Sadiq Khan Caught in Shocking New Scandal—Could This Be the End of His Time as Mayor?

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has been accused of being “complacent” for not setting clear, short-term goals to achieve his plan of making London net zero by 2030.

Zack Polanski, deputy leader of the Green Party, warned that without these interim targets, London might be far from reaching net zero by the end of Khan’s term in 2028, leaving the mayor unaccountable for the results.

Mete Coban, Khan’s deputy mayor for the environment, defended the mayor’s approach, saying there are many ways to track progress and hold City Hall accountable. London’s greenhouse gas emissions have already dropped by 42% since 2005, from 48.67 million tonnes to 28.32 million tonnes in 2022. When Khan took office in 2016, emissions were at 35.88 million tonnes.

Polanski, who leads the London Assembly’s environment committee, criticized the lack of specific yearly targets, such as reducing emissions below 20 million tonnes by a certain date. He argued that setting a 2030 goal without interim steps makes it hard to hold the mayor accountable, especially if he leaves office before the target is met.

Coban responded that London is showing strong leadership on climate action, having moved the net zero target from 2050 to 2030. He said it’s fair for the mayor to set long-term goals, as politicians are often criticized for not planning beyond their terms. He emphasized that the focus is on delivering the 2030 target.

Polanski countered that if London is far from net zero by 2028, Khan could leave office without being held responsible. He called the lack of detailed milestones “astounding complacency.” Coban assured that progress would be regularly reported and that Londoners would have ways to hold the mayor accountable.

When asked if City Hall had private interim targets, Coban avoided giving a direct answer, saying the focus is on delivering the mayor’s ambitious manifesto. Last December, Khan admitted London is not yet on track to meet the 2030 goal but expressed hope that a Labour government would provide more support, such as funding for building insulation, electric buses, and green jobs.

Khan’s office has previously stated that 50-66% of London’s net zero target depends on government action, not just City Hall’s efforts.