The next step on London’s journey to cleaner air
Rob from our policy team tells us about the ULEZ (ultra-low emission zone) expansion in London this month, including the improvements we’ve already seen, how this further expansion will benefit a quarter of a million more people with lung conditions, and our hopes for the future.
Air pollution is the biggest environmental health risk in the UK. Each year people right across the country breathe in levels of pollution that could be damaging their health, with those in London facing the highest concentrations of toxic air.
Air pollution is an invisible killer in London
Across the country, air pollution is linked to 36,000 premature deaths per year; in London, that figure stands at 4,000.
In London, 70% of those living with asthma told us in our annual survey that air pollution triggers their symptoms, often making them feel like they are trapped inside their homes, unable to socialise or live their lives as they wish.
The reality for too many of London’s residents is that their health is at risk just because of where they live, work and play.
The Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has worked
Thankfully, the ULEZ has already begun to transform the air across the city. Introduced in 2019, it has managed to reduce the levels of nitrogen dioxide by nearly half in central London.
Furthermore, new research from the Greater London Authority has found that removing the most polluting vehicles from the roads has not only reduced toxic air in London but has had a knock-on effect across the country, with the cleaner vehicles traveling through London and onto other major towns and cities, reducing pollution for a combined population of 18 million people in cities across the country.
We are seeing similar results in Clean Air Zones across the country. As Dr. Gary Fuller, Air Pollution scientist at Imperial College London and part of the Government’s Air Quality Expert Group, has said “It’s hard to think of another policy that has led to such a dramatic change.”
Bring on the expansion!
Today’s expansion of the scheme, which will take the ULEZ zone up to, but not include, the north and south circular roads, is welcome. Our analysis has found that there are an additional 250,000 people living with asthma or COPD inside the expansion zone, who will now be able to benefit from cleaner air, alongside millions more.
We still have a long way to go
However, the Mayor still needs to go further to combat toxic air across the city. There are just under 360,000 people with asthma or COPD who live outside the north and south circular but inside London. These areas are still highly polluted and likely to remain so. It is not right that residents in these neighbourhoods should have to struggle to breathe with polluted air surrounding them.
We, therefore, need ensure that:
The ULEZ is expanded further, taking into account all boroughs across the city and support for boroughs to bring in their own zero emissions zones, which are followed through.
The Mayor’s commitment to a zero-emission bus fleet is completed;
Policies that incentivise public transport use and active travel such as walking and cycling are introduced;
Financial incentives for those who rely on cars to switch to less polluting vehicles are brought in.
We look forward to working with the Mayor to ensure ULEZ and other schemes go further and are delivered faster to bring cleaner air to everyone in London.
Whether you live in London or not, you can help to ensure that everyone can breathe safe and clean air wherever they live. Join our campaign and become a Clean Air Hero today!
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