Report shows ULEZ has massively reduced harmful emissions

Image above: ULEZ signage in west London

More than a year since Chiswick was included in the zone

The first year of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion to inner London has achieved a dramatic reduction in emissions and air pollution, and a huge increase in the percentage of vehicles in London which meet the ULEZ standards, according to a new report commissioned by City Hall.

The major report, peer reviewed by Dr Gary Fuller at Imperial College London, shows that harmful pollution emissions have been reduced by 26% within the expanded ULEZ area, compared with what they would have been if the zone had not been expanded.

The report found 74,000 fewer polluting vehicles were seen driving in the zone, a cut of 60% since expansion in October 2021. It showed the low emission zone had reduced harmful pollution levels in central London by nearly half compared to what they would have been without the ULEZ and in inner London, pollution levels are 21% lower.

Chiswick was one of the areas to be included in the zone when it was expanded in October 2021.

It is estimated that around 4,000 Londoners die prematurely every year due to toxic air. City Hall said the new report showed how the Mayor’s air quality policies, in particular the ULEZ and LEZ schemes, are having a transformative impact in cutting the number of older, more polluting vehicles seen driving in London and reducing the levels of harmful air pollution.

The Mayor’s office said that while over four million people now breathe cleaner air, including children in 1,362 schools, further vital further action is needed as average pollution concentrations at background monitoring sites in outer London have remained constant since 2021, with over half of deaths attributable to air pollution in outer London.

Sadiq Khan’s proposals to extend the ULEZ to outer London have been controversial as critics say they penalise the worst off at a time when they are already struggling to cope with the cost of living crisis.  The Ultra Low Emission Zone is expanding across all London boroughs from 29 August 2023.

People who own older, more polluting cars will face fines of £12.50 a day for every day they drive their vehicle unless they replace them with vehicles which pass accepted standards for emissions, or decidde to use other means of transport.

The whole of London still exceeds the World Health Organization’s guidelines for air quality, and there is no safe level of exposure.

Image above: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan

Report strengthens case for ULEZ expansion, says Sadiq Khan

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said:

“The evidence from this landmark report is clear – the ULEZ works. This is beyond dispute. It has already reduced toxic air pollution by almost half in central London and by over a fifth in inner London, transforming the quality of air for four million Londoners.

“But there’s still more to do. Toxic air is a matter of life and death, with around 4,000 deaths in London attributed to air pollution in 2019. It’s also stunting the growth of children’s lungs and causing people to develop life-changing illnesses, such as cancer, lung disease, dementia and asthma.

“With the majority of deaths attributable to air pollution in outer London, it’s vital that we expand the ULEZ London-wide. As Mayor, I simply won’t accept that the five million people in outer London shouldn’t be able to benefit from the same life-saving health impacts that ULEZ has already brought to the rest of our city.  Everyone has the right to breathe clean air.”

Image above: map of early deaths attributable to air pollution

“More needs to be done” to tackle air pollution, says Asthma + Lung UK CEO

Sarah Woolnough, CEO at Asthma + Lung UK, said:

“The devastating impact that air pollution can have on our lungs and lives should not be underestimated. Toxic air stunts children’s’ lung growth, causes lung conditions and can trigger existing ones – that’s why schemes like the ULEZ that meaningfully reduce air pollution are so needed.

“The ULEZ expansion across inner London shows that where there is political leadership, things can get better and millions of people can breathe cleaner air. More schemes to tackle dirty air are desperately needed across the country, and more needs to be done to implement them where needed. It is vital that these measures are properly supported with improvements to public transport and schemes to help people transition to cleaner modes of transport.”

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See also: ‘Mental health crisis café’ opens on South Ealing Road

See also: Apprenticeships slump in west London “shocking” says Ruth Cadbury MP

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