London’s pollution drops after expansion of clean air toll
London’s air just got a little easier to breathe, with nitrogen dioxide levels dropping 27% after the city widened its Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in 2023, according to a new report.
Sam Tabahriti reports for Reuters.
In short:
- London expanded its ULEZ in August 2023, requiring older, more polluting cars to pay a daily fee, covering five million more people.
- The move sparked backlash from residents struggling with high living costs, but data shows a significant reduction in nitrogen dioxide, a toxic gas linked to asthma and lung disease.
- The report found that since the ULEZ first launched in 2019, air quality improved in 99% of monitored locations across the city.
Key quote:
“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.”
— Sadiq Khan, mayor of London
Why this matters:
Cleaner air means fewer kids developing asthma and a lower risk of lung disease for everyone. The move was controversial — opponents called it a tax on working-class drivers already struggling with inflation. But the numbers don’t lie: Air pollution, a silent killer linked to asthma, heart disease, and premature deaths, is falling in London at a time when most cities are failing to meet air quality standards.
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