Millions of Londoners could live at least a month longer if a series of air pollution-busting measures are championed by the city’s Mayor and central government, according to a report published by Policy Exchange today (March 23).
The think tank’s latest report in partnership with King’s College London – ‘Up in the Air: Part 2’ – sets out a host of suggested policies to cut air pollution from the two main sectors affecting air quality in the capital of road transport and gas combustion.
Among the many recommendations, Road Transport is high on the agenda.
Road transport
On tackling emissions from road transport, the report makes a total of 21 policy recommendations, encompassing buses, coaches, private hire vehicles, taxis, HGVs and passenger vehicles in London.
The report reiterates previous Policy Exchange recommendations for increasing Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for diesels as well as several other tax policies – including a scrappage scheme – designed to drive consumers away from diesel vehicles and restrict their use in London.
It also urges the government to work with the motoring industry to provide robust data on real world emissions of NO2 and PM to consumers when buying vehicles.
Other policies include providing “greater certainty” over lower-emission liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel, and taking immediate action to prevent pre-Euro 6 diesel cars from entering into the Private Hire Vehicle fleet.
With regards to the ULEZ, meanwhile, Policy Exchange argues that there should be tighter emission standards for buses, coaches, HGVs and diesel cars, while the bus fleet in central London should be upgraded to Euro VI by 2020 and the rest of London by 2023.