Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (Victoria Jones/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)Every year nearly 4,000 Londoners lose their lives prematurely because of the toxic air they breathe in our city.
These Londoners were at the forefront of my mind when I announced last week plans to consult on expanding the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) to the whole of Greater London in 2023.
Despite the world-leading progress we have made over recent years, there is still far too much toxic air pollution permanently damaging the lungs of young Londoners and leading to thousands of deaths every year.
Recent analysis by City Hall shows that every school, hospital, medical centre and care home across the capital is located in areas that breach the new updated World Health Organization’s guidelines for nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.
A few weeks ago I visited the Evelina Children’s Hospital and spoke with doctors treating children who struggle to breathe — in part because of this toxic air. It took decades before the necessary action was taken to protect children from toxic cigarette smoke. I’m not willing to make the same mistakes by turning a blind eye to the growing evidence showing the dangers of air pollution in our city.
Expanding Ulez would reduce the number of most polluting cars on our roads by between 20,000 and 40,000 a day. It would have the biggest impact in outer London, where we know we need to reduce toxic emissions. It’s only right and fair that people living in outer London can enjoy cleaner air, and reap the same health benefits from the Ulez, as those in inner and central London.
A London-wide Ulez would also not only deliver cleaner air to every part of our city and cut congestion but help us to tackle the climate emergency, which poses an enormous risk to our lives and livelihoods.
It’s clear the cost of inaction to the environment, our economy and the health of Londoners far outweighs the cost of action now. That’s why I’m determined that we continue to be doers, not delayers, not only to protect Londoners’ health today but for the sake of future generations to come.
We are losing too many Londoners to the invisible menace of our polluted air. We must strengthen our resolve to take the difficult but necessary steps to deliver a greener, cleaner and healthier city for everyone.
