Londoners Concerned About The Impacts Of Air Pollution On Children’s Health.
Today, Ian Pirie writes in the Havering Daily on the impacts of air pollution on children’s health across London.
There have been several articles in The Havering Daily publicising the views of people who oppose the expansion of ULEZ.
It is important to point out that they are out of step with the views of the majority of Londoners.
New polling released by the climate charity Possible, and conducted by Survation, has found that:
– 66% of Londoners surveyed said they were concerned about the impacts of air pollution on the health of children
– only 15% of vehicles (and just 10% of cars) are now likely to be affected (according to the mayor’s office), but 75% of those surveyed thought more vehicles would be affected than this, including 40% who suggested a figure two times over the predicted number
In London alone, air pollution contributes to in excess of 9,000 premature deaths every year, costs the health system up to £3.7 billion per year, and damages building and other infrastructure and biodiversity through the formation of pollutants into acid rain.
It has been estimated that in order to meet London’s climate targets, and prevent this damage to people’s health and the environment, car traffic needs to fall by a minimum of 27% by 2030. All efforts to drive down traffic, improve air quality, and help the climate are absolutely vital.
Many of us feel the scheme needs tweaking – for example, the survey showed that 60% thought that the government should allocate funding for the scrappage scheme. There is also a strong case, I believe, for delaying implementation especially for lower-income households.
However, some of the arguments used to oppose the expansion are simply wrong. In light of the survey results, Leo Murray, co-director at climate charity Possible, said:
“What we’ve seen in this polling is that the negative portrayal of the ULEZ by vested interests from certain political and pro-motoring groups has warped people’s perception of its expansion. We need to start righting the wrongs by telling people the truth, and prevent the essential job of reducing air pollution and carbon emissions from turning into a culture war. The new figures from the Mayor show that ULEZ expansion is already helping to take the dirtiest, most-polluting vehicles off our roads and with it, we can start building a greener, safer and more climate-friendly London.”
Further details can be found at: https://www.wearepossible.org/press-releases/nearly-three-quarters-of-londoners-overestimate-how-many-vehicles-will-be-affected-by-ulez-expansion
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what a lovely report this is my grandparents and all older members of my family all lived in amongst the the area already covered by ULEZ and if not still alive all lived to 80-98 without any breathing problems luck i think not
I’m surprised Ian says air pollution contributes to in excess of 9,000 premature deaths in London every year, as this is over double the figure promoted by the Mayor and 8,999 more than those recorded by coroners on official death certificates.
Ian says only 15% of vehicles will be affected, but 15% equates to many thousands of vehicles and livelihoods. Conversely if 15% is low why bother with such a draconian measure, estimated to cost over £250 million to implement?
Particularly as many things beyond vehicles contribute to air pollution and when even the Mayor’s figures show ULEZ will make little difference to air quality in outer-London. Indeed ULEZ will undermine air quality as the £250 million would be better spent on tackling actual pollution.
I’m also surprised Ian says ULEZ is needed to help meet climate targets, as I’m sure he said, in a letter to the Recorder, that ULEZ was about air pollution, not carbon dioxide reduction targets.
Finally, Ian says there is a strong case for delaying implementation especially for lower-income households, so I’m sure he welcomes the decision of the High Court to progress a Judicial Review as this could delay the planned start of ULEZ in August.
Sad times we live in when people care more about their cars than children.
a electric bus costs 1 million pounds to make .thats 250 electric busses that could be on our roads, without what they make out of fines and ulez payment, the mayor could of replaced all busses with electric.