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Ban cars in London to hit CO2 targets, report states

London must become car-free if it's to substantially cut carbon dioxide emissions, according to a new report. Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Oxford University claim the Greater London Authority's (GLA) target to reduce CO2 emissions by 60% by 2025 is unlikely to succeed without drastic measures. The report says emissions could be cut by 72% by 2030 if cars were banned from the city.

James Woodcock, who led a team of researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical medicine, commented: "Only the car-free greater London scenario is close to achieving the emission reductions required by 2030. Even then we need to reduce carbon fuel use on our public transport. Car-free streets could transform the quality of our urban environment, while improving health. Although London has made small improvements, achieving a car-free city would require a dramatic move in favour of walking and cycling."

The findings of the report, first published in the medical journal The Lancet, revealed that London is on course to reduce land transport emissions by only 10-23%.

To read more on this story please visit the LSHTM website [external link].