Looking after the environment is a responsibility that many have committed to over the years, but none have been so publicly vigilant in this struggle as London’s newly re-elected Mayor, Sadiq Khan. Alongside promises of stricter rent controls, funding for TfL, more police officers, and memorials for the victims of COVID-19, Khan re-committed to his goal of making London carbon neutral by 2030.

London’s Labour Mayor has certainly championed tree-hugging, but how much has he actually achieved, and can he keep up his relentless environmental crusade?

Environmental Policies on Air Pollutiom

The jewel in the centre of Sadiq’s green crown is his collection of successful policies to combat air pollution in London.

The Mayor has pledged to make the capital carbon neutral by 2030 and create ultra-low emission zones in London to achieve this. He has vowed to reduce greenhouse gases and demanded that no new diesel taxis are licensed. Khan has even tripled the amount of space for cycling and introduced 1,500 charging points for electric vehicles across the capital.

Findings from an investigation by King’s College London found that there has been a dramatic reduction in Nitrogen Dioxide throughout the region because of these changes:

“The number of Londoners living in areas exceeding the legal limit for NO2 fell from over 2 million in 2016 to 119,000 in 2019, a reduction of 94 per cent”

The reason for the success of these schemes is simple: data. London’s Mayor has teamed up with Imperial College London to develop data-driven monitoring systems for air pollution across the city. These monitoring systems ensure that there is current data on hand to feed into alert systems, making people more aware and allowing them to avoid pollutants. This infrastructure could also allow for expansion in the future, as the world begins to monitor the environment more closely. This system helps in targeted air quality improvement efforts throughout the boroughs. Khan has said that:
“As we face up to the current climate emergency, I hope the success of this scheme will act as a blueprint for cities around the world to battle their own toxic air emergencies”.
[https://www.ccacoalition.org/en/news/greater-london-authority-installs-new-air-quality-monitoring-network-fight-against-toxic-air]
Additionally, the report from King’s CollegeThe same report suggests that new Ultra-low emission zones (ULEZ) have played a significant role in the improvement of air quality, and that the reduction of Nitrogen Dioxide at roadside sites was five times the national average reduction. These new zones have been highly regarded in the mainstream media. This is thanks to both the observable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and the speed at which they have been implemented.
It is not all sunshine and clean air though, as many critics are quick to point out that 99% of Londoners [https://www.onlondon.co.uk/london-mayor-2021-whats-really-been-happening-with-environmental-policy-under-sadiq-khan/] still live in regions where the Nitrogen Dioxide level exceeds World Health Organisation [https://www.who.int/] limits.
There is no doubt that London’s favourite Mayor has made great leaps and bounds when it comes to London’s breathing. Introducing 400 electric buses and 4,000 zero-emission capable cabs are testament to that. His job is far from finished though.

Coronavirus

As if the current economic climate was not bad enough, the ill-timed pandemic has also added to the burdens of British farmers. Domestic demand for produce has decreased significantly as pubs and restaurants saw fewer and fewer customers throughout the lockdown. In many cases, this not only resulted in beer being poured down the drain, but difficulties when it comes to the production capacity of products like bottled, cask, and canned beer.

As Jeremy Clarkson demonstrated throughout his aforementioned series on farming, similar challenges were faced when it comes to meat production. Clarkson endeavoured to open his own farm shop and sell the meat from his lambs, but quickly found that the cost of producing the packaged meat outweighed the profit. In the final episode of the series, Clarkson notes in an optimistic tone that:

“It had cost £5000 to raise and butcher the lambs but they were so popular with the locals; it looked like we might even get a couple of hundred quid back”

When it comes to the wool from the very same sheep, it turned out to be practically worthless. The picture for beef and pork was rosier during the pandemic however, as sales of both meats increased due to customers seeking out easy-cook options. Positive, but not as profitable as one might think, as supermarkets slashed prices during promotional offers in an attempt to entice customers. Overall, the pandemic life of the average farmer has been more challenging than most.

The role of tech

Farm machinery was one of the most significant leaps forward in the agricultural sector. Running more efficient machines and reducing reliance on human labour allowed farming to become the industry that it is today. Now that we are here however, the revolution of farm tech has spiralled into out of date and costly machinery that relies on foreign imports for their upkeep. Large machinery producers like John Deere and CNH Global are based abroad, which introduces both a logistical and diplomatic problem.

Following Brexit, the ease of access to machinery from the Netherlands, for example, has disappeared. Now, as farmers in a third-country, British producers will be required to jump through even more hoops before they can get their hands on the vital parts required to keep them farming.

Moreover, it is possible that importing from the USA will become more costly as the British economy is forced to rely more heavily on non-EU options for trade. It has been noted that the two economies could benefit from one another if there were to be a mutual lowering of tariffs, but it seems unlikely that a positive, or any, trade deal will materialise in the next few years.

Outlook

It is unlikely that Britain will become so isolated as to require an economic policy of autarky, but Brexit has introduced a challenging situation for trade around the country.

In the already suffering agricultural sector, this problem has threatened the wellbeing of many farmers and the compounding effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed some to breaking point. A lot rests on the ability of the UK government to negotiate trade deals with other non-EU countries, but this could be the perfect opportunity for British agriculture to prosper once again. Currently, following the there is no minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Smart farming technology and home-grown farm innovation backed with government subsidies could be the answer to Britain’s farming crisis, but only time will tell as to whether farming will once again be given a prestigious place in one of the world’s most advanced economies.

About the Author: Isaac Knowles

Isaac Knowles is a contributing current affairs Features writer. He focuses on social issues which face everyday people and has written on topics such as race, feminism, and poverty. While endeavouring to write in-depth pieces that make real-world impacts, Isaac has developed significant expertise in the fields of politics, economics, and human rights.