The expansion of London’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) will add 13 minutes to the life expectancy of the average Londoner this year, according to new analysis.
Channel 4 News FactCheck calculated the figure after studying data published by the office of Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
The Ulez was expanded on August 29 to cover the whole of Greater London.
The impact of the Ulez expansion will be transformative— A spokeswoman for the mayor
Drivers who enter the area in vehicles that do not meet minimum emissions standards are required to pay a £12.50 daily fee.
Mr Khan has insisted the policy is a vital measure to improve air quality.
This is despite the mayor’s own impact assessment, published in 2022, predicting it will cause only a “minor reduction” of 1.3% in the average Londoner’s exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
Channel 4 News FactCheck said: “TfL (Transport for London) and the mayor’s office stress that the absolute change in emissions is still greater in the outer London expansion compared to previous Ulez phases.
“Though the benefits are spread across a larger population, too.
“Using the mayor’s own data, we estimate that the outer London Ulez would add 13 minutes to the average Londoner’s life in 2023.”
In response, a spokeswoman for the mayor said: “The science is clear – the impact of the Ulez expansion will be transformative.
“It will mean five million Londoners breathing cleaner air, and reduce toxic NOx (nitric oxide), CO2 (carbon dioxide), (particulate) emissions from vehicles.
“It is the largest clean air zone in the world.”
A source close the Mayor of London was highly critical of the Channel 4 analysis.
He said: “This represents a complete failure to understand how these schemes work and why they’re important.
“The point is that healthy people don’t necessarily have their lives lengthened, but people who are vulnerable – such as children suffering severe asthma – see the biggest benefits and have their lives saved.
“This is also only talking about one year of air quality benefits from the scheme.
“It’s akin to saying we shouldn’t roll out a new cancer drug because it will only save the lives of the people with that cancer.”
