Environment

Why is the environment important? The effects of climate change and environmental damage in society is not limited to the perspective and scale of the global, and certainly not in its relation to inequality. There is a strong link between economic inequality and unequal environmental impacts, meaning that the less well-of groups in society will suffer the most from environmental damage. The relative distribution of income and wealth in a country leads to poorer outcomes for health and happiness for the whole of society, the UK is certainly not void of this experience. It becomes evident that those who suffers the most from these effects of inequality are the poorest. When looking at rates of air pollution it is shown to be significantly greater in the poorest 20% of neighbourhoods in the UK (Jani, 2017). Thus, greater efforts to reduce economic inequality is needed within the UK, and especially London since the city possesses high rates of air pollution.

Data

Jani, H. (2017). Is inequality harming the environment?. (online) The RSA. Available at: https://www.thersa.org/discover/publications-and-articles/rsa-blogs/2017/12/is-inequality-harming-the-environment (Accessed 25 Feb. 2019)

According to certain studies, London recycles at an average rate of 33% which is currently at a much lower rate relative to the national average. This map illustrates the contrasting figures between the recycling of boroughs with Bexley, Ealing and Kingston Upon Thames taking the lead for a greener London and Newham, Westminster and Lewisham recycling at a terribly low rate of 14%. These figures demonstrate the further need to prioritise issues revolving around recycling and promoting the need to recycle by households on a regular basis in the long-term. One potential scheme the UK could adopt in imitation of proven successful recycling schemes in Europe is the "bottle deposit scheme" whereby individuals buying a recyclable plastic bottle would have the incentive to recycle bottles in return for the issue of deposits which one can then use to receive discounts on supermarket goods on their next shopping trip!

With the planned introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in central London from April 2019 this approach is used as a further scheme to offset carbon emissions in congested zones in London, in particular Westminster. It's overall aim is to implement new, tighter exhaust emission standards for vehicles to meet. This comes to no surprise as reports similar to the map illustrated on the left highlight Westminster producing the most emissions in London. These approaches come at a time where there is an increasing drive towards the Climate Change Act requiring the UK to meet the greenhouse gas emission target to be cut by 80% by 2050. Therefore, for London to demonstrate positive outcomes towards sustainable Energy consumption use and a cleaner, greener environment similar schemes posed to the above must continue to be encouraged and implemented in use in the near future.