CIEH delighted to see positive impact of expansion of ULEZ on air quality in London

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has today applauded the success of the expansion of the Ultra Low Emissions Zones (ULEZ) in London after a new study found people in the capital are now breathing significantly cleaner air.

CIEH had previously welcomed the expansion of the scheme in 2023 despite recognising the political sensitivity surrounding the issue, as we believed it was an important initiative that would bring “undeniable” benefits to public health, the environment and our national health service.

Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) play a critical role in monitoring and enforcing air quality regulations at different sites, often working behind the scenes to ensure that standards are upheld for the betterment of public health.

Today’s report, published by the Greater London Authority with findings extensively reviewed by an independent advisory group of experts, makes clear that ULEZ has had a hugely positive impact with London’s air quality improving across the board and at a faster rate than that of the rest of the country.

Among the findings were that levels of deadly pollutants linked to a wide range of health problems – from cancer to impaired lung development, heart attacks to premature births – have fallen, with some of the biggest improvements coming in London’s most deprived areas.

Key highlights of the study include:

• Air quality has improved at 99% of monitoring sites across London since 2019 when ULEZ was launched.
• Roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels have decreased by 27% across the entire capital since 2019
• Small-particle emissions (PM2.5) from vehicle exhausts were 31% lower in outer London in 2024 than they would have been had the Ulex expansion in 2023 not took place
• The environmental impact of ULEZ has been substantial, with carbon emissions equivalent to nearly three million one-way passenger trips between Heathrow and New York saved

These findings give a significant boost to the work of EHPs giving clear evidence of the success of large-scale, transformative policies on air quality in our communities.

Mark Elliott, President of CIEH, said:

“It’s great to see independently-verified proof of what we believed would be the case that ULEZ and its expansion have helped London make significant strides to becoming a cleaner city and to improving the health outcomes of the population.

“Air pollution is unavoidable; we all breathe the same air. ULEZ is a crucial step in protecting public health and making the air cleaner for everyone.

“Every step taken towards better air quality translates to fewer hospital admissions, reduced strain on the NHS and ultimately more lives saved. We hope to see lessons learned from the scheme in London taken forward in other areas of the country to bring further benefits to our communities’ health and overall quality of life.”