Analysis of the Gap between the Development of and Implementation of Environmental Policy

While some of the policies introduced by the Mayor have been implemented, their effects are yet to be seen. There seems to be a wide breach between these policies and how they are handled by the general public. One of the most fundamental reasons why the effects of these policies have yet to be felt is because of the massive funding which they require. It has been stated that, for the levels of carbon emissions to be reduced by sixty percent by the year 2025, nearly sixty billion pounds would be required to implement the policies needed to achieve such a reduction (McHugh, 2006, 9). In fact, the GLA cannot achieve the full implementation of these policies without the financial assistance of the government. The prospects of gaining funding for these policies from the central government are terribly slim indeed, and it is because of this lack of additional funding that some of the GLA policies have yet to be fully implemented. The lack of additional funding is perhaps one of the main reasons why the effects of these policies have yet to be felt.

One of the reasons why the GLA has encountered a lot of difficulty in implementing the proposed policies is because of the lack of public awareness when it comes to the environment. This means that the GLA has a lot of work to do to ensure that the public is made aware of the environmental issues, as well as gaining its support in the implementation of the policies. It will require the Mayor and his team to embark on a massive public campaign to create awareness for the environment. He will have to state the GLA’s intentions concerning the environment, and also try to gain public support through encouraging people to take responsibility in their actions towards the environment. If these campaigns are carried out successfully, then the GLA will find it much easier to implement the policies than it is currently.

While London is one of the most technologically developed cities in the world, a lot more technology is needed to ensure that the policies are implemented within the city. It has been suggested by the Mayor that all the new residences, which are to be built within the city, have to be efficient in both energy and water (Croci, Melandri & Molteni, 2010). Moreover, electric vehicles are to be introduced, in the city, to diminish the level of carbon release to the environment. While these initiatives are truly noble in principle, they are extremely difficult to implement because the needed technology is terribly expensive. Studies have to be conducted to find ways through which the technology that exists today can be best used to implement the policies proposed by the GLA. This would help a fantastic deal in the cutting of implementation costs, which would be incurred if new technology were to be introduced.

It is a fact that there has been an improvement in the standard of living of the people of London in the last few years and this trend is set to continue. However, inequalities can still be seen in many parts of the city, and it is possible that some of the policies will have a positive impact on some groups, while having an opposite impact on others. Although a cleaner environment will be gained through the implementation of these policies, some groups will end up losing. For example, if the policy of improving water efficiency in the city is implemented through the introduction of meters, then those people from low income groups will receive higher water bills than they already are, and this will do them more harm than good.