In praise of Boris

I whole-heartedly congratulate London Mayor Boris Johnson on his latest inflammatory comments.

In a letter to Chancellor George Osborne, the Conservative Mayor of London, has attacked the Government over its cuts to solar subsidies; warning that halving the “feed-in tariff” would “slowly suffocate” the nascent renewables industry. These are the payments to householders for the energy they generate from solar panels installed on their own homes or businesses. He believes it's sending the wrong signals about solar energy generation.

With the right subsidies in place, and support from Boris, London has the potential to become a leading player in the introduction of solar energy through new development projects. These tariffs were a vital incentive to help the UK reach its climate targets, as well as providing a boost to the green economy, both areas the Government has pledged to support. The RSPB was planning to roll out solar schemes at 22 of our nature reserves, including Rainham Marshes on the outskirts of London. But these projects, and all the time and effort that went into them, have now been scrapped.

There are other areas where Boris and the RSPB agree, and several more where we have a lot to talk about. Not least his airport envy and a desire to go down in history as the man behind the UK's answer to Hong Kong's artificial island airport. We're not the only ones opposed to the London Mayor's plans to build in the estuary.

The post of Mayor of London comes up for election next year and all of the candidates are busy writing their campaign plans. Here are a few ideas to make cost effective investments that will benefit all of London's residents, human or otherwise.

• Saving energy should be a top priority. Each unit of energy saved is one that does not need to be generated. This can only benefit the environment and nature. What’s more it is the cheapest way to cut carbon output
• Investing in public transport and cycle schemes to reduce congestion and air pollution, whilst boosting small and medium enterprises by making it easier for employees to commute
• Supporting schemes to clean up London's rivers and removing the raw sewage discharges that kill so much wildlife and threaten public health
• Increasing the number and quality of the Capital's green public spaces
• Funding access to, and learning in, the great outdoors to bring communities together, whilst boosting environmental understanding and general quality of life for all Londoners

All of these initiatives come with an investment in real jobs, benefiting local economies and communities. They also help make London a nicer place to live and work; attracting more investors. Most importantly, these simple ideas all help our struggling wildlife survive  climate change.  Scientists estimate around a third of plant and animal species will be committed to extinction by 2050 unless we act to avoid dangerous climate change. History has shown that Londoners aren't afraid of stepping forward for what's right. Here's a chance to lead the world out of the financial crisis and to step boldly forwards towards a low-carbon future with nature and people at its heart.