Shirley Rodrigues to lead London’s air quality efforts

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has today (17 August) announced a key appointment in his drive to tackle London’s air pollution — naming former City Hall advisor Shirley Rodrigues as Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and his Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy Shirley Rodrigues

Currently Acting Executive Director for Climate Change at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Ms Rodrigues had previously worked in senior environmental policy roles at the Greater London Authority from 2005 to 2009.

During her time at City Hall, Ms Rodrigues helped to implement the London Low Emission Zone and programmes to retrofit London’s residential and commercial buildings.

Strategy

According to the Mayor’s office the Deputy Mayor will drive forward the Mayor’s plans for tackling air pollution across the capital including expanding the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), new charges for the oldest most polluting vehicles and creating Low Emission Bus Zones, unveiled as part of his air quality strategy in June (see airqualitynews.com story).

The Mayor said: “Shirley Rodrigues brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience and is the perfect person to deliver my agenda to make London a cleaner and greener city.

“Shirley will drive forward the urgent action needed to ensure Londoners no longer have to fear the air we breathe and will address the failure to tackle the problem by the previous Mayor and Government.

“I am sure she will be a fantastic addition to my top team, taking on a crucial portfolio that has become an issue of life and death.”

‘Ambition’

Shirley Rodrigues said: “I am delighted to be working with Sadiq on his ambitious plans to make London one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the world.

“Sadiq has already proposed a radical and wide-ranging approach to clean up London’s dirty air and I feel privileged to be able to lead on this vital piece of work that will boost the quality of life and health for millions of Londoners.”