The harmful impact of air pollution and the connection to ICE vehicles, as one of the main causes, are well-documented. Cities and regions are trying to find solutions that can curb emissions. One long-standing example is the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) in London, which has been extended to a wider area in 2023. Recently, the Guardian has summarised an implementation report of the first 18 months. The results clearly show that ULEZs are a very suitable solution to curb air pollution.
The study, published by the Greater London Authority and reviewed by independent experts, shows that nitrogen dioxide levels have fallen by 27% since 2019, and fine particulate emissions (PM2.5) are 31% lower in outer London than they would have been without the expansion. Improvements are most marked in deprived areas, with exposure to illegal pollution levels down by up to 82%.
The ULEZ scheme, which now covers all London boroughs, requires high-emission vehicles to pay a £12.50 daily charge. Compliance is now at 97%. Experts from the WHO and Imperial College London praised the scheme’s impact, calling it a model for other cities. The report also noted that air quality in London is improving faster than the national average.
Read the article from The Guardian here.