Sadiq Khan has called for urgent action
(Picture: PA Wire)Sadiq Khan on Thursday continued to pave the way towards the potential introduction of a £2-a-day clean air charge or other curbs on emissions by highlighting the level of toxic air around hospitals.
The Mayor said all 291 hospitals and medical centres in London were in locations where the air quality breached World Health Organisation guidelines, both for nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5 particulates.
However, only 26 breach the UK government’s higher legal maximum for NO2 and none breach the UK’s higher permitted level for particulates, the pollutant with the biggest impact on health.
Also, the City Hall analysis is based on 2019 data and does not take into account of the 30 per cent reduction in NO2 road emissions or 35 per cent cut in PM2.5 exhaust emissions that are expected to result from the expansion of the ultra-low emission zone last October.
Mr Khan is looking to build the case for the introduction of a new clean air levy – which would be imposed on all petrol and diesel vehicles - a further expansion of the Ulez or a £3.50-a-day Greater London boundary charge before the end of his second mayoral term in May 2024.
These options have been included in his submission to Government on how to restore TfL’s pandemic-hit finances, but have angered motorists who face being hit by a new levy despite upgrading their vehicle to comply with the Ulez rules.
Last week, Mr Khan used the same 2019 air quality data, published Imperial College London, to argue that toxic air was declining more slowly in the suburbs than in central London.
Toxic air levels has been reducing in London but WHO guidelines on PM2.5 particulates have been tightened, to only a fifth of the UK’s legal maximum. WHO guidelines are based on levels needed “for the protection of human health”.
Mr Khan was visiting Evelina London children’s hospital to talk to staff and patients about the impact of air pollution.
Poor air quality is known to stunt the growth of children’s lungs and worsen chronic illnesses, such as asthma, lung and heart disease. Recent research has suggested a link between covid and lung damage.
Mr Khan wants a “significant shift” away from petrol and diesel vehicles and more walking, cycling and public transport trips, and greater use of hybrid and electric vehicles, to enable London to become “net zero” for carbon emissions by 2030.
He said: “I’m more determined than ever to do everything I can to consign air pollution to the history books.
“We simply don’t have time to waste and I’m not willing to put off the action we can take a moment longer than necessary. Steps to tackle air pollution will also help tackle the climate crisis and I’m determined that we do everything possible to protect Londoners’ health both now and in the generations to come.”
Claire Lemer, clinical director at Evelina London, said: “Sadly, there’s not a week that goes by when we don’t see a child with a respiratory condition on our wards. Reducing air pollution will help to improve the lives of children and young people across the city, reducing unnecessary visits to hospital and helping them to lead healthier lives.”
Mat Shaw, chief executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital, said: “We are working with our council, Camden, on long-term plans to pedestrianise parts of Great Ormond Street alongside other initiatives to improve local air quality. The children we see have the right to clean air, particularly when coming to hospital.”
It comes after the mother of a schoolgirl who died from asthma linked to dirty air urged political leaders to tackle air pollution to stop the next generation being victims of future pandemics.
Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah’s daughter Ella was nine when in 2013 she suffered a fatal asthma attack, later linked by a coroner to her exposure to severe air pollution from living 25 metres from the South Circular in Lewisham, south-east London.
Speaking to the London Assembly’s environment committee on January 27, Ms Adoo-Kissi-Debrah called for greater education on the dangers of exposure to polluted air, with a public information campaign similar to that for smoking.
She pointed to the role air pollution played in the pandemic, calling for it to be part of the terms of reference in the future Covid-19 public inquiry.
