Sadiq Khan has appointed a Labour councillor who was nicknamed “high-carbon” for flying 40,000 air miles in little more than two years as his environment chief.
Mete Coban is set to take up the £148,000-a-year post as deputy mayor of London for environment and energy on Thursday.
The 32-year-old who is a representative of the Stoke Newington ward in Hackney, Diane Abbott’s parliamentary seat, will succeed Shirley Rodrigues, who left City Hall in May.
Coban is a controversial choice both because of his relative inexperience and the questions that have been raised about his flying habits, reports The Times
Sadiq Khan has appointed Mete Coban
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Despite warning that “the way we travel” can “have a huge impact on the climate” he has flown to Istanbul, Guatemala, Miami, Washington DC, Malta and Dubai.
However, he defended his travelling, saying the majority of the flights related to his role as the founder and chief executive of his charity, My Life My Say.
He said: “I make no apology for my advocacy on behalf of young people at some of the highest levels of decision-making, including at the United Nations and the White House.”
Announcing his new role, Coban said: “The mayor has introduced world-leading policies on climate action and I am hugely excited to bring my experience to this city-wide effort.”
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Leader of City Hall Conservatives Neil Garratt hit back at the appointment
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Leader of City Hall Conservatives Neil Garratt said: “Coban’s high-carbon, jet-set lifestyle makes him a surprise choice for the role. Will Londoners accept a lecture on cutting car use delivered from a racing circuit in Dubai?”
A spokesperson for Sadiq Khan said: “Mete has an excellent track record at delivering a range of environmental improvements in Hackney and the mayor looks forward to working with him as he continues to take world-leading action to tackle the climate crisis, clean up our air and rivers and grow the green economy.”
Coban was asked by The Times whether he would commit to taking fewer flights now he was the mayor’s top environmental advisor but he did not respond.
It comes after there was controversy over his organisation’s relationship with Lime Bikes, the company that provides dockless bikes across London.
In April Lime entered into a formal partnership with My Life My Say, offering free minutes and rides to the charity’s network of young adults during elections. Two years earlier, Lime Bikes had won a contract with Hackney council to be the sole provider of dockless bikes across the borough.
Coban said: “There is no conflict of interest and my relationship with Lime was declared with Hackney council.”
He added: “Lime’s contract with Hackney council began in 2022, which was two years before any formal partnership with My Life My Say.
“I can also confirm that My Life My Say has not received any fees from Lime, so there is no annual payment or expenses.”
