The mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, has celebrated the success of the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) after new Government figures revealed the capital has met legal limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution for the first time. City Hall described the achievement as a “historic milestone” that will benefit nearly ten million residents.
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Sir Sadiq extended the controversial ULEZ from the North and South Circular roads to cover all London boroughs in August 2023, creating the world’s largest pollution charging zone. He said the milestone, achieved in nine years, was far ahead of previous estimates which suggested it would take 193 years for London to comply with legal limits. The mayor highlighted that cleaner air will reduce cases of asthma, heart disease, and dementia, while also saving the NHS money.
Professor Frank Kelly of Imperial College London described the achievement as “truly remarkable”, noting that decisive action had driven a rapid improvement in air quality. According to City Hall, roadside NO2 levels have nearly halved since Sir Sadiq took office in 2016, demonstrating the effectiveness of the measures implemented.
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Looking ahead, the mayor pledged to continue tackling air pollution in the capital. Plans include electrifying all London buses and expanding the network of charging points for electric vehicles, with the aim of building a greener, healthier, and fairer city for all Londoners.
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