Key information
Request reference number: MGLA200723-2285
Date of response:
Summary of request
Your request
I would like to request all data regarding air quality in London prior to ulez.
The improvement of the air quality since ULEZ
The actual deaths directly caused by poor air quality in London prior to ULEZ
The proof of reduction of deaths since the implementation of ULEZ
The financial impact on residents directly impacted by the expansion of ULEZ
Our response
1. Air quality data in London before and after the ULEZ
The GLA regularly reports on air quality trends in London. This reporting uses data from the city’s air quality monitoring network to analyse the long term trends in pollution concentrations. The most recent modelling is the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (LAEI) 2019, which includes modelled air quality levels in London for 2013, 2016 and 2019. You can access the data on the London Datastore: https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/london-atmospheric-emissions-inventory--laei--2019.
The GLA regularly reports on the air quality impacts of the existing ULEZ. This reporting uses data from the city’s air quality monitoring network to analyse the long term trends in pollution concentrations as well as estimating the impacts of the scheme. The reports include a detailed description of the methods used evaluate the impact of the ULEZ and have been peer reviewed. You can read the most recent report on the GLA website and find links to the previous reports within: https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/environment-and-climate-change/environment-and-climate-change-publications/inner-london-ultra-low-emission-zone-expansion-one-year-report.
2. The actual deaths directly caused by poor air quality in London prior to ULEZ.
In 2021, the GLA commissioned research from the Environmental Research Group at Imperial College London to quantify the health burden of air pollution in London. This research found that in 2019, in Greater London, 61,800 to 70,200 life years lost (the equivalent of between 3,600 to 4,100 attributable deaths) were estimated to be attributable to anthropogenic fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), assuming health effects exist even at very low levels.
The full report is available on the GLA website: https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-and-strategies/environment-and-climate-change/environment-publications/health-burden-air-pollution-london.
3. The proof of reduction of deaths since the implementation of ULEZ.
To date the GLA has not commissioned or undertaken research to quantify the impact of the introduction or inner London expansion of the ULEZ on chronic mortality.
The Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) for the ULEZ expansion to inner London in 2021 contained a Quantitative Analysis of Health Impacts that included the expected impact of the scheme on chronic mortality (“life years lost”). This can be found in Appendix J of the IIA, available on the TfL website: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/ulez-consultation-appendix-j-nov-2017.pdf.
4. The financial impact on residents directly impacted by the expansion of ULEZ
Transport for London (TfL) publishes quarterly factsheets on the ULEZ. The factsheets include information about how many people pay the daily £12.50 ULEZ charge and the number of Penalty Charge Notices that are issued. Prior to 30 January 2023, a ULEZ PCN was £160, reducing to £80 if paid within 14 days. The ULEZ factsheets are available in the Finance, Operations and Performance section of the TfL website at: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/ultra-low-emission-zone.
TfL publishes details of income from all road user charging schemes, including the ULEZ, in its Annual Report and Statement of Accounts, which is available on the TfL website at: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/annual-report. The latest Annual Report and Statement of Accounts is expected to be published later this summer.
It is a statutory requirement that any net revenue generated by Transport for London’s (TfL) road charging schemes (the ULEZ, Low Emission Zone or the Congestion Charge) is reinvested back into London’s transport network for purposes that directly or indirectly facilitate the implementation of, or any policies or proposals set out in, the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.