Funding made available to tackle emissions in capital

Date: 5/4/2011

Millions of pounds-worth of funding is to go towards tackling the problem of carbon emissions in London.

According to the Department for Transport, £5 million has been committed to the Mayor of London Boris Johnson's ambitions to improve the capital's air quality and ensure that the city is in compliance with European Union (EU) targets.

By establishing a Clean Air Fund, Mr Johnson hopes to further several measures in the places in London where it is deemed that the daily limit value of particulate matter is in danger of being exceeded.

Among these steps is the possibility of introducing more clean buses, reducing the number of vehicles left idling and testing dust suppressant technology.

Transport Minister Philip Hammond said: "Not only will this money help improve the environment for Londoners, but it will also mean that we avoid costly infraction proceedings from the EU, which could have cost us tens or hundreds of millions."

Last month, Transport for London reported that it has secured funding to add 90 additional hybrid buses to its current fleet, with the vehicles set to be deployed in the most polluted parts of the city.

Posted by Nick Anderson