Low-carbon London

This development will place the city at the forefront of a more sustainable future for the UK and the world.

The LDA aims to capture the maximum potential economic growth and environmental benefits for London and the UK.

Based on the capital's existing track record as a global economic centre, London will position itself as a leading low-carbon capital for the provision of finance, business services and innovation within the global low-carbon economy.

To this end, London has the most challenging carbon reduction targets of any city in the world.

We estimate that London has the potential to attract between £40 billion and £140 billion of low-carbon inward investment and up to 225,000 new low-carbon jobs.

Reducing carbon pollution

In 2010/11, the LDA will:

• invest to reduce London’s carbon pollution

• attract funding from the European Union and other sources to reduce carbon pollution

• cut London’s carbon pollution and help Londoners save on energy bills

• work in partnership with the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, London’s boroughs, private organisations and the third sector on reducing carbon pollution.

Making low carbon a reality

The LDA has developed a strategic plan laying out the key short, medium and long-term initiatives to build on London's strengths and areas of comparative advantage for the low-carbon economy.

The initiatives will:

• leverage London's unique combination of its size and depth of financial expertise to further strengthen London's lead in carbon trading and its position as a World Finance Centre

• co-ordinate London's low carbon leading areas of research into innovation clusters to facilitate investment across the product lifecycle

• exploit London's wealth of business services and the role this sector plays beyond London and the UK for professional services for low-carbon initiatives, to realise the economic benefits in London

• continue to demonstrate leadership in low-carbon policy development, following on from chairing the C40 (Climate Leadership Group) and committing to a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions, to set out the commitment to low carbon and Londons vision in this regard.

The Green Enterprise District

To accelerate this vision, the LDA has identified the Green Enterprise District (GED), which is an area of 48km² along the north bank of the Thames in east London.

The GED is at the leading edge of fostering and supporting low-carbon enterprise in a highly sustainable green environment. The aim is to create:

• a place that will showcase the principles and practice of sustainable development in the most rapidly changing area of one the world's leading cities

• London's first area dedicated to attracting and fostering green enterprise

• a place for innovative projects that demonstrate ways of de-carbonising cities and reducing other environmental impacts

• a location of choice for developers and suppliers of green technologies and businesses that are characterised by the principles of green enterprise

• a place that will give priority to investment in low carbon growth sectors, for example renewable energy and waste-to-energy schemes

• a place that supports green enterprise with relevant utilities, transport, business, property, financial and fiscal infrastructure

• a place that educates businesses and people about the importance of green enterprise, a low-carbon economy and a more sustainable approach to living and working in cities.