Request ID: FOI-0599-2425 Date published: 12 June 2024
You asked
28.5.24 clarification:
Thanks, Team, for contacting me and asking for further clarification. I appreciate this. I'm currently doing research as part of my study on TfL's net zero operations and plans, and for that purpose, I was diving into the annual report, which mentions the significant investment made in climate initiatives and future plans. At this point, I am more interested in accessing the investment information (past and future), primarily focusing on TfL's core operation (your own operations impacting Scope 1/2 emissions only, excluding supply chain and customers impacting Scope 3 emissions) under
the initiative of net zero operations.
I trust this clarifies questions.
Dear Transport Authorities,
As TfL's environmental plan aims to be green and carbon emission-free by 2030, could you share the expenditure you have made last five years and the future budget under this initiative, especially towards achieving net-zero operations?
Thanks,
We answered
TfL Ref: 0599-2425
Thank you for your clarified request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 28 May 2024 asking for information about our net zero operations.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. You asked: I'm currently doing research as part of my study on TfL's net zero operations and plans, and for that purpose, I was diving into the annual report, which mentions the significant investment made in climate initiatives and future plans. At this point, I am more interested in accessing the investment information (past and future), primarily focusing on TfL's core operation (your own operations impacting Scope 1/2 emissions only, excluding supply chain and customers impacting Scope 3 emissions) under the initiative of net zero operations.
I can confirm that we hold the information you require.However, we are applying Regulation 12(4)(b) to your request as we believe that the request is ‘manifestly unreasonable’ because locating, extracting and collating all the information you have requested would impose unreasonable costs on us and require an unreasonable diversion of resources.
In order for us to provide the information you have requested would require us to review a substantial volume of material as it is likely that every item of investment or expenditure within our business plan and annual report contains at least some element of contribution towards our overall aim of carbon reduction. This would require a significant amount of dedicated staff time and resource to undertake and would impose unreasonable costs on us as well as an unreasonable and excessive diversion of staff resources away from their core functions of ensuring the safe and efficient operations of London’s transport network. Additionally, it would be extremely difficult to quantify some of the information which is captured by your request as some items of investment will be part of other budgets and not easily attributable to a particular initiative.
The use of this exception is subject to a public interest test, which requires us to consider whether the public interest in applying the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosure. We recognise that the release of information would promote accountability and transparency in public services and also help address your particular concerns about this issue. However, the time it would take to provide the information you have requested would divert a disproportionate amount of our resources from its core functions and on balance we consider that the public interest currently favours the use of the exception.
We can however advise that we are committed to achieving Net Zero from our Operations by 2030 as set out in the Corporate Environment Plan. Information about how we are progressing towards that target, including what funding has been allocated, alongside the additional funding that is necessary, is set out in our Climate Budget. The Climate Budget forms part TfL’s formal budget submission to the GLA on an annual basis, starting in 23/24. Links to this publicly available information are below.
We will consider your request again, if you are able to narrow its scope so that we can more easily locate, retrieve and extract the information you are seeking. If you have specific questions we will be happy to consider those.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Sara Thomas FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
