1. A bold ambition
The Mayor has set out an ambition for the capital to be zero carbon by 2050, alongside a transport strategy to achieve 80% of journeys to be walking, cycling or public transport by 2041, paving the way for a city with the best air quality of any major city in the world.
2. Access to capital
At the epicentre of the world’s financial and insurance markets, London is a global leader in green finance. Green bonds listed on the London Stock Exchange have raised more than £25.3bn in seven different currencies.[1]
London is also the second biggest source of capital for cleantech in the world after Silicon Valley, with VC investment that outstrips the rest of Europe.[2]
3. A place where talent thrives
London is where world-leading expertise in technology, engineering, energy, finance, legal and environmental research all converge. Two of the world’s top 50 universities for engineering and technology are in London – UCL and Imperial College London, and the city boasts more software developers than many large European countries.[3]
London is a global hotspot for cleantech innovation – innovation that addresses the causes and effects of man-made climate change.Professor Richard Templer
Imperial College London
4. Innovative infrastructure
The city’s electric vehicle charging network is one of the biggest of any urban area and London mandates vehicle-charging infrastructure in new developments.[4]
To improve air quality, London also implemented the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), requiring most vehicles to meet new, tighter exhaust emission standards or pay a daily charge to travel within the ULEZ area.
5. Ecosystem
London’s ecosystem consists of a wide scope of businesses, public bodies and regulators, as well as a kaleidoscope of initiatives and spaces for entrepreneurs. From Advance London to Better Futures and from Sustainable Ventures to the Centre for Cleantech Innovation, London-based startups have access to the network and support to grow and thrive.