The sky’s the limit for the LCCI’s sustainable aviation campaign

James Watkins, Head of Policy and Public Impact at the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, talks to Sarah Dale about the latest issues affecting London.

The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry released its Green Skies report last year and 2024 will see the organisation step up its campaign for sustainable aviation in the city.

To mitigate the effects of climate change, it is important for every business to take action to decarbonise and many have already taken a number of measures to do so.

The LCCI is campaigning for the issue of developing a sustainable aviation industry to be a principal aim of the Government.

The sector plays a “vital role” in supporting local businesses and communities and 83 per cent of London business decision-makers agree that air connectivity is important to London’s global competitiveness, revealed in a poll by the LCCI and Savanta in the report.

“The Government needs to provide a framework for sustainable airports and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF),” said James Watkins, Head of Policy and Public Impact at the LCCI, who wrote the report with Stephen Jones, Policy and Research Manager, and Stuart Pick, Senior Partnerships Manager.

“This will lead to the creation of jobs outside of London for the production of sustainable aviation fuels and help the aviation sector meet net zero targets.”

The LCCI has raised the issue with Graham Stuart MP, Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Sarah Jones MP, Shadow Minister for Industry and Decarbonisation and three senior Liberal Democrat MPs including Party Leader Ed Davey MP.

“We are pushing this issue very vigorously,” said James.

“It is critical for the country and the planet and also London particularly, as a global city, because of its links to the aviation industry.”

Among others, the report, which was written by Stephen Jones, Policy and Research Manager, has been welcomed by Heathrow, International Airlines Group, London Gatwick, London City Airport, London Stansted and Luton Rising (owner of London Luton Airport).

“We have the backing of significant players who want to work positively with the Government,” he said.

“It saves old jobs, creates new jobs, it supports net zero, it supports London and it helps raise Britain’s profile to be a global player in aviation and net zero.”

The sector plays a “vital role” in supporting local businesses and communities and 83 per cent of London business decision-makers agree that air connectivity is important to London’s global competitiveness, revealed in a poll by the LCCI and Savanta in the report.

London’s target to be net zero by 2030 is “right” but measures need to be made to ensure it can be achieved, says the LCCI.

“Every building in London needs to be retrofitted,” said James.

“Whoever wins the election, the London Mayor has significant powers, but to retrofit every building in the capital would need a partnership with Government and businesses.

“It is an incredibly ambitious objective, but it is something we have to do – for our lives now and for future generations.”

With the next Mayoral and London Assembly election looming, the LCCI’s focus is ensuring whoever is successful in the role of London Mayor puts London businesses and micro businesses at the forefront.

“There are a number of issues for the Mayor to address,” he said.

“We need to ensure that the skills crisis in London is finally tackled. We are still struggling to fill these skills vacancies, particularly since Brexit.

“There is the issue of crime in the capital. We are looking at how we can work even more effectively with the Metropolitan Police and London Mayor to ensure business crime is finally addressed.

“We need to ensure the transport network is fit for purpose. We need more electrical vehicle charging points. We need trains running on the Bakerloo line. We need a strong partnership with Central Government and a Strategy for Transport for London.

London is a global city that doesn’t have a long-term funding strategy for transport.” Business crime, such as financial fraud and cyber-crime, is another issue the LCCI wants to be a key focus, as is ensuring the safety of women and girls walking in London.

“The Metropolitan Police have been very proactive and that is to be welcomed and we look forward to working further on this issue,” he added.

“We also need to address the level of child poverty in London. London has a higher level of child poverty than Teesside. The Chamber supports the Prime Minister for Levelling Up Teesside but we also need to be Levelling Up London. To give an example from last year, the Government introduced the Youth Investment Fund for different regions of England. This fund is to invest in communities so people living in deprived areas have a real future. The only region that didn’t get it was London.

“London isn’t the land flowing with milk and honey. The use of foodbanks in London has increased. We need to support all communities, not just some communities.”