How London Uses Road Fees to Tackle Air Pollution and Inequality

This case study examines London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and associated transport policies designed to reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and social inequality. It details the financial mechanisms, health outcomes, and equity-focused support systems implemented by the city's administration to transition toward cleaner mobility.

• The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), launched in 2019, requires drivers in central London to meet strict emissions standards or pay a daily charge ranging from £12.50 to £100. The zone initially covered 21 square kilometers and was scheduled to expand to 360 square kilometers by October 2021.
• Ten months after the ULEZ was introduced, daily polluting vehicles in central London decreased by 49% (approximately 44,100 vehicles), leading to a 44% drop in NO2 concentrations and a 6% reduction in CO2 emissions from road transport. Additionally, the number of schools experiencing unsafe pollution levels fell from 455 in 2016 to 14 in 2019.
• London's air pollution policies are projected to reduce the disparity in pollution exposure between the most and least polluted neighborhoods by 85% by 2030. To support this transition, the Greater London Authority established a $60 million fund to help disabled residents, low-income residents, and small businesses replace non-compliant vehicles.
• The city has utilized ULEZ and other policy revenues to invest $105 million in new and retrofitted public buses, resulting in Europe's largest electric bus fleet. Furthermore, a $30 million Mayor’s Air Quality Fund supports borough-led initiatives such as extended bicycle networks and low-emission streets.
• Transport for London (TfL) estimates that these policies will prevent 1.2 million new air pollution-related hospital admissions by 2050, which is expected to save the UK's social care systems and National Health Service £5 billion.

APA

World Resources Institute (2021). How London Uses Road Fees to Tackle Air Pollution and Inequality. https://www.wri.org/insights/london-road-fees-address-pollution-and-inequality

Chicago

World Resources Institute. How London Uses Road Fees to Tackle Air Pollution and Inequality. 2021. https://www.wri.org/insights/london-road-fees-address-pollution-and-inequality.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=How London Uses Road Fees to Tackle Air Pollution and Inequality |date=11 June 2021 |url=https://www.wri.org/insights/london-road-fees-address-pollution-and-inequality |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2021how, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{How London Uses Road Fees to Tackle Air Pollution and Inequality}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2021}, month = jun, url = {https://www.wri.org/insights/london-road-fees-address-pollution-and-inequality}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }