Air pollution is a silent killer and one of the biggest challenges we face today.
It’s a depressing fact that 40,000 people in the UK die prematurely every year as a direct consequence of our toxic air. It reduces children’s lung development while contributing to the development of cancer, asthma and dementia.
Poor air quality is taking its toll on our NHS and wider economy. Health problems resulting from exposure to air pollution can lead to long-term illness and premature death. This costs our health services and businesses £20billion every year.
We’re facing a public health emergency and we can’t stand by and watch as people are dying. That’s why I’m supporting the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, in his work to get to grips with the issue.
We are already seeing results from this work. Toxic exhaust emissions from buses have fallen by around 90% where the 12 Clean Bus Zone schemes have been launched and investment in London’s bus and taxi fleet has been made to move them towards being net zero emitters of pollutants.
But the scale of the problem we are facing means that we must go much further – and fast.
From 8 April, the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) will be introduced in central London. Vehicles driving within London’s existing congestion charge zone will have to meet the toughest exhaust emissions standards of any world city, or otherwise face a daily charge.
From October 2021, the ULEZ zone will then expand to cover the whole of inner London within the North and South circular roads.
Around half of London’s pollution is caused by road transport, meaning that the central London ULEZ is set to cut toxic emissions by almost half, making our air safer for millions of Londoners.
There are currently more than 400 primary and secondary schools in areas of London that exceed legal air quality limits. By 2025, because of the ULEZ and other air quality measures, that number is set to fall to zero helping thousands of children to breath cleaner air at school.
Air pollution is also a social justice issue, with toxic air in our city disproportionately affecting the poorest Londoners.
Research shows that Londoners from some of the poorest backgrounds are set to benefit most from these efforts to improve air quality. By 2025, the gap in exposure to pollution between the highest and lowest income areas of London is predicted to reduce by over 70%.
Choosing to expand the ULEZ in 2021 came after the largest public consultation recorded by TfL, which showed staunch support for the ULEZ proposals.
However, one issue that arose from the consultation process was the ability of some small-business owners to pay to upgrade their vehicles. Many have no choice but to travel within the ULEZ area, and public transport isn’t always an option for them.
That’s why I am pleased the Mayor has introduced a £23million scheme to help micro-businesses and charities scrap older polluting vans and minibuses in favour of cleaner ones as well as a £25million fund to support those on the lowest incomes scrap their older cars and switch to greener alternatives.
Although this £48million combined fund will help thousands of businesses and low-income families play their part in tackling air pollution, the Government also needs to step up and fund a national diesel scrappage scheme to help motorists across the country ditch their polluting cars.
From 2021, residents who live within the area of my constituency covered by the ULEZ will benefit from a 28% reduction in harmful nitrogen oxide levels. And residents who live close to the boundary will likely see a net improvement in air quality.
However, the majority of my constituency falls below the South Circular and as such will not be part of the ULEZ. Although the proposed scope of the ULEZ and the mayor’s plans to clean up buses and taxis will help to improve air quality in outer London, I want action to go even further. That’s why I am committed to pushing for the ULEZ to be expanded across the whole of London.
While the whole of London is set to benefit from strengthening emission standards for heavy diesel vehicles, this is also welcome news but I am also concerned that, without further extension to include cars and vans, most of my constituents will not receive the full benefits of this scheme.
I’m proud of the progress that has been made so far in London, and the introduction of the ULEZ in April will be an important milestone. But, together, there is still so much more to do across the capital and our country. Our health, and the health of our children, is just too important to ignore.
Ellie Reeves is the Labour MP for Lewisham West and Penge