London Mayor Boris Johnson is known for being outspoken, but surely this is one of his most controversial proposals yet.
Mr Johnson is proposing a temporary ban on cars and trucks on some of the capital’s busiest roads on days when air pollution is at its most dangerous.
He stated that he would consider special measures such as banning vehicles during the “very worst pollution episodes in London” as part of a written response to a question from a Green party member of the city’s legislative assembly.
With 7.5million residents, London has the worst record for nitrogen oxide pollutants among European capitals and one of the worst for airborne particles. Climate campaigners have said that air pollution has contributed to the death of more than 3,000 Londoners in 2005; while the Campaign for Clean Air in London puts the figure as high as 8,000.
According to Mr Johnson, the scale of the problem and the urgency is much greater than previously stated with the European Union now considering fining Britain for failing to meet anti-pollution targets. The British Government has asked the EU for more time to meet the guidelines.
The Mayor originally published a draft air quality policy in October which outlined that the city may declare “action days” when airborne particle pollution exceeded EU targets.
However, some groups have questioned the move with Gordon Telling, a policy director at the Freight Transport Association, highlighting that “banning vehicles would have all sorts of impacts on businesses dependent on daily deliveries”. The group will meet city officials this week to discuss alternatives such as the use of more electric vehicles.
