Driving away from diesel: Reducing air pollution from diesel vehicles

Official estimates suggest that over 3,000 deaths each year in London are attributable to air pollution, namely because of man-made toxic airborne particles[1].

London’s pollution levels are also illegal. In April 2015 the Supreme Court ordered the Government to take immediate action to tackle the dangerously high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) found in the UK.

Diesel exhaust is a major contributor to air pollution. Diesel road traffic is responsible for 40 per cent of London’s emissions of nitrogen oxides (which include NO2) [2].

The London Assembly Environment Committee report - ‘Driving away from diesel: Reducing air pollution from diesel vehicles’ - examines London’s efforts to reduce pollution from diesel cars, lorries, buses and taxis.

The report is the view of a majority of the Committee. The GLA Conservative Members’ dissenting views are set out in a minority opinion within the report.

Recommendations

The report makes recommendations to ensure NO2 compliance in London as soon as possible, including:

The Mayor should introduce the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) before 2020 and the zone should be wider and stronger.

The Government should take forward the Mayor’s proposal for a scrappage scheme linked to replacing non-compliant vehicles with low-emission vehicles.

The Mayor should set out - following consultation with the taxi industry - how zero-emission capable taxis will be available from 2018 and how the necessary infrastructure (rapid charging network and/or hydrogen stations) will be delivered.

The Mayor should work closely with the boroughs and national government to show how the whole of London could achieve compliance with European air pollution limits by 2020.

[1] Estimating Local Mortality Burdens associated with Particulate Air Pollution, Public Health England, April 2014. [2] Transport Emissions Roadmap: Cleaner transport for a cleaner London, Transport for London, September 2014.