Air pollution in London has significantly decreased following the August 2023 Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion, particularly in outer London areas.

The ULEZ scheme, introduced in 2019, now covers 5 million people and charges non-compliant vehicles £12.50 daily. While controversial due to costs during the cost of living crisis, the program has delivered substantial environmental benefits:

Key improvements in 2024:

• 31% lower particle emissions (PM2.5) in outer London
• 14% decrease in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from cars and vans
• 54% reduction in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in central London
• 29% reduction in inner London
• 24% reduction in outer London

The expansion has been particularly effective in outer boroughs like Sutton, Merton, Croydon, Harrow, and Bromley, where emissions are 15% lower than projected without ULEZ. City-wide benefits include:

• 36% reduction in road transport NOx emissions
• 3,400 tonnes of emissions saved
• 80% reduction in people exposed to illegal pollution levels
• Nearly 100,000 fewer non-compliant vehicles detected

The £200m scrappage scheme supported the transition by:

• Removing 15,232 older vehicles
• Approving over 54,700 applications
• Supporting the introduction of 1,900 zero-emission buses

The program has shown no negative impact on local businesses, with visitor numbers increasing by 2% in outer London following the expansion. Air quality has improved at 99% of monitoring sites since 2019, with London's air quality improving faster than the rest of England.

Mayor Sadiq Khan's initiative has accelerated the timeline for bringing London's air pollution within legal limits from 193 years to achievement within 2024, demonstrating the effectiveness of the ULEZ program in creating a healthier environment for Londoners.

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