Ultra Low Emission Zone expands London-wide in a divisive “landmark moment”

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has with effect from today (August 29) expanded the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) London-wide in a “landmark moment” that aims to help make London a greener, healthier city.

The new zone now covers every London borough and will bring cleaner air to five million more people and is also expected to reduce carbon emissions in outer London by a further 27,000 tonnes. The Mayor says that the decision to expand the ULEZ was a “difficult one, but necessary to save lives, protect the health of Londoners and tackle the climate crisis”.

The ULEZ is the centrepiece of a range of measures the Mayor is implementing to tackle London’s toxic air, including putting a record number of zero-emission buses on the roads and making London’s electric vehicle charging network the largest of any city in Europe.

The Mayor claims that these additional measures are making a “real difference”, as evidence shows that clean air zones like the ULEZ are an “effective tool available to quickly and meaningfully cut air pollution” in a city like London, having already reduced air pollution in central London by almost 50 per cent and in inner London by a fifth.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, commented: “This is a landmark day for our city which will lead to a greener, healthier London for everyone. The decision to expand the ULEZ London-wide was a difficult one, but necessary to save lives, protect children’s lungs and help prevent asthma, dementia and other health issues.

“All the evidence shows that it’s clean air zones like ULEZ that are the gamechanger in a city like London when it comes to cutting toxic air quickly and meaningfully to protect people’s health. It’s thanks to the ULEZ that we are now set to get London’s air to within legal limits in the next couple of years, 184 years earlier than previously projected.”

Some have praised the ULEZ scheme’s expansion, such as chief executive of BusinessLDN John Dickie, who said: “The ULEZ expansion will play an important role in making London’s air cleaner and saving lives across the capital.

“It will also make the city a more attractive place to live, work and visit. We urge businesses and households to take advantage of the extended scrappage scheme, which will help them make the transition.”

However, some have criticised the initiative, with The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA)’s Michael Kill CEO NTIA stating: “The midnight threshold unfairly condemns countless night workers who are unable to afford compliant vehicles to a double whammy of charges as they diligently fulfil their duties during unconventional hours.

“It also brings into question how many night workers are paying double when public transport is limited due to industrial action. This long standing issue will be further compounded by further policy changes which will see parking fines increase and the imposition of outrageous charges for using the Blackwall Tunnel.

“These unjustified financial impositions, coupled with the impending removal of the day travel pass in January, are unmistakable signals that London’s authorities are turning their back on the very essence of accessibility, safety and inclusivity.”

Greenpeace UK clean air campaigner Paul Morozzo added: “London can be proud today of being among world leaders in efforts to protect its citizens’ health from toxic air. The ULEZ expansion will help tackle the air pollution that’s permanently damaging children’s lungs and putting the health of many people at risk.

“Rishi Sunak has a legal obligation to cut harmful pollution levels across the UK. So instead of playing politics with such a vital issue, he should work with the London Mayor to provide proper financial support for working people wanting to get rid of older, more polluting vehicles.

“The Prime Minister should step up to make sure that working families are supported and costs fall on those with the broadest shoulders.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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