London air quality improves, but pollution gap persists

New analysis of air quality data in London shows that average nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels have fallen by almost 38% since 2014. While every neighbourhood in the capital now meets the UK's legal limit for NO₂, an annual average of 40 micrograms per cubic meter (μ g/m³), fewer than 1% of areas comply with the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended guideline of 10 μ g/m³.

The analysis, which used modelled air pollution data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) alongside government data on ethnicity and income deprivation, found that areas which are more deprived and those with larger non-white populations experienced some of the most significant improvements in air pollution over the past decade. However, these neighbourhoods also started with higher levels of NO₂ and continue to be among the most polluted parts of London.

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Impact of Clean Air Policies

Several clean-air policies implemented between 2014 and 2024, including cleaner buses, a shift to lower-emission vehicles, London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez), and the earlier Toxicity Charge (T-Charge), are credited with contributing to these improvements. Research published this year indicated that the T-Charge and the initial central London Ulez were associated with reductions in emergency hospital admissions for adults residing within the zone. Another recent study suggested that deaths linked to air pollution in London decreased by an estimated 40% over five years from 2019.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London stated that harmful roadside NO₂ concentrations are now 24% lower in outer London compared to without the Ulez in place. The spokesperson added that while all Londoners are breathing cleaner air, further action is planned to create a greener, fairer city.

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The expansion of the Ulez in 2023 has faced criticism from some small business owners and trade unions, who argue that the financial burden has been unfairly distributed. Concerns have been raised about the impact on customers travelling from outside the Ulez zone and the cost for essential workers who may not be able to afford compliant vehicles.

We don't all breathe the same air.

Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah

Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, whose daughter Ella became the first person in the UK to have air pollution listed on her death certificate following an asthma attack, commented that while the initial steps of cleaning up London's air with Ulez have been worthwhile, more work remains to be done. Sir Stephen Holgate, professor of immunopharmacology at the University of Southampton, who examined Ella's medical papers, concluded that high pollution levels in her neighbourhood contributed to her asthma's severity and her death. He emphasised that air pollution is a health issue, not just an environmental one, and that addressing underlying issues like poverty and health inequalities is essential to prevent the burden of pollution from falling disproportionately on vulnerable communities.

What Happens Next

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has stated its commitment to reducing harmful pollution through measures such as cleaner transport and tighter emissions standards. The Mayor of London's office indicated that further actions will be taken to continue improving air quality across the capital.