The London Assembly today agreed an amended motion for the Mayor to commission a study into the potential of a range of further measures to reduce London’s exposure to air pollution.
Caroline Russell AM, who proposed the motion said:
“London no longer has invisible smog, photographs in early December showed a the very visible layer of brown air choking our city as high pollution alerts warned parents to keep babies away from heavy traffic.
In London road transport is the main source of air pollution and urgent intervention is needed to reduce Londoners’ exposure to dirty air.
The ruling in favour of ClientEarth’s case criticised the Government’s arbitrary 2025 compliance date chosen for London and the mistaken reliance on the ‘computer programme to calculate emissions from road transport.
I support measures that would reduce traffic on our already clogged streets, such as a road-charging scheme that has the backing of the Federation of Small Businesses, London First, the Royal Town Planning Institute, the Institute of Civil Engineers and the Royal Academy of Engineering.
London needs a smart, effective and comprehensive system of traffic demand management if we ever hope to reduce air pollution and protect the health of the people who live in our city.”
Leonie Cooper AM, who proposed the amendment said:
“This amended motion recognises the enormous victory achieved by campaigners in the High Court. This latest ruling should act as a final wake up call for a government that has been too slow to wake up to the scale of the health threat from toxic air.
Clearly all levels of government must constantly assess if there is more we can do to tackle this silent killer, it’s a duty we owe to Londoners, whose health and security must always be our top priority.”
The full text of the Motion is:
“The Assembly welcomes the ruling of the High Court on the recent case brought by ClientEarth against the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for her failure to draw up and implement plans that would ensure that nitrogen dioxide (N02) limit values are met and exposure to air pollution reduced within the shortest time possible.
The Mayor of London, is an interested party, and supports the position of ClientEarth.
The Assembly notes the High Court’s criticisms of the arbitrary 2025 compliance date chosen for London and the mistaken reliance on the ‘computer programme to calculate emissions from road transport’ or ‘COPERT’. The Assembly also notes a requirement for the Secretary of State to choose a route to reduce exposure, not just meet limit values.
The Assembly welcomes the Mayor’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and T-charge proposals to reduce London’s air pollution.
The Assembly calls on the Mayor to commission a study to assess the potential of a range of further measures to reduce London’s exposure to air pollution.”
Notes to editors
- Watch the full webcast.
- The amended motion was agreed by 14 votes for, to 1 vote against.
- Caroline Russell AM who proposed the original motion is available for interviews. Leonie Cooper AM, who proposed the amendment, is also available for interviews. Please see contact details below.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Mary Dolan on 020 7983 4603. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.