A south London council has introduced “emissions-based” parking charges - meaning diesel drivers will pay a £50 surcharge.
Labour-run Greenwich Council said the move was needed to tackle CO2 emissions in the borough.
Under the changes, introduced on Monday, residents’ permit parking for diesel cars will incur a £50 surcharge, and if more than one car is registered at the same address, a £100 surcharge will be applied for each additional vehicle.
It uses 13 emission bands, meaning those with the least pollution vehicles could pay just 20 per cent of what those with polluting cars do for parking.
The amount charged for pay and display parking will also be higher for those with less environmentally friendly cars, although the rates vary by location.
Greenwich deputy leader, Cllr Averil Lekau, said: “These changes to parking charges and permit costs will encourage residents and businesses to embrace more environmentally friendly ways to travel, including using public transport, low emission vehicles, walking, cycling and scooting.
“This is a key part of the Council’s drive to become carbon neutral by 2030. Air pollution is a risk to us all, and particularly the most vulnerable people in our communities.
“Strong action like this is essential to protecting the health and wellbeing of our residents and tackling the detrimental impact poor air quality and carbon emissions have on our environment.”
It comes as the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan won a legal challenge on Friday over his decision to expand the Ultra Low Emissions Zone to the whole of Greater London from the end of August.
Most cars do not incur the Ulez charge, but older, more polluting vehicles will incur a £12.50 charge every day they drive in London.
On Sunday, Rishi Sunak ordered a review of the rollout of low-traffic neighbourhoods as the Prime Minister sought to pitch the Tories as a pro-motorist party.
The move was confirmed in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, with the Prime Minister asking the Department for Transport to review low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) policies.
The adoption of low traffic schemes has attracted the ire of some Tory MPs, who have criticised them as attacks on motorists.
