London Mayor calls for more ‘energy devolution’ as UK Power Networks announces net-zero strategy

The Mayor of London has called for more devolution over energy policy after admitting that the capital may not be net zero carbon by 2030.

Sir Sadiq said his policies – which include the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and electrifying the bus fleet – have led to “lots of progress” in bringing down carbon emissions in London during his tenure.

However, he said a lack of direct control over the energy grid – which still heavily relies on fossil fuels – means that the 2030 target will probably be missed.

Sir Sadiq Khan Image: London Assembly

The bodies he controls through the GLA – including Transport for London (TfL) and the London Fire Brigade (LFB) – are on track, however.

London Assembly Member and Green party leader Zack Polanski had told the Mayor that current measures by City Hall were ‘siloed’ from one another, despite being individually beneficial.

Sir Sadiq admitted that “his criticism is a fair one” before throwing down the gauntlet to ministers for further devolution.

“The funding comes from different pots of money, it’s frustrating,” he told Polanski during Mayor’s Question Time last month.

“If we had an integrated settlement, monies devolved to London in one pot, we could have some joined-upness.”

Under last year’s government spending review, London was officially granted its first ever integrated settlement spanning from 2026 to 2029. However, the money is tied to hitting certain target outcomes and crucially, does not give the Mayor powers over the energy grid within the city itself.

Sir Sadiq added: “A simple example – TfL uses its procurement power to change the market. If you think about the police, fire service, NHS – the public sector in London has the power to change the market.

“By 2030, we will have made lots of progress – we won’t get to, on current trajectory, Net Zero in London. We will get there for the GLA group, which is a big achievement considering where we started.

“What I’d like is more devolution.

“The grid has got to change – a lot of the problems we are having are because the grid relies on fossil fuels. If we can change that, the opportunities are huge.

“We’ve also got to retrofit buildings – we can’t give people renewables (in new buildings) and cheaper bills but then let it all out again.”

Sir Sadiq first made his 2030 net zero promise six years ago when campaigning to be re-elected for his second term in office. 

It is far more ambitious than the current or previous government, both of whom have set a target date of 2050.

Polanski later told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “We need to be honest about the scale of the challenge London still faces from the climate crisis. 

“The mayor is right to say London isn’t on course for net zero by 2030 – we should be targeting more effort at that now. And this should be non-negotiable. Climate science doesn’t care about politics.

Zack Polanski Image: London Assembly

“There are so many other benefits London could have from the investment we need – cheaper energy, cooler homes and better transport. The Government should be supporting cities to get on and invest in tackling climate change.”

Asked further about realistic targets for London in the coming year, Sir Sadiq said he would give Londoners the “tools” they need to reduce their bills and keep pushing a mass retrofitting programme in the capital.

In a separate development, London’s electricity distribution operator, UK Power Networks pledged to work with the Carbon Trust to map its carbon footprint of all of its emissions, including its supply chain.

Based on these emissions, the company has modelled the actions it will take to reduce emissions in line with international net-zero targets.

The key commitments to deliver before 2028 are:

• Use only renewable electricity from renewable sources in its buildings

• Increase use of sustainable materials like low carbon concrete, and use less

• Replace all its suitable vans and cars with electric vehicles (around two-thirds of the fleet), making sure areas with poor air quality get EVs first

• Recycle 80% of its waste, and send nothing that can be recycled to landfill

• Introduce lower carbon fuels and hybrids into its mobile generator fleet

• Create new wildlife habitats on 100 substation sites, building new hedgerows, ponds and introducing wildflower meadows

• Make its offices more energy efficient by installing LED lights, solar panels, and low carbon heating

• Work in partnership with suppliers to help reduce their carbon emissions

Mark Adolphus

Mark Adolphus, UK Power Networks’ director of health, safety, sustainability and connections said:

‘We have an important role to play in enabling the UK’s transition to a Net Zero energy system, and also make sure that as a company we operate in the most sustainable way.

‘Our customers, stakeholders and our regulator have been clear – the environment is a priority for them and we listen to that. Our ambition is to go further and faster so we have set challenging, but achievable, targets.

We have combined our insights with those of expert stakeholders, considering international best practice and responding to the views of our customers, to make this promise’.