London Achieves Historic Milestone in Air Quality

Introduction to the Achievement

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today hailed the success of his bold air quality policies which have led to the capital’s air pollution levels falling to within the legal limit for the first time.

In 2019, leading experts at Kings College London estimated that without additional action it would take 193 years for London to meet legal limits, but Sadiq has achieved this aim in just nine years – 184 years early.

Achieving the Air Quality Standards

New air quality data from Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), published today, reveals that London met the Air Quality Standards regulations for the first time in 2024. This is assessed through modelling and Defra’s approved air quality monitoring networks.

Sadiq has achieved this important milestone almost 200 years ahead of predictions, demonstrating the transformative impact of his bold policies to improve London’s air quality and protect Londoners’ health and the environment. Since he took office in 2016, following the implementation of his ambitious policies, such as ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone), levels of toxic NO2 at roadsides has nearly halved.

The Impact of Air Pollution

In London, around 4,000 premature deaths per year were previously attributed to toxic air and a recent report from the Royal College of Physicians estimates that air pollution costs the UK more than £27 billion per year. Air pollution increases the risk of developing asthma, lung cancer, heart disease and stroke, and there is growing evidence that air pollution exposure increases the risk of developing dementia. Reaching this milestone of achieving legal limits, years ahead of where we would have been without action, shows that bold policy can produce important benefits.

Key Policies Behind the Success

Despite huge pressure from many different quarters, from politicians to vested interests, the Mayor pressed on with expanding the ULEZ to all of London and it’s proven to be even more effective at cutting air pollution than previously predicted.

London is leading by example when it comes to air quality, with other major cities including Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham – with smaller populations and fewer vehicles – still exceeding the legal limits. The Mayor has delivered a comprehensive package of measures to reduce emissions from all sources in London and is committed to meet the World Health Organization (WHO)’s latest guidelines for NO2 and PM2.5 as soon as possible.

ULEZ and Zero-Emission Buses

Sadiq’s delivery of the world’s largest clean air zone, the ULEZ, has led to a massive jump of vehicles seen driving in London being ULEZ compliant from 39 per cent when first introduced to 97 per cent. In June this year, the Mayor announced that London has more than 2,000 zero-emission buses on the capital’s streets, helping to improve the city’s air quality and reduce its carbon emissions. This means two in every nine of London’s world-famous red buses have now gone green, which is more than 20 per cent of the entire bus fleet, increasing from 30 in 2016. The Mayor and TfL are working towards his ambitious goal of making all of TfL buses zero emission by 2030.

Future Plans and Commitments

The Mayor will continue tackling the sources of air pollution, building on his record breaking achievements over the last 9 years. This includes electrifying all of London’s bus fleet, expanding London’s Electric Vehicle charging network and tackling emissions from the construction industry through the Non Road Mobile Machinery Low Emission Zone. He will also continue delivering his award-winning Breathe London project, providing air quality monitoring in key locations around the capital, enabling Londoners to view real-time, hyperlocal air quality data and take action to tackle air pollution – particularly to help vulnerable groups, including schoolchildren.

Statements from Key Figures

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “This is incredible news. I’m thrilled that London has achieved this historic milestone of meeting the legal limits for nitrogen dioxide for the first time.

“I remember being told that it would take 193 years to reach legal limits. I decided that this was unacceptable and thanks to the bold policies we put in place, we’ve managed to do it in just nine years – 184 years early. This means that almost 10 million people are now breathing cleaner air, fewer children are growing up with stunted lungs and fewer people will have to suffer from asthma, dementia and heart disease, which means big savings for the NHS.

“It wasn’t always easy. When we first introduced the ULEZ and then expanded it London-wide, we faced huge pressure from different quarters who wanted to obstruct and slow us down. But pressing on was the right thing to do. It’s made an even bigger difference that we predicted. I’ll continue to work with the Government, London boroughs and partners to continue building a healthier, greener, fairer London for everyone.”

Professor Frank Kelly, Environmental Research Group, Imperial College London said: “London’s compliance with the UK’s annual mean nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) limit value in 2024 marks a truly remarkable turnaround for the city’s air quality.

“Just five years ago, research we undertook estimated it could take nearly two centuries to reach this milestone without decisive action. Thanks to the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Mayor Khan’s other ambitious traffic management policies, London has achieved in a few years what was once thought impossible.

“While five other UK locations are still working towards compliance, London’s success demonstrates the power of bold, evidence-based interventions to deliver cleaner air. We are now on the right path for pushing on and meeting the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) NO₂ guideline by 2030 which will achieve better health for all who live in this great city.”

Conclusion

The achievement of meeting the legal limits for air quality in London is a significant milestone, demonstrating the effectiveness of bold policies in improving public health and the environment. As London continues to lead the way in air quality improvement, other cities can learn from its example and implement similar measures to reduce air pollution and protect their citizens.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)?

A: The ULEZ is a designated area in London where vehicles that do not meet certain emission standards are charged a fee to enter. The goal of the ULEZ is to reduce air pollution in London by encouraging the use of cleaner vehicles.

Q: How has the ULEZ impacted air quality in London?

A: The ULEZ has led to a significant reduction in air pollution in London, with levels of toxic NO2 at roadsides nearly halving since its introduction. The ULEZ has also led to an increase in the number of ULEZ-compliant vehicles driving in London, from 39% to 97%.

Q: What are the health benefits of improving air quality?

A: Improving air quality can have numerous health benefits, including reducing the risk of developing asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. It can also reduce the risk of developing dementia and other health conditions. In London, it is estimated that around 4,000 premature deaths per year were previously attributed to toxic air.

Q: What are the next steps for improving air quality in London?

A: The Mayor of London has committed to continuing to tackle the sources of air pollution, including electrifying all of London’s bus fleet, expanding London’s Electric Vehicle charging network, and tackling emissions from the construction industry. The Mayor also aims to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest guidelines for NO2 and PM2.5 as soon as possible.