ZEMCH 2015 - International Conference Proceedings | Page 207

go hand in hand with a good quality of life”. The City of London Sustainability Review reports on
the following areas (Von Gunten 2010):
• Promoting a positive and sustainable workplace.
• Supporting communities and working for a sustainable World Class City.
• Contributing to society and supporting socio-economic development.
• Addressing climate change, energy and resource use.
• Enhancing biodiversity.
• Promoting sustainable travel options.
The City of London will be a full participant in the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy
Efficiency Scheme, a mandatory national climate and energy scheme, which started in April 2010.
‘The City Corporation supports the aim of a low-carbon future and seeks to maximize its contribution to the national effort of reducing greenhouse gas emissions’. Again, in 2009, the City of London Corporation was the first local authority in the UK to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard
by the Carbon Trust for its exemplary work in carbon management. (Von Gunten 2010).
The City of London relies on the advanced Citigen Combined Heat & Power (CHP) system to supply 23,000 MWh of heating and 5,300 MWh of cooling a year to a number of its properties. The system was established in 1993 and is one of the largest CHP community energy schemes in the UK.
Heat, which is normally wasted in electricity generation, is captured and supplied to the local heat
distribution network. The heat is also used to produce chilled water for air conditioning (sometimes referred to as “tri-generation”). The CHP represents a more sustainable option to supply
energy as it is up to 70% energy efficient compared to 40%% for a conventional power generator.
Given the limited potential for renewable energy generation in the Square Mile, using the heat
and cooling supplied by the CHP is a useful step for the City Corporation in reducing its carbon
intensity. The estimated CO2 savings achieved at the City properties supplied by the CHP amount
to about 3,700 CO2 tonnes avoided each year (Von Gunten 2010).
London has also released its new Climate Change Adaptation Strategy that ensures infrastructure
of London as well as services is prepared to meet the challenges predicted by climate change.
London has been able to monitor and coordinate the air quality within the Square Mile, by 13 air
quality monitoring points, which are used to monitor air pollutants including nitrogen dioxide
(NO2), fine particulates (PM10), very fine particulates (PM2.5) and ozone (O3). 4 continuous analyser sites report data to the London Air Quality Network which then coordinates and advances
air pollution monitoring. Some initiatives to facilitate more sustainable forms of transport and
encourage healthy lifestyles like The European Mobility Week and offered a range of activities including bike-to-work and walk-to-work helping raise awareness of the issue. The City of London’s
European Mobility Week events were shortlisted for the official EU Mobility Awards. The City of
London was one of 11 cities shortlisted out of 2,181 cities participating across Europe.
In 2009, an enhancement project was completed at Grant’s Quay on the River Thames. The project involved opening up the Thames Path and creating new landscaping and paving to develop
accessibility and safety, as well as new planting to promote biodiversity and support wildlife in
the area.
Challenges of Sustainable Development
Although it is sometimes possible to identify the threshold where development and the effect
on the environment are unacceptable, the UK government has identified five objectives that will
encourage the UK to become more sustainable:

A closer look at sustainability practices: lessons from the UK

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