In the year of the snake, China also needs the year of clean air. At the beginning of the calendar year many parts of northern China experienced serious air pollution.

For example, in Beijing, according to the Air Quality Index, particulate matter of less than 2.5 micrometer in diameter (PM2.5) reached the most polluted level readings between 470 to 490.

This was a result of a combination of heavy fog and pollution enveloping large swathes of East and Central China for several days. It is a stark reminder of the high cost of rapid development.

This is happening at the same time as we witness one of the biggest migrations in human history as Chinese people increasingly move from their rural homes to urban areas. It is estimated another 300 million will migrate into Chinese cities and towns by 2030.

By then, its cities will be home to up to 70 per cent of the Chinese population. A billion humans already reside in the urban centres of China and one in eight humans worldwide inhabit Chinese cities, so, if the problem is not addressed now, then it’s set to get worse for many more people.

Having been a regular visitor to Chinese cities since the Beijing Olympics, most recently last December to Hong Kong for the Better Air Quality 2012 conference, it is interesting for me to note how cities are coping.

During the Olympics, Beijing took a number of measures including reducing traffic flows and moving industry out of the centre to reduce the affect of air pollution on the athletes. This is a legacy that has survived to the present day.

More recently, Hong Kong is dealing with a particular source of its air pollution from ships berthing in its docks as it proposes a Delta-wide scheme covering marine emissions. While on land, it is encouraging the adoption of electric cars in the city with plug points and suitable parking.

So what other mitigating measures are being taken?

On the national level, the Chinese government announced a new air pollution reduction plan, aimed at cutting gas emissions and pollutants. The aim is to cut the PM2.5 intensity by at least 5 per cent by 2015 in 13 major areas covering 117 cities.

The levels of other pollutants like PM10 and SO2 will be reduced by 10 per cent and NO2 by 7 per cent.

Improved public information appears to be another angle pursued as China has vowed to release hourly air pollution data for 74 of its largest cities in response to the increasing environmental concerns among its citizens.

Increasing numbers of Chinese people have complained about the problem of pollution and the murky grey skies that overshadow their cities.

Popular discontent is clearly a powerful driver of environment policies.

As for business, the Chinese private sector is helping to drive the global growth of environment certification, as almost 82,000 Chinese companies have qualified for environment standard ISO14001, of which more then 12,200 did so in the last year alone.

This is the highest growth rate in the world and can be attributed to Chinese companies realising that the standard can help them reduce their environmental impact, as well as maintain their competitive advantage, cut costs, enhance their reputation and win new business.

So China is finally addressing its pollution problem but is it going far enough?

Well, the year of the snake is meant to be one of steady progress and attention to detail. So my hope is that measures like the national action plan for reducing intensity of pollutants; better public information about the state of air quality; and Chinese businesses increasingly getting themselves environmentally certified will make for steady progress in improving air quality in China, and demonstrate that actual achievements can only result when policy makers look at the detail of what is actually happening.

So as we welcome in the year of the snake and as Chinese people return to their villages to celebrate and get some “respite” from the polluted air in the cities, 2013 also needs to be the year China tackles poor air quality.

The European Commission has made 2013 the Year of Air in Europe. Perhaps, something similar should also be done in China?

This article was published under Pollution Solution in the West End Extra pull-out for the Chinese New Year this week

The criticism follows an announcement from the Mayor that he intends to create the world’s first ultra Low Emission Zone in central <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>London</place></city>.  However, the announcement included a retraction on phase 5 of the LEZ which was announced two years previously.  

Labour Assembly Member Murad Qureshi said:

“Today, the Mayor announced his wish list and shifted the responsibility of tackling poor air quality on to local authorities and his successor in 2016. The plans were announced as part of his “2020” vision and therefore most of what he announced won’t take affect for another seven years.

“The Mayor claims that since 2008 emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 have been reduced by 15 per cent and emissions of NOx have been reduced by 20 per cent but these figures are computer modelled estimates of what comes out of tail pipes[1]. What matters is what we actually breathe and the fact is <city w:st=”on”>London</city> has the worst gaseous air pollution of any capital city in <place w:st=”on”>Europe</place>[2].

 “<city w:st=”on”>London</city> is among the very worst cities in <place w:st=”on”>Europe</place> for air pollution and as a result over 4000 lives are lost prematurely every year in this city. Not only has the Mayor fundamentally failed to address this problem during his five years in office, he has now kicked the issue into the long-grass so that someone else can deal with it".

Ends

Notes:

1. Murad Qureshi is a Londonwide Assembly Member and the Labour spoke person for Health and Environment for the London Assembly Labour Group.

2. An estimated 4,267 Londoners die prematurely each year because of long-term exposure to airborne pollution[3]. The proportion of deaths attributable to air pollution is higher in every <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>London</place></city> borough than the national average of 5.6%. Outside of the City of <city w:st=”on”>London</city>, the worst records are in <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>Westminster</place></city> and Kensington & Chelsea, where air pollution accounts for 8.3% of deaths. In Ealing, 7.2% of deaths are attributable to particulate air pollution, while in Hillingdon the equivalent figure is 6.5%[4].

For further information please contact Nikki Salih on 020 7983 4400. Number not for publication.

While we are right to be concerned about what’s happening to the NHS in London, spare a thought for the London Ambulance Service (LAS).

We are potentially talking about the closure of up to 8 A&E’s in Greater London, so this will inevitably increase movement across the region in order for ambulances to reach the nearest A&E.  Set against a backdrop of an increasing population in London with a  projected growth from 8.2 million to 9 million by 2020 and more critically an ageing one too, this does not bode well for improving patient care.  The assumption is that the LAS will pick up the slack by having to travel further when the service itself has to cope with a 19 per cent reduction in its budget as a result of the Nicholson Challenge and the consequent cut in 500 odd front line staff.  Moreover in a recent report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), it was suggested that the LAS was not only understaffed but also under equipped.

So, at the lasr MQT, I asked the mayor what he was doing to help the LAS which will be the single remaining pan-London health service provider after April 2013.  I asked, for example what representations he’d made about the findings of the CQC which not only highlighted dangerous understaffing but also the lack of equipment to promote the care and welfare of patients.

The short answer is, not alot but you can watch the Mayor’s response for yourself above. So much for looking out for Londoners in their hour of need.

The key points of Labour’s proposals are:

·         A Jobs Guarantee for all 16-24 year olds who have been out of work for 1 year or more. In <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>Westminster</place></city> this would help 135 young people

·         Cut transport fares by 1% so they are in line with inflation. Londoners living in Zone one and travelling aound Zone One on a yearly travelcard would save £197.27

·         Re-allocate business rates to protect frontline police and fire services. In <city w:st=”on”>Westminster</city>, <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>Westminster</place></city> fire station is earmarked for closure, this would be kept open and police front counter provision will be maintained.

·         Freeze the Mayor’s share of the Council Tax which is currently only saving households 7 pence per week

·         Start the process of setting up a London-wide lettings agency

Local Labour <place w:st=”on”><city w:st=”on”>London</city></place> Assembly Member Murad Qureshi Am said:

 “As the economy stumbles and splutters towards a triple-dip recession the Mayor needs to help the economy and help ordinary Londoners. Cutting fares by one per cent will save residents in <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>Westminster</place></city> £197.27 on their annual travelcard.

“Our Jobs Guarantee for 16-24 year olds out of work for over a year will put 135 young people in <city w:st=”on”>Westminster</city> into work, and benefit 7,500 long-term unemployed young Londoners across <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>London</place></city>.

“Boris has cut his share of the council tax by less than 10 pence a week per household, but at the same time has whacked up fares above inflation for the fifth year running. He must be stupid to think Londoners won’t notice this.”

Ends

Notes

1.      Murad Qureshi is a Labour Londonwide Assembly Member.

As more people struggle to heat their homes whilst the energy companies continue to increase their profits, the Labour Group on the London Assembly have today presented an alternative.

London Assembly Labour’s alternative budget for London is an effort to make Mayor of London Boris Johnson invest in meaningful projects that will help struggling Londoners. Boris’s record as Mayor is pathetic; he has failed to deliver anything but vanity projects and has overseen cuts to London’s frontline emergency services.

With fuel bills increasing by up to 11 per cent this year, fuel poverty is rising in London. National Energy Action has calculated that, for every 1 per cent increase in energy prices, 40,000 households are pushed into fuel poverty nationally.  The most recent round of price hikes will have pushed an estimated additional 266,000 into fuel poverty.

With this in mind, London Assembly Labour proposes to action a research project in to the establishment of community energy cooperatives in London. The study would draw on the experiences of successful energy cooperatives, such as Brixton Energy, to establish what would be required to introduce a borough-wide energy cooperative, culminating in a ward-level pilot study.

We would commit £500,000 towards establishing community energy cooperatives in London. This is an essential investment. Energy prices are an increasing worry for families who are finding the cost of living spiralling out of control. Families are choosing between food and fuel and this can be seen by the surge in the number of people visiting food banks as they struggle to buy the basic provisions to survive.

It is critical that energy becomes more affordable. Energy cooperatives enable the members to become invested in the energy they produce and use. Where the community owns a stake of the energy that is being generated, the benefits are spread across the membership, helping to keep more of the money the energy generates in the local community. Further, co-operative ownership of the energy supply also democratises the process of energy consumption and production, while reducing the opaqueness surrounding pricing under a market dominated by a small number of companies.

Boris talks a good game and is adept at making speeches laying the blame for London’s problems at David Cameron’s door, but he has singularly failed to use the powers and resources at his command to improve life for ordinary Londoners. Our budget alternative puts forward tangible suggestions that could help Londoners now and build a future not reliant on the “˜big six’ energy companies.

We have a simple message for Boris, he is the Mayor of London, a great city of over 8 million people with drive and determination. He should be standing up for Londoners and helping them during these difficult times.

Murad Qureshi is a Labour Londonwide Assembly Member and spokesperson for the Labour Group on environmental and health issues.

Click here to view article

Fuel Poverty is growing, yet with energy prices skyrocketing by up to 11 per cent this winter it is unlikely many people are unaware of this growing crisis.

National Energy Action estimates that as a direct result of the recent round of price hikes, an additional 266,000 households were made fuel poor. That is equivalent to a town a little bigger than Stoke-on-Trent.

In London the picture is stark. Before the price hikes, well over half a million London households were fuel poor. Yet London has got a raw deal from the energy companies – and not just on pricing.

Since April 2008, energy companies have been required to deliver home insulation measures to households as part of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target, a programme that was renewed by the coalition following the election.

However, figures from the Energy Savings Trust show that while 14.7% of homes nationally have received measures, the number for London is only 7.2%.

London has been hindered because it is in general more expensive to insulate homes in London due to the higher occurrence of solid wall properties and flats. Despite their huge profits, this has given energy companies little incentive to retrofit homes in London when they can do it much cheaper in other regions.

The energy companies’ shortfall has been matched by a failure of the mayor to deliver his own target to retrofit 200,000 homes in London by 2012. In the end, the Mayor delivered in 88,000 homes.

What is worse, from this April the Mayor will no longer be directly funding home retrofit measures and will instead rely on those very same energy companies to retrofit London homes once the new Energy Company Obligation and Green Deal are fully introduced.

This is a dangerous strategy and one that could leave Londoners cold.

CERT essentially failed due to the lack of regional targets compelling energy companies to deliver their obligations in London – allowing a flight of measures out of London and into the regions where retrofitting was cheaper. But despite the stronger focus on solid wall insulation within ECO, these regional targets are still absent. Furthermore, the lack of interest so far in the Green Deal should be a worry for the Mayor.

But the situation is worse than that.

As a result of the gap between the end of the existing retrofitting schemes and the new schemes becoming fully functional, the Insulation Industry Forum predicted 625 jobs will be lost in London during 2013.

The energy secretary, Ed Davey, has failed to commit to introducing regional targets. Given the evidence, this should be a minimum assurance he – particularly as a London MP – should be instituting within the scheme. Without this the government is letting down hard pressed households who could desperately use a little help to reduce their energy bills.

This blog was published on Left Foot Forward on the 1st of Feb, Fuel Poverty awareness day.

Since April 2008 energy companies have been required to deliver home insulation measures to households as part of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target. However, Energy Savings Trust figures show that while 14.7% of homes nationally have received measures, the number for <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>London</place></city> is only 7.2%.  The figures for the following boroughs are:

• <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>Westminster</place></city> ““ 2.1%

• Kensington & Chelsea ““ 0.9%

• <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>Kingston-Upon-Thames</place></city> ““ 7.7%

• <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>Richmond-Upon-Thames</place></city> ““ 4.6%

• Hounslow ““ 5.9%

The figures are bad news for the Boris Johnson, who has himself failed to meet his own target to retrofit 200,000 homes by 2012, delivering only 67,000. From April the Mayor will no longer be directly funding home retrofit measures and will instead rely on energy companies to deliver such measures.

As a result of the gap between the end of the existing retrofitting schemes and the new schemes becoming fully functional, the Insulation Industry Forum predicted that 625 jobs will be lost in <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>London</place></city> during 2013.

Labour Londonwide Assembly Member Murad Qureshi said:

“With energy prices rising by up to 11 per cent this winter, fuel poverty is becoming an even bigger problem in <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>London</place></city>. But, with only half the number of homes receiving insulation measures in <city w:st=”on”>London</city> compared to elsewhere in the <country-region w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>UK</place></country-region>, it is not just on pricing that Londoners are getting a raw deal from energy companies.

“Given that mayoral investment in home insulation will end soon and that the energy companies have completely failed to help Londoners save money and keep warm, I worry that we will continue to see more Londoners having to choose between heating, eating and paying the rent.

“On Fuel Poverty Awareness Day I encourage all Londoners who are struggling to heat their homes to ensure they are getting all the help available. It should not be a choice between food and fuel. It is essential that energy companies do all they can to help Londoners reduce their fuel consumption and live in more energy efficient homes. Energy companies are not doing enough to deliver on their responsibilities and Londoners are being left out in the cold.”

Ends

Notes

1.      Murad Qureshi is a Londonwide Assembly Member and Labour Group spokesperson on environment and health issues.

2.      Energy Saving Trust CERT Summary Report can be found here http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Publications2/Housing-professionals/HEED-PDFs/HEED-publications-for-UK/CERT-reports-Q16/CERT-Summary-Report-Q16-by-Local-Authority

3.      The London Assembly Health and Public Services Committee’s Fuel Poverty report can be found here http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Fuel%20poverty%20-%20Final%20report.pdf

The Mayor is accused of holding “˜sham consultations’ across London for his draft Police and Crime Plan. The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Stephen Greenhalgh will be attending the consultation in Westminster tonight but as yet the Mayor has not attended any of the consultation sessions.

Across London, 999 services are being threatened:

<dir><dir>

The London Fire Brigade’s budget has been cut by the Mayor and government by £45 million for the next two years. Boris Johnson wants to close 12 fire stations, lose 18 fire appliances and axe 520 firefighter posts

London Ambulance Service is currently being cut by £53 million (19%) of it’s budget by 2015/16, resulting in 890 job cuts, of which 560 will be frontline jobs

The Metropolitan Police have already lost 2,147 police officers and 1,682 PCSOs since May 2010. The Mayor has earmarked 65 police stations and front-counters for closure. The Met’s own Chief Financial Operating Officer has labelled the Met’s Budget for the coming year as ‘very risky’

NHS London delivered efficiency savings of around £1 billion in 2011/12 and is committed to further savings of £600 million in 2012/13 and £500 million in 2013/14. Eight

A&Es are due to be closed across London

Murad Qureshi is a Labour Londonwide Assembly Member

The Metropolitan Police’s Chief Financial Operating Officer spoke at the London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee, 9^{th January 2013.}

</dir></dir>

"I’m concerned that cuts to frontline services in Westminster will place immense pressure on an already stretched ambulance service. The government and the Mayor are cutting too far, too fast and these cuts will inevitably endanger families and communities across the capital.

"The Mayor can’t give a straight answer about the affect on the London Ambulance Service of his proposed cuts, particularly with the proposed closure of eight A&Es across London. Under current plans, with London’s population both growing and ageing, the London Ambulance Service which operates across London is set to bear the brunt."

Ends

Notes

<dir><dir></dir></dir>

The front of the demo last saturday at Lewisham

Last Saturday, in a show of solidarity, l joined the huge demo in Lewisham over the proposed closure of the A&E at Lewisham Hospital. The banner which caught my eye the most during the demo was one saying “We can bail out the banks but not the hospitals”.  It makes the point well.  Indeed, the banks were bailed out for hundreds of billions of pounds whilst hospitals are asking for a relatively small proportion of that sum – tens of millions to help them survive. 

In the case of Lewisham Hospital, the problem stems from the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) which the South London Health Trust (SLHT) entered into to redevelop two other hospitals. The government plans are to save the PFI by sacrificing Lewisham Hospital. 

The point about PFIs started me thinking. In London, we had similar private finance procurement brought back into the public domain. Yes, it was a Tory Mayor; Boris Johnson who brought the PPP on the tube up-grade back in-house after the government imposed the contract on TfL. So why can’t the same be done with PFIs? After all, it’s not as though the British banking fraternity doesn’t owe us a few favours!  What we need is for the Trusts to opt out of these PFIs with are saddled with huge annual fees and which cut into the operating costs of the hospitals.  If Government policy centred more on saving hospitals, rather then closing them down, as it did with the banks, these proposals would look a lot less like an ideological drive towards reducing public services. 

We will hear this afternoon the fate of Lewisham A&E from the State of Secretary for Health, Jeremy Hunt.  It is clearly a much loved and well run emergency service.  The recommendation to close this special service from the Trust Special Administrator (TSA) should be thrown out as Lewisham which is not even part of the South London Healthcare NHS Trust, is being targeted in a re-organisation of services across the area following the trust’s financial problems. If the Secretary of State does follow the TSA recommendation it will rightly face a legal challenge by Lewisham Council. 

For further information on the PFI arrangement, analysis of it within the South London Health Trust (SLHT) and the impact on Lewisham hospital, please visit www.PeopleBeforeProfit.org.uk.