ULEZ Expansion Fails to Deliver Expected Air Quality Improvements
Recent information from London City Hall shows that the city's Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) expansion across all Boroughs last year has successfully decreased harmful emissions, though not to the same extent as when it was first introduced in 2019.
Within just six months of its expansion, the Greater London Authority (GLA) has observed a 3.5 per cent reduction in harmful roadside emissions due to ULEZ, with Nitrogen oxide (NOX) gases – which react to form harmful Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – estimated to have fallen by up to 13 per cent from car traffic and seven per cent from vans.
This is partly due to the £12.50 daily fee, which has led many drivers to purchase newer cars that meet ULEZ standards; according to City Hall’s report, while the total number of vehicles on the road “[has] remained largely consistent compared to before the London-wide ULEZ expansion,” the proportion of ULEZ-compliant cars in the outer Boroughs has risen from 93 per cent in June 2023 to 97.1 per cent over the following six months.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan remarked: “Expanding the ULEZ across London was a tough choice… [but the] report indicates that the ULEZ is performing even better than anticipated.”
“The extension into outer London is making a noticeable difference,” he added, “reducing pollution, removing outdated polluting vehicles from our roads, and providing cleaner air to millions more residents of London.”
Yet, the research also revealed that despite the recent ULEZ expansion having some beneficial effects, these impacts don’t match those of the scheme’s initial launch five years prior.
One year following the initial ULEZ expansion, the scheme was found to have nearly cut harmful emissions in Central London by 48 per cent and decreased them by 21 per cent in Inner London.
In the recent Mayoral election, Conservative candidate Susan Hall promised to abolish ULEZ, branding it as part of the “war on motorists.” Tory London Assembly member Neil Garret commented that the latest report “demonstrates the £500 million spent on extending ULEZ to outer London has led to only a slight decrease in air pollution, contrary to the mayor’s assertions.”
Currently, ULEZ operates as a profitable venture for Transport for London; initial figures indicate that in its first month, the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone generated up to £23.6 million, increasing to £130 million within five months.
However, TFL claims that the scheme will not start turning a profit until 2026; over £210 million has been allocated to a scrappage scheme offering drivers of non-ULEZ-compliant vehicles a choice between a £2,000 payment or a smaller sum along with an annual London bus pass.
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Source and Image: AutoExpress UK