A new City Hall report today reveals that the ULEZ has led to substantial improvements in air quality in outer London and across the capital.
Particle emissions (PM2.5) from vehicle exhausts are estimated to be 31% lower in outer London in 2024 than they would have been without the ULEZ expansion.
Alongside NO2 and PM2.5 reductions, NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) emissions from cars and vans are also estimated to be 14% lower in outer London.
The biggest reductions in NO2 levels have been in central London (54%) but there have also been substantial reductions in inner London (29%) and outer London (24%).
ULEZ EXPANSION
The boroughs that have seen the biggest reductions in NOx emissions due to the ULEZ expansion are Sutton, Merton, Croydon, Harrow and Bromley where harmful emissions are estimated to be around 15% lower in 2024 than would be expected without the expansion to outer London, which covers a large area of around 1250km2.
And NOx emissions from road transport are estimated to be 36% lower across London in 2024, a saving of around 3400 tonnes – the equivalent of approximately one year of emissions from all passenger car trips in Los Angeles.
The report also shows that the ULEZ has led to savings in carbon emissions.
Cumulatively between 2019 and 2024, the equivalent of nearly three million one-way passenger trips between Heathrow and New York has been saved in carbon due to ULEZ as a whole.
BIGGEST BENEFITS
Deprived communities are seeing some of the biggest benefits. For some of the most deprived communities living near London’s busiest roads, there was an estimated 80% reduction in people exposed to illegal levels of pollution in 2023 – this increases to 82% in outer London, compared to a scenario without the ULEZ.
Data from the report, alongside independent analysis has found that the ULEZ expansion has not impacted footfall or retail and leisure spending in either outer London or London as a whole. Visitor footfall in outer London increased by almost 2% in the year after the London-wide ULEZ expansion.
DRIVING DOWN POLLUTION
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (main picture), says: ”Today’s report shows that ULEZ works, driving down levels of pollution, taking old polluting cars off our roads and bringing cleaner air to millions more Londoners.
“The decision to expand the ULEZ was not something I took lightly, but this report shows it was the right one for the health of all Londoners. It has been crucial to protect the health of Londoners, support children’s lung growth, and reduce the risk of people developing asthma, lung cancer and a host of other health issues related to air pollution.
“With boroughs in outer London seeing some of the biggest reductions in harmful emissions and London’s deprived communities also seeing greater benefits, this report shows why expanding ULEZ London-wide was so important.
“Thanks to ULEZ and our other policies, all Londoners are now breathing substantially cleaner air – but there is still more to do, and I promise to keep taking action as we build a greener, fairer London for everyone.”
CRUCIAL FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization, adds: “Improving air quality through initiatives like the Ultra Low Emission Zone in London is crucial for protecting public health and reducing the burden of disease.
“Cleaner air leads to healthier communities, lower rates of respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, and a better quality of life for all residents.
“The World Health Organization commends the efforts of cities like London in implementing measures to reduce emissions from vehicles and improve air quality, which ultimately contribute to a healthier and more sustainable urban environment.”
