How will the ULEZ benefit us?

Air quality in London isn't great, and it's mostly down to polluting vehicles on the road. Air pollution is affecting the health of everyone who lives and works in the city - breathing polluted air increases the risks of cancer, asthma, lung problems and even dementia. It's so bad that it's even causing thousands of Londoners to die earlier than they should.

The ULEZ is designed to clean up the air by taking vehicles that don't meet the emissions standards off the roads, to help give the city a breath of fresh air.

Since the ULEZ introduction in central London, harmful nitrogen dioxide pollution has dropped by almost half, and in inner London, it's down by a fifth. 

But air pollution isn't just a problem in the city centre; most of the pollution-related deaths are actually happening in the outer parts of London. Since August 29th 2023, the ULEZ has been expanded to cover all of London's boroughs. That means cleaner air for all five million Londoners. 

Why are people unhappy about the ULEZ?

Even though a recent survey by The Eco Experts found that a whopping 73% of Brits believe we're in the midst of a climate emergency, the ULEZ was initially met with pushback from London residents and councils.

Many of the protests were linked to the energy and cost of living crisis, and the current cost of electric vehicles makes them unattainable for many of us. However, you don't need to drive an EV to be ULEZ compliant, just swap to a cleaner form of transport - whether that's a newer car, a bus, a bike or travelling more on foot.

But here's the bottom line: the UK is falling behind on its goal to slash emissions by 68% by 2023 compared to 1990 levels. Without some serious action, it looks like the government might not hit that target, so it's time to embrace the ULEZ and take the opportunity to switch to greener modes of transport.