FOI - ULEZ and the reduction of emissions [Mar 2023]

Your request

To use your own data quoted in the Evening Standard, you say 27,000 tonnes CO2 will be saved.

That is dwarfed by the 4.7m tonnes of carbon emitted by replacing the 200,000 cars that you say will need to come off the road.

Please can you therefore:

1. Explain where your 27,000 tonnes figure comes from.
2. Forced replacement of 200,000 roadworthy cars at an average of 30 tonnes CO2 release per manufacture (excluding import, etc) is 6m tons of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. Is this taken into account in your figures?
3. Likewise, have you taken into account the cost of transporting the scrap metal to Turkey, disposal of battery, or emissions from import transportation?
4. Your own figures suggest only 135kg (200,000/27m) of CO2 savings per scrapped car. How do you square that with the (average) 30 tonnes CO2 emitted per manufacture?

Our response

The principal aim of the ULEZ is to reduce harmful emissions from road transport by disincentivising the use of older, more polluting vehicles.

The ULEZ specifically targets the air pollutants that are most harmful to human health: nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM). In addition to incentivising people to use less polluting vehicles, the London-wide ULEZ will also encourage a shift to active, efficient and sustainable modes of transport, thus delivering a reduction in carbon emissions.

The evidence base and expected outcomes of the proposals were set out in the key consultation documents, which are available on Transport for London’s (TfL) consultation page.

Modelling was undertaken by Imperial College London working with TfL in order to assess the air quality impacts the ULEZ expansion could have. The result of this work is summarised in the key consultation document ('Our proposals to help improve air quality tackle the climate emergency and reduce congestion by expanding the ULEZ London-wide and other measures’) and the Integrated Impact Assessment undertaken by Jacobs Ltd. ('London-wide ULEZ Integrated Impact Assessment (ULEZ Scheme IIA)').

Section 5.2.1 of the ULEZ Scheme IIA summarises the expected carbon impacts of the policy. Appendix B of the consultation document provides information on the modelling methodology in further detail. There is no need to switch to a brand-new or electric vehicle to meet the ULEZ standards.

Compliant vehicles have been widely available since 2006, meaning many people are likely to switch to a used, rather than new, vehicle. As set out in the scheme IIA, for scrapped vehicles there is a target for a minimum of 95 per cent recycling and recovery under the End of Life (ELV) directive.

The Mayor will continue to work with TfL and the boroughs to invest in policies to encourage and enable more walking, cycling and public transport use which will further address carbon and air pollution emissions in London.

If you have any further questions relating to this matter, please contact us, quoting reference MGLA070323-2003.