New review from the Clean Cities Campaign provides evidence for upcoming revision of EU clean air laws
October 19 2022 – New research published today by the Clean Cities Campaign reveals the power of low-emission zones (LEZs) in helping to bring down harmful levels of air pollution in urban areas. The findings reveal that LEZs – zones where access for the most polluting vehicles is restricted – have been shown to reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations by around 20% in a wide range of conditions. This figure was up to 44% in central London following the expansion of the Ultra Low emission zone (ULEZ) in 2019.
Projections for NO2 reductions in Bath (-43%); Brussels (up to -33%) and Paris (-24%) confirm the strong potential of LEZs. The report also shows LEZs can improve air quality in areas outside the zone and prior to full implementation.
The roll-out of zero-emission zones (ZEZs), that only allow for walking and cycling as well as the use of zero-emission vehicles, could have an even greater effect. The ZEZs in Oxford and Amsterdam, for instance, are projected to reduce traffic-related nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions by more than 95%.
Overhaul of EU’s Clean Air laws
The Clean Cities Campaign commissioned the research ahead of the EU’s publication of proposals to update the Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD). The proposal, due on 26 October, sets the future legal framework for tackling dangerous air pollution. Air quality campaigners fear that, despite the obvious benefits of LEZs, the Commission has not included the impact of LEZs in their official Impact Assessment showing how air pollution can be tackled.
The CCC believes this is a missed opportunity. Earlier research from July 2022 showed that the number of LEZs in Europe is significant and growing rapidly. There are now 320 schemes in 15 countries, an increase of 40% on 2019 levels. It’s expected by 2025 there will be more than 500 zones across the continent.
Barbara Stoll, Director of the Clean Cities Campaign, says: “The update of the EU clean air laws is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to decisively cut toxic air pollution across the continent. Our research confirms low-emission zones work, and are already used in 320 European cities. We call on EU legislators to take this strong evidence into account when they set the new air pollution limits. This is the only way to avoid the grave health impacts of air pollution as well as the hundreds of thousands of premature deaths each year.”
Why we need World Health Organisation (WHO) air pollution limits
The Clean Cities Campaign is also calling on leaders to include WHO recommended limits on pollutants’ concentrations in the AAQD – these are: 10µg/m³ for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and 5µg/m³ for PM2.5.
Today’s research publication has reinforced CCC’s view that these WHO limits are within reach if all available levers are used, and this includes low- and zero-emission zones. Amsterdam’s ZEZ alone, for instance, is expected to reduce NO2 levels to 14.4µg/m3, close to the WHO recommended level of 10µg/m³.
The Clean Cities Campaign argues that if WHO limits were met, an estimated 57,000 premature deaths from NO2 pollution could be avoided, and almost 110,000 premature deaths from PM2.5 in European cities [1].
Wider benefits of LEZs
LEZs also present an opportunity to address the social justice aspects of air pollution. Several studies have shown that poorer people pollute the least and yet breathe the dirtiest air. In cities, significant numbers of people do not own a car – richer people who tend to drive larger and more polluting diesel vehicles. Low-income households also tend to drive shorter distances while higher income households are more likely to own multiple cars.
In addition, studies have shown that well-designed LEZs should contribute to an overall reduction in traffic – this is known as ‘evaporation’ as drivers adapt their behaviour – either by walking, cycling or not making the journey at all. One study reviewing 70 case studies showed that in half of these cases 11% of traffic simply disappeared [2].
References:
[1] Khomenko et al. (2021). Health impact of the new WHO air quality guidelines in European cities
[2] S. Cairns et al. (2022). Disappearing traffic? The story so far. In: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Municipal Engineer 2002 151:1, 13-22.
