it reports a significant increase in pollution for the area outside the charge zone.

All figures previously publicly released by TfL with regard to the impact of the new charge on CO2 emissions, including during the consultation process, related only to the position within the congestion charge zone. TfL has never publicly released estimates taking into account the effect on the whole of Greater London. Instead, they suggested in their ‘Report to the Mayor following consultation’ that the position in Greater London was difficult to assess; other documents provided to the Mayor accepted that if the position outside the congestion charge zone was considered, then this “could reduce the CO2 benefits.”  Not only does the King’s report assess the position, it makes clear that it could be far worse than merely a reduction in CO2 – in fact, it predicts a significant increase in CO2.

Andy Goss Adds “It seems absolutely clear that the report shows that not only have Mayor Livingstone and TfL not presented all of the information to the public about the impact of his £25 charge, but that they have also created a new tax on motorists that will do the exact opposite of its stated goal,”

It certainly seems clear that Mayor Livingstone has become obsessed with ridding the capital of 4X4 vehicles.  He has said that as the Mayoral elections will take place before the increase the people of London will get the chance to decide themselves, maybe they will do just that.

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