Since its introduction in April 2019, the central ULEZ has been a huge success, cutting emissions of nitrogen oxide from road transport by 35 per cent and improving air quality. However, many parts of inner and outer London also suffer from serious air pollution with levels now returning to pre-pandemic levels: toxic air pollution remains the biggest environmental risk to the health of all Londoners, harming our lungs, worsening chronic illnesses such as asthma, lung and heart disease, and putting the health of our children at risk. And there is emerging evidence that air pollution makes you more susceptible to the worst health impacts of coronavirus.
The expansion of the ULEZ was always part of the Mayor’s Air Quality plan, announced in 2018 following a public consultation that indicated widespread support for the move. In the meantime, from the 1 March 2021, the Mayor is setting tougher emissions standards for heavy vehicles London-wide under the Low Emission Zone. He is also cleaning up London’s bus and taxi fleets. But it is only right that drivers of cars, van and motorcycles should also play their part.
Four in five cars already meet the ULEZ emissions requirements. The owners of older polluting cars, vans and other specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes), minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes) and motorbikes that do not meet the ULEZ emissions standards now have more than a year to consider alternatives such as replacing their vehicle or using other modes of transport. A successful scrappage scheme has been running since October 2019 to help those on low incomes and with disabilities scrap their older, polluting vehicles. One for small businesses with older, more polluting light vans ran from February 2019 to August of this year: the scheme remains open to charities with minibuses which don’t meet the ULEZ emissions standards.
The marketing campaign launched today will educate and inform Londoners about what ULEZ expansion means for them, and what – if anything they need to do to prepare. And everyone will benefit next year from this vital measure to let London breathe.
