By Burak Bir
LONDON (AA) – The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was expanded across London on Tuesday in an effort to clean up the air in the British capital.
Expanding the ULEZ to include all London boroughs will allow five million more Londoners to breathe cleaner air, according to London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The "controversial" ULEZ, which means a daily charge to drive in the zone if vehicles do not meet certain emission standards, was first announced in 2015 and went into effect in central London in 2020.
From now on, if a vehicle does not meet the ULEZ emissions standards and is not exempt, the driver must pay a £12.50 (about $15.70) daily charge to drive within the zone in London.
"This was a difficult decision - but it's the right one to save lives," Khan said in a statement, stressing that it is also a necessary decision to save lives, protect children’s health, and tackle the climate crisis.
It operates 24 hours a day, and every day of the year, except Christmas Day (on Dec. 25).
"All the evidence shows that it’s clean air zones like ULEZ that are the game-changer in a city like London when it comes to cutting toxic air quickly and meaningfully to protect people’s health," noted the mayor.
In response to criticism and concern expressed by those whose vehicles do not meet the standards, Khan pledged financial support.
"I’m determined to continue being a doer, not a delayer when it comes to reducing air pollution and taking bold climate action," he added.
If no further action is taken to reduce air pollution, around 550,000 Londoners will develop diseases related to poor air quality over the next 30 years, costing the NHS and social care system in London £10.4 billion (about $13.1 billion) by 2050, according to a statement from London authorities.