News

Londoners still green sceptics

Published: thelondonpaper
Author: John Dunne

Londoners think that ­celebrity green events such as Live Earth are a waste time and are shunning the chance to follow an eco-friendly lifestyle if it hits them in the pocket, an exclusive survey for thelondonpaper ­reveals today.

As stars such as Madonna and Razorlight's Johnny ­Borrell flaunt their planet-saving credentials, the majority in the capital are sceptical about the impact of their efforts.

Our poll of 1,000 readers, undertaken by ICD Research in conjunction with The iD Factor, revealed 17 per cent thought celebrities' efforts were in vain, while 50 per cent agreed their charity work made little difference.

The survey lifts the lid on a capital in which 40 per cent are indifferent or sceptical that global warming is a ­genuine phenomenon.

When it comes to changing lifestyles to save the planet, Londoners' are far from ­enthusiastic – especially when they have to pay for the privilege, the survey reveals.

The capital's population is reluctant to ditch air travel as a way of slashing its carbon footprint, even when faced with severe warnings about the state of the planet from top environmentalists.

As many as 53 per cent said they had no plans to reduce flights in the next 12 months, while just 18 per cent said they had strong intentions to slash their air time.

But Londoners are against airport expansion – such as the proposed third runway for Heathrow – with only 7 per cent strongly agreeing that any increase in capacity was necessary.

More than 50 per cent were unwilling to stump up for an eco-tax – being ­considered to cover the amount of waste each household produces.

Thirty eight per cent said they would not pay a ­surcharge if they went over a pre-arranged rubbish limit.

But only one in 10 strongly agreed councils were doing enough to ­promote and ­facilitate recycling.

Meanwhile, any extension in the Congestion Charge will cause contention, as 45 per cent strongly disagreed with any increase beyond the current boundaries.

The facts

• London produces 17 million tonnes of waste each year
• By 2020, the city is ­expected to produce 22.6 million tonnes of waste
• Londoners produce 3.4 million tonnes of ­rubbish a year, enough to fill the ­Canary Wharf tower every 10 days
• On average, every ­person generates 518kg of waste per year
• A London-wide switch to double-sided printing could save 17.5 billion sheets of A4 paper ­every year, enough paper to wrap around the Earth four times
• Eight out of 10 ­Londoners have their ­recycled rubbish ­collected from home
• Over 60 per cent of a household's rubbish bin could be recycled
• Poor air quality is ­estimated to cause over 1,000 ­premature deaths in the capital each year
• The Greater ­London ­Authority's Taxi ­Emissions Strategy will cut emissions by 37 per cent before ­July 2008
• Mayor Ken ­Livingstone has pledged to slash ­London's carbon ­emissions by 60 per cent within 20 years
• Nearly 39 per cent of London's total area is green

Source: London Remade