LONDON (Reuters) – A scheme in London to reduce traffic emissions by implementing a daily charge on the most polluting vehicles has expanded to encompass the entire British capital on Tuesday, despite strong opposition from critics who argue that it will worsen the cost of living crisis.
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was first introduced in 2019 in a small section of central London and underwent further expansion in 2021. It will now cover areas with an additional five million residents, often with limited access to public transportation.
Mayor Sadiq Khan has championed the ULEZ as a crucial measure to decrease deaths linked to air pollution and combat climate change.
However, opponents claim that the £12.50 ($16) daily charge imposed on those driving older, more polluting vehicles is unfair during a time of economic hardship and will result in financial damage.
“I made the decision to expand the ULEZ because experts believe it will save lives. It was not an easy choice, but we cannot delay taking action against toxic air, which is associated with conditions like cancer and dementia,” Khan stated last week.
The mayor asserts that nine out of ten cars in London already meet ULEZ standards, but critics have disputed this figure.
Protesters have expressed their frustration by targeting ULEZ enforcement cameras, leading to 164 stolen and 185 damaged cameras as of August 1, according to the London Metropolitan Police. Videos purportedly showing acts of vandalism have also emerged on social media platforms.
London’s transport authority has increased security for the cameras and intends to install a total of 2,750 cameras in outer London, with 1,900 already in place.
Last month, a legal challenge initiated by five affected local authorities in outer London and Surrey failed to prevent the ULEZ expansion. Meanwhile, several neighboring authorities have refused to post signs alerting motorists of their approach to the ULEZ in protest against its impact on their residents.
The expansion has sparked a debate in Britain, which aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, about how to implement environmental policies without alienating voters.
The ULEZ was held responsible for a narrow defeat in a by-election in outer London last month for the opposition Labour Party, which otherwise enjoys a strong lead in opinion polls over the governing Conservatives ahead of next year’s anticipated national election.
In an effort to quell the backlash following that defeat, Labour Mayor Khan announced additional funding to extend a ULEZ scrappage scheme to all Londoners with non-compliant vehicles. Critics argue that the scheme, which offers grants of up to £2,000, is insufficient.
($1 = £0.7928)
Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar, Editing by Kylie MacLellan and Sharon Singleton
Credit: The Star : News Feed
