London's Mayor launches new air quality manifesto
Tue 29 July 2014
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The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has unveiled an 'Air Quality Manifesto' aimed at tackling London's air pollution. He confirmed plans to create the world's first Ultra Low-Emission Zone (ULEZ); encouraging all vehicles in central London to be ultra-low or zero emissions from 2020.
To encourage the reduction of emissions, the mayor plans to introduce 200,000 ultra-low emissions cars to the capital’s roads, along with 7,000 taxis and 1,600 buses that can be operated with zero-emissions at the tailpipe. The manifesto also sets out plans for 35 rapid charging hubs for electric vehicles, equipped with 350 charging points.
As part of a number of air quality improvement proposals highlighted, diesel-fuelled vehicles will be required to meet the most stringent European standards, or face an additional charge, which is likely to be a similar amount to the congestion charge fee which currently runs at £11.50.
Announcing the manifesto at an event at Mansion House in London to commemorate 60 years since the first London-specific Clean Air Act was passed in 1954, the Mayor said: “Improving London’s air quality is an urgent challenge, it affects the health and well-being of all Londoners, and it simply cannot be put on hold. At City Hall we are doing everything in our power to address it. At the heart of this are my plans for the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone in central London from 2020. This will be a game changer, but with just a little more energy, ambition and action from Westminster and from Brussels, London can meet the EU limits for NO2 by 2020. It is possible, and together we can make it happen.”
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