Dear Mayor Sadiq Khan,

The report published this week by the International Energy Agency ( IEA) has set a Net Zero 2050 Road Map to ensure countries achieve the Paris Agreement 2015.

The key points are no new oil, coal and gas development from 2021 and gas boilers should be banned from 2025. However, the Petroleum Act 1998 ( as amended in 2015) requires “ recovery of oil and gas from U.K territory is maximised. Furthermore, the Coal Industry Act 1994 requires an economically viable coal mining industry in Great Britain is maintained and developed. In addition, the Government net zero target by 2050 does not include fossil fuels extracted and exported to another country ( Climate Change Act 2008). As Governments and industries pursue a Net Zero paradigm, legislation as mentioned above should be repealed to ensure a carbon- free environment is maintained through a just and fair transition.  

London, especially the South East is currently undergoing a dramatic Regeneration with boroughs such as Southwark pledging to build 11,000 new homes to address the homeless crisis in accordance with the Homeless Reduction Act 2017 that places a greater duty on Local Authorities to prevent homelessness ( www.gov.uk). 

In climate such as the U.K a heating system is an essential aspect to achieve thermal comfort. As large energy user, heating and cooling generates a substantial amount of Carbon Dioxide (CO2). The Energy Performance of Building Directive ( EU, 2010) make it a requirement for designers and engineers to limit the amount of energy consumption and reduce the amount CO2 they emit. 

To decarbonise buildings, it is essential architects adhere to PassivHaus U Value requirements, and consider renewable alternatives to gas boilers such as Photovoltaic, geothermal, biomass, wave and tidal energy as the Earth rapidly and naturally replenishes these energy sources. Housing accounts for 23% of carbon emissions, therefore sustainability goals should aim to achieve the targets as stipulated by the Paris Agreement 2015 and the IEA Net Zero Road Map 2021.

Recycling, pollution reduction, waste elimination, building design, strategic asset planning and investment in renewable energy sources, should be part of the Government and Mayor sustainability goals that encompasses social, economic and environmental challenges. The main drivers of climate change is a interplay of different processes including demographic, consumption and production. Humans are not only victims of the climate and ecological emergency but they are essential agents.

”Mankind as a whole, is today standing on the threshold of great events-events that at times seem to threaten its very existence” Nelson Mandela

Love & Courage

#ActNow

#ExtinctionRebellionJamaica

#Climateandecologicalemergency.

#FightforOnePointFive

#Sustainability