London air pollution falls by 38% since 2014

London's air quality has seen substantial improvements over the past decade, with average nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels decreasing by almost 38% since 2014. This means every neighbourhood in the capital now meets the UK's legal annual average limit of 40 micrograms per cubic meter (μ g/m³).

Persistent pollution gap

Despite these improvements, fewer than 1% of London neighbourhoods comply with the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended guideline of 10 μ g/m³, which is a quarter of the UK's legal limit. Analysis by BBC London, using modelled air pollution data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) alongside deprivation and ethnicity data, reveals that more deprived areas and those with larger non-white populations, while seeing significant reductions, still remain among the most polluted parts of the city.

Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, whose daughter Ella died in 2013 and became the first person in the UK to have air pollution listed on her death certificate, stated, 'We don't all breathe the same air.' She acknowledged the positive impact of policies like the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) but stressed that 'there is still so much more to do.'

Impact of clean air policies

Multiple clean-air policies implemented between 2014 and 2024, including cleaner buses, a shift to lower-emission vehicles, and London's Ulez, have contributed to the air quality improvements. Research suggests these measures have had a tangible effect. A spokesperson for the Mayor of London stated that the Ulez has resulted in harmful roadside NO₂ concentrations being 24% lower in outer London compared to a scenario without its expansion. Studies also indicate that deaths linked to air pollution in London have fallen by an estimated 40% over five years from 2019.

Furthermore, research published this year found that children in London whose lung growth had been affected by pollution showed significant improvement in lung function in the years following the introduction of the Ulez. Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, noted a perceptible difference, saying, 'You can actually breathe the difference.'

Controversy over Ulez expansion

Despite the overall progress, the expansion of the Ulez in 2023 remains a contentious issue. Some small business owners and trade unions argue that the financial burden has fallen disproportionately on certain groups. Maria Melucci, owner of an Italian deli in Bexley, expressed concern about customers from outside the Ulez zone having to pay the daily charge to visit her shop, stating, 'Charging poor people is not the solution.' Gavin Davies, GMB union senior organiser, called for discounts for NHS and other frontline workers and assistance schemes for purchasing compliant vehicles, citing difficulties for those unable to afford Ulez-compliant cars and the impact on unsocial hour commutes.

Professor Sir Stephen Holgate, an immunopharmacologist who examined Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah's medical papers, concluded that high pollution levels contributed to her asthma's severity. He emphasised that air pollution is a health issue, not just an environmental one, and argued that tackling interconnected problems like poverty and health inequalities is essential to address the unequal burden of pollution.

What happens next

A spokesperson for Defra reiterated the government's commitment to reducing air pollution through measures such as cleaner transport and tighter emissions standards. The Mayor of London's office indicated a continued commitment to taking action to build a greener, fairer London.