London low emission zone

Since 1993, the London Air Quality Network of Imperial College London has coordinated the monitoring of air pollution across 30 London boroughs and Heathrow, and has noted that in 2005–2006 almost all road and kerbside monitoring sites across greater London exceeded the annual average limits for nitrogen dioxide of 40 μgm$^\{-3\}$ (21 ppb), with eleven sites exceeding the hourly limits of 200 μgm$^\{-3\}$ (105 ppb) on at least 18 occasions each.{{cite web |url=http://www.londonair.org.uk/london/reports/AirQualityInLondon2005andmid2006.pdf |title=Air Quality In London 2005 and mid 2006 – Briefing |last=Fuller & Green |date=28 July 2006 |publisher=London Air Quality Network |access-date=8 January 2008}}

In 2000 one measuring site exceeded EU limits for air pollution, pollution rose for two years prior to 2007.{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/07/18/eacamera118.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824052040/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/07/18/eacamera118.xml |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 August 2007 |title=Spy camera identifies polluting drivers |first=Graham |last=Tibbetts |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=2 February 2008 |access-date=25 November 2007}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2006/jul/20/guardianweeklytechnologysection3 |title=The lighter route to cleaner air |first=Sean |last=Dodson |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media |date=20 July 2006 |access-date=2 February 2008}} The Green Party reported that nine sites in London exceeded the EU limits for air pollution in 2007.{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7012351.stm |date=25 September 2007 |title=City roads breach pollution limit |work = BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=25 November 2007}} The A23 at Brixton suffered the most consistently high levels for more than two-fifths of the period. Carbon monoxide levels had reduced rapidly during the late 1990s and been relatively stable since 2002.

In 2007 Transport for London (TfL) estimated that there were 1,000 premature deaths and a further 1,000 hospital admissions annually due to poor air quality from all causes.{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/11/05/eabuses105.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071105233728/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/11/05/eabuses105.xml |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 November 2007 |title=School minibuses to be hit by pollution charge |first=David |last=Millward |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=5 November 2007 |access-date=25 November 2007}}

Towards the end of 2006, the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, proposed changing the congestion charge fee, from being a flat rate for all qualifying vehicles, to being based on Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) bands.{{Cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2453251,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202022816/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2453251,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 December 2008 |title=Gas-guzzlers face £25 congestion charge |first=Elsa |last=McLaren |author2=Agencies |work=The Times |location=UK |publisher=News Corporation Ltd |date=14 November 2006 |access-date=20 January 2008

}}

VED bands for new vehicles are based on the results of a laboratory test, designed to calculate the theoretical potential emissions of the vehicle in grammes of CO₂ per kilometre travelled, under ideal conditions. The lowest band, Band A, is for vehicles with a calculated CO₂ value of up to 100 g/km, the highest band, Band G, is for vehicles with a CO₂ value of greater than 225 g/km. These results were to be used to determine which band each vehicle falls into.{{Cite news |title=Fuel's gold – the cost of carbon emissions |first=Andrew |last=English|date=6 October 2007 |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2007/10/06/nosplit/mffuel06.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011045558/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2007/10/06/nosplit/mffuel06.xml |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 October 2007 |access-date=20 January 2008}} The resulting figures were described by the editor-in-chief of What Car? magazine as "deeply flawed".

Under the proposed modifications to the scheme, vehicles falling into Band A would have a reduced, or even zero charge, whilst those in Band G would be charged at £25 per day. Certain categories of vehicle, such as electric vehicles, are already exempt from the charge.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theissues/article/0,,519534,00.html |title=Q&A: The congestion charge |author=Simon Jeffery and Sarah Phillips |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media |date=7 August 2006 |access-date=26 May 2007}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article687053.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524070400/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article687053.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 May 2011 |date=13 July 2006 |title=Congestion charge will rise to £25 for 'Chelsea tractors' |first=Ben |last=Webster |work=The Times |publisher=News Corporation Ltd |access-date=26 May 2007}} These proposals were put out to public consultation in August 2007.{{Cite news |work = BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |title=Polluting cars C-charge discussed |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6936470.stm |date=10 August 2007 |access-date=25 November 2007}}

In early 2006, consultations began on another charging scheme for motor vehicles entering London. Under this new scheme, a daily charge would be applied to the vehicles responsible for most of London's road traffic emissions, commercial vehicles—such as lorries, buses, and coaches, with diesel engines. Cars were explicitly excluded. The objective of the new scheme is to help London meet its European Union (EU) air pollution obligations—specifically the [https://web.archive.org/web/20070805010453/http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/eu-int/eu-directives/airqual-directives/framework/index.htm EU Air Quality Framework Directive]—as part of the Mayor's programme to make London the greenest city in the world. Despite some opposition, on 9 May 2007 the Mayor confirmed that he would proceed with a London Low Emission Zone, focused entirely on vehicle emissions, that plans to reduce emissions overall by 16% by 2012.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6638563.stm |title=£200 pollution charge for lorries |work = BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=9 May 2007 |access-date=22 November 2007}}

File:London low emission zone sign (detail).png

File:Greater london outline map bw.png

The LEZ came into operation on 4 February 2008{{Cite news |date=4 February 2008 |title=London's poor air quality tackled with launch of Low Emission Zone |language=en |work=Transport for London |url=https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2008/february/londons-poor-air-quality-tackled-with-launch-of-low-emission-zone |access-date=2 November 2023}} with a phased introduction of further provisions as increasingly tough emissions standards apply.{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/vehicles/2535.aspx |title=Emissions standards |publisher=Transport for London |access-date=21 November 2007}} Vehicles registered after October 2001 are generally compliant with the first stages of the zone when Euro 3 engine compliance was the mandatory requirement.

The regulations were tightened in July 2008 with more vehicles types included.

On 2 February 2009 the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, announced his intention to cancel the third phase of the LEZ covering vans from 2010, subject to the outcome of a public consultation later in the year.{{cite web |url=http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=20757 |title=Reprieve for small businesses as Mayor suspends phase three of Low Emission Zone |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210003224/http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=20757 |archive-date=10 February 2009 }} The Freight Transport Association welcomed this move in its 3 February press release.{{cite web |url=http://www.fta.co.uk/news/item/low-emission-zone-u-turn-victory-for-logistics-and-small-business |title=Low Emission Zone U-turn: victory for logistics and small business }}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The scheme was fully implemented on 3 January 2012.

For London Buses, since January 2012 a new Low Emission Zone (LEZ) was adopted, with those older buses selectively phasing out (those with no electronic destination displays and more than 12 years old) and the remaining buses were converted to Euro 3 or 4 standards. The new Low Emission Zone (LEZ) rules will be implemented from 2015, thus allowing all the Euro II vehicles and Euro III without catalytic standards to be removed. In July 2016 the last bus not meeting the standards was withdrawn.{{citation needed |date=April 2019}}

From 1 March 2021, all large commercial vehicles in London need to meet Euro VI standards or face a penalty of £100 per day. Commercial vehicles which do not meet the older standards (Euro IV) are charged £300 per day.{{Cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/|title=Check your Vehicle|website=tfl.gov.uk}}

Statistics from TfL showed that the number of vehicles complying rose to nearly 90% upon the introduction of tougher standards in March 2021, up from 70% in May 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/new-tighter-lez-standards-for-hgvs-in-london|title=New tighter Low Emission Zone standards for HGVS introduced in London|date=March 2021}} All buses in London meet the Euro VI standards, with an increasing number becoming zero emission.{{Cite web |date=14 January 2021 |title=London's buses now meet ULEZ emissions standards across the entire city |url=https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2021/january/london-s-buses-now-meet-ulez-emissions-standards-across-the-entire-city |access-date=2021-08-07 |website=Transport for London |language=en-GB}}

Applicable vehicles over the implementation phase:

File:UK traffic sign LEZ ULEZ.svg

The zone covers most of Greater London (with minor deviations to allow diversionary routes and facilities to turn around without entering the zone and the M25 motorway). The boundary of the zone, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is marked by signs.{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/LEZ/LEZ-information-leaflet.pdf |title=The Low Emission Zone. Cleaner air for Greater London. |pages=10–12 |publisher=Transport for London |access-date=25 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604195048/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/LEZ/LEZ-information-leaflet.pdf |archive-date=4 June 2011 }} The LEZ emissions standards are based on European emission standards relating to particulate matter (PM), which are emitted by vehicles, which have an effect on health. The following vehicles are not charged:{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/17700.aspx|title=Which vehicles are affected?|publisher=Transport for London}}

• Lorries, buses, and coaches that meet the Euro 6 emission standard.
• Vans and minibuses not exceeding 3.5 tonnes
• All cars and motorcycles

Non-GB registered vehicles that meet the required LEZ standards will need to register with TfL; most compliant GB registered vehicles do not.{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/17702.aspx|title=Do I need to register|publisher=Transport for London}} Owners of vehicles that do not meet the above requirements have a number of options:{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/17701.aspx|title=What are my options|publisher=Transport for London}}

• Fit a filter
• Replace the vehicle
• Reorganise their fleet to only use compliant vehicles in London
• Convert to natural gas
• Pay the charge (from £100 to £200 for each calendar day that the vehicle travels within the zone){{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/17701.aspx|title=pay the charge|publisher=Transport for London}}

The zone is monitored using automatic number plate reading cameras (ANPR) to record number plates.{{cite web |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/zone/2531.aspx |title=Enforcement |publisher=Transport for London |access-date=21 November 2007}} Vehicles entering or moving around the zone are checked against the records of the DVLA to enable TfL to pursue owners of vehicles for which the charge has not been paid. For vehicles registered outside of Great Britain, an international debt recovery agency is used to obtain unpaid charges and fines. The scheme is operated on a day-to-day basis by IBM.{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7062030.stm |title=Capita to lose congestion charge |date=25 October 2007 |access-date=21 November 2007 |work = BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation}}

The scheme was opposed during the consultation phase by a range of interested parties: The Freight Transport Association proposed an alternative scheme, reliant on a replacement cycle of vehicles, with lorries over eight years old being liable, with higher years for other vehicles. They also stated that the standards were different from the forthcoming Euro V requirements as well suggesting the scheme did not do anything to help reduce CO₂ emissions.{{cite web |url=https://fta.co.uk/campaigns/environment-overview |title=LEZ consultation |publisher=Freight Transport Association }}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Road Haulage Association opposed the scheme, stating the costs to hauliers and benefits to the environment did not justify its introduction. Schools and St John Ambulance have expressed concern about the additional costs that the scheme will bring them, particularly in light of the restricted budgets they operate under. London First, a business organisation, criticised aspects of the scheme with relation to the categorisation of vehicles, but supported the principle. The scheme has been supported by the British Lung Foundation and the British Heart Foundation.

In October 2017, London Mayor Sadiq Khan introduced a new £10 toxicity charge, known as the T-Charge,{{Cite web|url=https://motorway.co.uk/guides/diesel-car-toxin-tax|title=Diesel Tax - Complete Guide to the 'Toxin Tax' For Diesel Cars • Motorway|website=Motorway|language=en|access-date=13 November 2017}} after London suffered record air pollution levels in January 2017, and the city was put on very high pollution alert for the first time ever, as cold and stationary weather failed to clear toxic pollutants emitted mainly by diesel vehicles. The T-Charge was levied on vehicles within Central London on top of the £11.50 congestion charge.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/17/london-to-introduce-vehicle-pollution-charge-in-october-says-mayor-sadiq-khan |title=London to introduce £10 vehicle pollution charge, says Sadiq Khan | first=Rowena |last=Mason | work=The Guardian | date=17 February 2017 | access-date=23 February 2017}}{{cite news | url=http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/95559/london-introduces-new-10-t-charge-to-cut-vehicle-pollution |title=London introduces new £10 'T-Charge' to cut vehicle pollution | first= Martin |last=Saarinen | work=Auto Express | date=17 February 2017 | access-date=23 February 2017}}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/world/europe/london-smog-air-pollution.html?_r=0 |title=A Push for Diesel Leaves London Gasping Amid Record Pollution | author=Kimiko de Reytas-Tamura | work=The New York Times | date=17 February 2017 | access-date=23 February 2017}} The T-Charge was replaced by the ULEZ in April 2019.

{{main|Ultra Low Emission Zone}}

The ULEZ, which went into effect on 8 April 2019,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-47815117|title=London's new pollution charge begins|date=8 April 2019|access-date=8 April 2019|language=en-GB|work=BBC News}} initially covered the same area as the T-Charge but applies 24/7, 365 days a year, with charges of £12.50 a day for cars, vans and motorcycles, and £100 a day for lorries, buses and coaches. One month after its introduction, the number of the worst polluting vehicles entering the zone each day had dropped from 35,578 to 26,195.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/16/ulez-cuts-number-of-worst-polluting-cars-in-central-london |title=ULEZ cuts number of worst polluting cars in central London|website=TheGuardian.com|date=16 May 2019}} The zone was extended to the North Circular and South Circular roads on 25 October 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-47814416 |title=ULEZ: The politics of London's air pollution|work=BBC News|date=5 April 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/167d27aa-d7e1-4b6b-b8d2-b657310efe01|title=Londoners get ready for expansion of low emission zone|date=24 October 2021|website=Financial Times}} It was expanded again on 29 August 2023 to coincide with the low emission zone, covering almost all of Greater London.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-63754724 |title=ULEZ: Ultra Low Emissions Zone to cover all of London |date=25 November 2022 |website=BBC News}}

{{portal|London}}

• Ecopass (Milan)
• Great Smog
• London congestion charge
• Low-emission zone
• Motoring taxation in the United Kingdom
• Road pricing in the United Kingdom

{{reflist|2}}

• [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/default.aspx TfL – Low Emission Zone website]
• [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/2526.aspx TfL – Online compliance checker]
• [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/roadusers/lez/LEZ/tfl-lec-eligible-engine-list-v1-02-1997-07-23.pdf TfL – List of compliant vehicles]
• [http://www.fta.co.uk/lez Freight Transport Association – Low Emission Zone pages]
• [http://www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/default.asp London Air Quality Network]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110826102047/http://rsi-cda.mercedes-benz.com/content/unitedkingdom/retailer-I/orwell_truck___van/en/home/vans/home/about_us/truck_news/1.html Drivers guide to LEZ]

{{Transport in London}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:London Low Emission Zone}}

Category:Motoring taxation in the United Kingdom

Category:Road transport in London

Category:Town and country planning in London

Category:2008 introductions

Category:2008 in London

Category:Air pollution in the United Kingdom

Category:Electronic toll collection

Category:Low-emission zones