The London Assembly Environment Committee met on Tuesday 03 February 2026 to assess London's progress on key environmental priorities. The meeting focused on air quality, biodiversity, energy, buildings, waste, and climate resilience, with discussions highlighting both achievements and areas requiring further action. Key decisions included noting responses from the Mayor of London and the Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation regarding climate finance and Heathrow expansion, and agreeing to delegate authority for any outputs arising from the stocktake discussion.

A Cleaner, Greener Capital: London's Environment Stocktake

The committee discussed London's progress on environmental priorities, as outlined in the London Environment Strategy and the Mayor's current mandates. The meeting followed an informal workshop where experts and Londoners shared insights on environmental challenges and achievements. The discussions covered air quality, biodiversity, energy, buildings, waste, and climate resilience.

Air Quality, Noise, and Transport

Alethea Warrington, Head of Aviation, Heat and Energy at Possible, and Simon Birkett, Founder and Director of Clean Air in London, presented on progress and pressing issues in air quality, noise, and transport. They acknowledged achievements such as the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion, School Streets, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, the Elizabeth line, and bus electrification. However, concerns were raised that London's air quality still exceeds World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Both speakers called for a clear plan to meet WHO limits, with a focus on social and racial justice, action on pollution from wood-burning stoves, and measures to ensure equitable access to public transport. They also advocated for a ban on high-carbon advertisements on public transport and the delivery of the Warm Homes Plan. Simon Birkett highlighted that 39 locations still exceed WHO guidelines and legal limits, and expressed a desire for London to commit to a nitrogen dioxide (NO2) level of 20 microgrammes per cubic metre by 2030.

Assembly Member Zack Polanski AM questioned what initiatives the Mayor should pursue next, beyond road user charging. Simon Birkett suggested complying with WHO air quality guidelines would drive necessary measures, while Alethea Warrington emphasised the need for a detailed plan including active travel, electric car clubs, and public transport access.

Assembly Member Joanne McCartney AM asked about national government support. Simon Birkett advocated for London to submit evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee, requesting more powers and resources. Alethea Warrington stressed the importance of London holding national government accountable on airport expansions, citing the negative impact on noise and air pollution.

Energy, Buildings, and Waste

Syed Ahmed, CEO of Community Energy London, Fiona Dear, Co-director of The Restart Project, and Daniel Reast, Senior Research Officer at the Centre for London, provided feedback on energy, buildings, and waste. Syed Ahmed highlighted the impact of microgrants for small organisations, the importance of place-based solutions, and the Mayor's leadership in community energy. He also raised concerns about the energy and water consumption of hyper-sized data centres and the issue of over-responsibilisation of individuals versus producers and retailers. Fiona Dear noted support for a retrofit-first approach in buildings and the banning of boilers in new builds, but expressed concern about the high targets for retrofitting by 2030. She also pointed to the significant energy demand of data centres and the lack of focus on the circular economy in the London Plan. Daniel Reast emphasised the Mayor's role in sparking ambition and the barriers at the local level, such as a lack of space for community groups. He also highlighted the challenge of plastic recycling and the need for better support for repair and reuse initiatives.

Assembly Member Bassam Mahfouz AM asked about opportunities for a more circular London. Fiona Dear suggested a national reuse target and the potential for London to trial reuse targets, while Daniel Reast pointed to the public sector's role in procurement and supply chains.

Assembly Member Krupesh Hirani AM questioned Fiona Dear about encouraging heat pump installations, particularly in the context of renters and landlords. Fiona Dear suggested making it easier to install heat pumps in gardens and increasing education on home efficiency. Syed Ahmed noted the negative press surrounding heat pumps but highlighted successful examples and the need for better communication.

Green and Blue Infrastructure, and Climate Resilience

Tim Webb, Director of the London Parks and Gardens Trust, Katherine Rosen, CEO of the Orchard Project, Tayshan Hayden-Smith, Founder of Grow to Know, and Charlie Wood, London Area Director at the Environment Agency, discussed green and blue infrastructure and climate resilience. Tim Webb highlighted the need for better matchmaking between grassroots and larger organisations, the role of schools in environmental engagement, and the critical issue of funding for maintenance. He also pointed to fragmented systems and data issues, and the importance of community action. Katherine Rosen noted successes in the Urban Forestry Plan and pocket parks, but focused on systemic barriers, the need to link green and grey infrastructure, and the potential for green roofs and jobs. Tayshan Hayden-Smith emphasised the importance of lived experience and social justice in environmental action, advocating for long-term thinking and legacy funding. Charlie Wood highlighted achievements in biodiversity strategy and SuDS, but raised concerns about park commercialisation, the need for stronger enforcement of biodiversity net gain and urban greening factors, and the use of section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money.

Assembly Member Neil Garratt AM raised questions about balancing housing needs with protecting the Green Belt. Tayshan Hayden-Smith stressed the importance of trust and capacity building with communities. Katherine Rosen advocated for more funding for rewilding initiatives. Tim Webb expressed concern about the potential removal of statutory consultee status for organisations like the London Parks and Gardens Trust, and highlighted land banking as a significant issue.

Data Centres and Environmental Impacts

Oliver Hayes, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Global Action Plan, presented on the environmental impacts of hyperscale AI data centres. He warned that data centres could consume a quarter of the UK's electricity by 2050 and that ten proposed data centres in planning could negate annual savings from electric vehicle adoption. He raised concerns about data centres being powered by onsite gas, the use of diesel generators for backup power, and the significant water stress in London. Hayes called for a dedicated data centre policy in the London Plan, focusing on social utility and requiring developers to invest in renewable energy.

Assembly Member Bassam Mahfouz AM questioned whether retrospective policies could be implemented to address the proliferation of data centres. Oliver Hayes stated that while unbuilding is difficult, greater transparency is crucial, and that land banking by developers is a concern. Emma Howard Boyd CBE, former Chair of the London Climate Resilience Review, added that planning enforcement and the prominence of flood resilience in policy need careful consideration.

Assembly Member Gareth Roberts AM asked about mechanisms to ensure data centre operators contribute to infrastructure costs. Oliver Hayes pointed to the forthcoming National Policy Statement as a key mechanism for setting obligations.

Assembly Member McCartney asked Charlie Wood about discussions with central government regarding a new Thames Barrier. Charlie Wood confirmed ongoing work with Defra on the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan and the potential for a new barrier, but suggested the Mayor could contribute more to these discussions.

Heat Networks

The committee also discussed the expansion of heat networks in London, hearing from representatives of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the Greater London Authority (GLA), Citizens Advice, and Peabody. Key themes included the need for consumer protection, fair pricing, and the role of regulation. Ludo Tolu, Deputy Director of Heat Networks Policy at DESNZ, explained that while a price cap is not currently planned, Ofgem will be collecting pricing data and setting benchmarks. He also highlighted that zoning regulations will include exemptions and that developers are expected to compete on price.

Concerns were raised about the affordability and reliability of existing heat networks, particularly for social housing residents. Natasha Valladares, Head of Energy at the GLA, acknowledged these issues and stated the GLA's commitment to lobbying for improvements and ensuring fair pricing. John Allison, Deputy Director of Heat Networks Delivery at DESNZ, mentioned the Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) and the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) as mechanisms to support decarbonisation and improvements.

The committee also discussed the potential for data centres to provide waste heat for networks, with Gabriele Caprotti, Joint Interim Head of Infrastructure at the GLA, highlighting a study suggesting 350,000 homes could be heated by existing data centres. However, concerns were raised about missing opportunities to integrate this heat source into planning for new data centres.

The discussion also touched upon the role of the GLA in supporting boroughs with Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) and the development of heat network zones. The potential for an infrastructure for London entity to manage strategic heat infrastructure was also explored.

Finally, the committee discussed the challenges of ensuring fair pricing and preventing excessive costs for consumers, particularly leaseholders, on existing heat networks. John Allison noted that new networks funded by the GHNF must offer costs no higher than a low-carbon counterfactual, such as a heat pump. The Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) consultation was highlighted as an opportunity to address these issues.

Work Programme and Responses to Committee Outputs

The committee noted its work programme for the remainder of the 2025/26 year, including a site visit to the Bunhill Energy Centre. They also noted responses from the Mayor of London regarding financing London's climate response and from the Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation concerning the environmental impacts of Heathrow expansion.