Improving water quality, boosting wildlife numbers and encouraging greener technology use were on the agenda at our Environment
and Heritage Conference.

More than 100 delegates debated aspirations for the river’s ecology and heritage at the Museum of London last month. It included guests from the PLA, Environment Agency, Thames Landscape Strategy and Zoological Society
of London, among others.

The conference was organised as
part of our work with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver the Thames Vision, a 20-year development framework for the tidal river. One of the Vision’s six goals is to make the river the cleanest it has been since the Industrial Revolution, with improved habitats and greater awareness of its heritage.

Tanya Ferry, PLA environment manager revealed that the PLA is developing the first ever Thames air quality strategy.

Last year’s announcement of a discount for ships performing to the highest environmental standard was an important first step.

“This first conference is really important, as we were aiming to
bring everyone’s attention to some
of the existing environment and heritage activities on the river,”
she said.

“We hope the annual conference
will be a focus for lots of organisations to showcase the progress they’re making towards achieving the Vision’s environment and heritage goal.”

Katherine Riggs, PLA director
of the Thames Vision project,
said: “The conference has been
a great opportunity for us all to
discuss the work we are collectively doing and to bring delivery of the Vision fully to life. It’s a good example of a wide range of organisations coming together to deliver the shared Vision for a
cleaner Thames environment.”