Sadiq Khan off to New York for US local weather summit and Prince William assembly
Sep 15, 2023 at 11:46 PM
S
adiq Khan is anticipated to debate the Ulez enlargement with different world mayors when he attends a significant local weather change summit in New York.
The mayor, accompanied by 5 aides, is because of fly to the US on Sunday to attend the United Nations General Assembly and participate within the UN local weather ambition summit.
He can be anticipated to seem alongside Prince William at an Earthshot Prize summit, which awards prizes for essentially the most revolutionary methods to “repair the planet”.
Mr Khan will use the four-day journey to “bang the drum” for the capital by searching for to draw US companies to increase in London and inspiring vacationers to go to.
But he can anticipate criticism for travelling 7,000 miles whereas urging others to change into greener. He mentioned “only in exceptional circumstances” have been world gatherings executed in individual.
Last 12 months it was estimated that he and his aides had clocked up greater than 360,000 air miles since he turned mayor in 2016.
Susan Hall, the Tory mayoral candidate, accused Mr Khan of “swanning off to America to lecture everyone” whereas Londoners have been being hit by the “disastrous” Ulez enlargement, which she pledged to axe if elected subsequent May.
The value of the journey might be paid by the C40 group of world cities dedicated to motion on local weather change, which Mr Khan chairs. He was invited to the local weather summit by UN Secretary General António Guterres.
The UN General Assembly is an annual occasion attended by world leaders. It shouldn’t be identified whether or not Mr Khan will be capable to deal with the General Assembly however will attend the local weather summit, which is a part of the broader gathering.
While Mr Khan will be unable to share any information concerning the impression of final month’s Ulez enlargement to the Greater London boundary, he expects to be requested concerning the wider advantages of what’s the world’s largest clear air zone.
He will say there may be “no time to delay” motion to sort out local weather change.
The go to, which is going down throughout New York local weather motion week, will contain Mr Khan assembly New York mayor Eric Adams, former mayor Mike Bloomberg and attending an occasion on the Clinton Global Initiative.
Mr Khan can be resulting from communicate at Columbia college and attend a enterprise reception hosted by London & Partners, the tourism and funding company.
He final visited the US in May final 12 months, when a five-day journey took him to New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Latest figures present the variety of US guests to London is sort of again at pre-pandemic ranges. The variety of scheduled flights from North America to the capital this 12 months is up two per cent in contrast with 2019.
Mr Khan mentioned: “I am looking forward to visiting New York where I will be banging the drum for London, showcasing our capital as the perfect destination for businesses to invest in and tourists to visit as I continue working to build a more prosperous London for everyone.
“I’ll be meeting many leading businesses and investors during my stay and reminding them that there is nowhere better than London on the planet to set up, or grow your business.
“I am also honoured to have been invited to participate in this key summit taking place during the United Nations General Assembly about climate change, the biggest global threat we face today.
“I am determined for London to continue being a world leader in tackling the twin dangers of air pollution and the climate emergency. My visit to the UN is an opportunity to learn from other cities and nations and ensure London remains at the forefront of global action.”
Tony Devenish, City Hall Conservatives setting spokesperson, mentioned: “He has declared himself to be the ‘greenest mayor’ but his workplace has reportedly collected over 360,000 air miles since he turned mayor.
“His latest trip, to attend a climate summit, will add even more air miles to that total, contradicting his so-called green credentials.”
Mark Watts, government director of C40, mentioned: “The UN Climate Ambition Summit follows the hottest summer ever recorded on earth. Clear, rapid leadership on climate is needed now more than ever to urgently phase out fossil fuels and ensure a liveable planet for all.”
