This mum used to watch her son 'struggle for breath'. After a year of Ulez, things are much better

One year on from the controversial Ulez expansion, campaigners are celebrating “impressive” reductions in air pollution.

Toxic air contributes to around 4,000 premature deaths in the capital each year. But Londoners are starting to breathe a little easier.

“The ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) has been really, really positive,” said Ruth Fitzharris, campaigner at Mums for Lungs. “Obviously, much more needs to be done, but it’s important that it was introduced and expanded.”

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Under ULEZ regulations, drivers of certain polluting vehicles must pay a £12.50 daily charge.

Initially mooted by London mayor Boris Johnson in 2015, it was introduced for central London by his successor Sadiq Khan in 2019. Since August 2023, all of London’s boroughs have been included in the zone.

“The evidence shows that these clean air zones are really effective in reducing pollution,” Fitzharris said. “Without ULEZ, we would have thousands more incredibly polluting cars of the roads.”

The London local has experienced toxic air’s health impacts first hand.

In 2018, her 18-month-old son started suffering from severe asthma attacks. At the hospital, she was told by doctors to avoid congested roads.

“He’s been in hospital many times and missed out on a lot of schooling because of it, it’s been painful to see him gasping for breath,” Fitzharris said.

“Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution, because their organs are developing. Too many kids are losing the opportunity to have a lifetime of good health because of this.”

An estimated 250,000 children have asthma in London – one of the highest rates in Europe. In 2013, nine-year-old Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah died from a severe asthma attack directly attributed to the illegally high levels of air pollution in Lewisham.

A growing body of research has linked air pollution to health conditions like cancer and dementia. According to 2022 research, toxic air is responsible for a staggering nine million deaths per year.

The Air Quality Life Index has described fine particulate matter as the “world’s greatest external risk to human health”.

Bettering Londoners’ health was a key motivator for the Ulez expansion. But the decision was controversial.

Boris Johnson slammed the expansion as an “unfair tax grab” and evidence of a pernicious war on motorists. On social media, fringe conspiracy groups warned of mass surveillance and plotted to destroy ULEZ cameras.

Concerns also emerged from saner corners of the internet. Big Issue reported on possible implications for charities, small businesses and disabled people.

However, ULEZ has undeniably had a positive environmental impact. Around 96% of vehicles seen driving in London on an average day now meet the ULEZ emission standards, up from just 39% in 2017.

Levels of harmful nitrogen dioxide (NO2) have dropped by 52% in central London and 21% in outer London over the past year.

These reductions have “real world benefits”, said Antonia Jenning, CEO at Centre for London.

“Children can play more safely outdoors. Those with respiratory can feel safer living in the capital without fears of their health deteriorating. All Londoners can breathe cleaner and fresher air,” she said.

The policy needs to go further, Jenning added.

“With the successes of ULEZ plain to see, it’s time we take bolder action. Pay-per-mile is a more progressive form of taxation. The money gained could be directly invested into sustainable transport. It’s a model which would further tackle the causes of air pollution in the capital, to create a cleaner and healthier city for all Londoners.”

Khan has repeatedly ruled out introducing pay-per-mile. However, there are other ways to tackle pollution, Fitzharris said.

“It really worries me that there is so much domestic wood burning in our neighbourhood and still so many harmful diesel vehicles on the roads,” she said.

“I really hope that the government and the mayor will urgently take action on this before another generation of children lose the opportunity to have healthy lungs.”

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