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As Chair #LiveryClimateActionGroup I am delighted to invite you to attend the next online event on the topic of Decarbonising the River Thames. Come and hear from the Director of Sustainability at #PortofLondonAuthority about the work towards Net Zero on the river we all love. Tickets are free and the date is 10th September from 5 - 6pm Sign up on #tickettailor. Or message me direct. https://lnkd.in/dZRhx-jP

Are cyclists getting away with it? The City of London has seen a great rise in cycling. It is largest single mode of transport into the City of London on a daily basis. But everyone has a story about bad parking of hire bikes; running red lights; cycling on pavements and weaving through static traffic. This is being addressed. Today City of London Police led by Stu Ford co-ordinated a road safety event at Moorgate to engage with the morning cycling commute and spread the word about the need to obey the law, take care and have consideration for all road users. Officers pulled over cyclists who ran red lights to bring them to the hub and address the impact of their unlawful behaviour. Educational advice was available to all walking, cycling or driving. The Speedy Hire lorry allowed cyclists to sit in the driver's cab and experience the (lack of ) visibility of cyclists nearby; the Police offered bike marking and also gave advice about phone snatching and phone marking. Culture Mile BID offered practical help with #DrBike making running repairs to bikes in need. Lime attended and answered questions raised by my residents about excessive numbers of parked E-bikes around #DowgateWard. #RoadSafety #VisionZero Steve Goodman Read the City of London Corporation Vision Zero plan here https://lnkd.in/eTK5xwJC

Always good to measure what you are doing and ensure a good impact. So delighted that the work of City of London Corporation is recognised as being at the top of the list of local authorities who have cut carbon emissions, as measured by HM Government and reported BBC News. Leadership by Chris Hayward, chair of policy and drive across the departments and membership has led to this excellent result with more work ongoing. A wide range of measures in the City's #ClimateActionStrategy that also invests in climate resilience across buildings and the public realm and sustainable growth. Pleased to play a role as the #leadmember for this work. https://lnkd.in/eJtNQhf2

Step forward the lawyers who are going to save the World! Resorting to legal action should come when all other steps to resolve a problem have been exhausted or are clearly not going to work. That is now true for so many rights relating to climate impact and environmental destruction. Lawyers and a good system of justice governed by the #RuleofLaw will ensure that fair treatment is given to all and human rights are protected. There are many landmark judgements but the one that I want to talk about has just been determined by The International Court of Justice in the Hague, the UN's highest judicial body – a body where the 15 Judges are from many jurisdictions giving deep validity to their collective view. In a nutshell the Court was asked to determine the responsibility of States regarding climate change and found that States do have a binding legal duty to prevent climate harm and protect human rights from the impacts of climate change - thus making them liable to pay reparations to those most affected. The many smaller states in vulnerable parts of the world have now a better claim on the polluting nations to pay damages for the destruction caused by climate change on their infrastructure and buildings. The ruling of the ICJ only applies to States that are signed up - the USA and China are not signatories. This ruling is also an advisory opinion but, as such, is an authoritative statement of binding international law and carries legal weight. Credit must be given to the group of Pacific Island Students who started the claim which has now been so successful. Many more legal actions are likely to follow and this leading landmark case will be a potential point of no return. Read the Judgement here

You probably think that I only ever talk about #climatechange, urban greening and biodiversity. Well, this last week was pretty much all about that! Monday started with the planning for the next Livery Climate Action Group Conference on 26 January 2026;  followed by meeting the team at Morden College, an almshouse charity as Chair of the ESG Working Group – great to see environmental issues and social impact at the heart of their plans. Tuesday I met fellow elected members who are chairing committees. First up was James St John Davis and Charles Edward Lord OBE JP of the Natural Environment Board where work across the City's open spaces creates relaxing environment but also act to sequester carbon towards the City's net zero strategy. Wednesday saw an interview with ITV and Sally Williams that was aired on Friday about pollinators and resilient planting and biodiversity. Following an enquiry by a City resident I queried the trees in pots on Cheapside that had definitely  passed their best. Amazingly they were almost immediately removed as the City realised that they did not enhance the pavements -although as a traffic management measure they were doing their job. Whilst temporary bollards are now there I can assure you that the new planting later in the year will look fabulous. ( can't share any images as yet). Thursday found me at Christchurch Greyfriars Garden, doing a pollinator count and recording this on the FIT app as a #CitizenScientist with Pollinating London Together. Later going to the Tower of London where Historic Royal Palaces have changed the look and feel of the Tower with the wonderful flowers in the moat ( Superbloom) and more changes ahead that will enhance biodiversity. I was there to open the second #CityPollinatorPanel. The seminar looked at best practice in urban pollinator conservation. Exploring how cities like London can integrate pollinator-friendly design into planning, development, and green infrastructure strategies. Great to share the stage with Katherine Baldock Iain Boulton Lambeth Community Nikki Grammans of Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Dr Phil Askew Benjamin Bishop – all telling their enchanting stories of how pollinators and biodiversity can change people and places. Friday and I am on a train to Somerset to see James Wood supported by the Wood Livery Companies. Woodland Heritage has created James Wood to demonstrate the value of productive woodland as an increasingly important resource for the UK. The woodland will provide fine timber as a primary crop. It will also provide education, carbon capture, flood resilience and an increase in biodiversity. I was educated by the intensive tour. Thanks John Orchard. We followed this up with a visit to Williams and Cleal Furniture School who showed us the most amazing craftsmanship and community engagement.

The Dowgate Ward members being myself, Henry Pollard and Mark Wheatley invite Dowgate electors and anyone living or working in Dowgate Ward to attend the Dowgate Business Forum. This is to be held on Monday 29th September at 5.30 for 6pm at the offices of Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking (with many thanks), Cannon Bridge House, 25 Dowgate Hill, London EC4R 2YA. You are invited to meet the Dowgate Team of your elected members and to hear from Robert Elder, Agent Monetary Analysis, Bank of England and others. Following presentations you will have the chance to raise any issues with the speakers and with the Dowgate Team. Concluding with refreshments from about 6.45pm. A reply is essential to me, Henry or Mark. We look forward to seeing you there.