London Mayor Sadiq Khan faces criticism for the delayed release of air quality data related to the Ulez expansion, amidst announcements of a new scheme to support Ukraine with vehicle donations.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has faced criticism for the delayed release of data regarding the air quality impacts of the expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) prior to the mayoral election scheduled for May 2. A City Hall report indicated that London has seen a faster reduction in pollution levels, particularly nitrogen dioxide, which fell by 49% from 2016 to 2023. This improvement has been attributed to measures such as the Ulez, though specific data on the zone’s expansion impact won’t be available until after the election due to pre-election guidelines and the need for thorough analysis and peer review.
In a separate development, Mayor Khan announced a new initiative allowing drivers of vehicles that don’t meet Ulez emission standards to donate them to Ukraine instead of scrapping. Starting from next week, vehicle owners can receive a grant of up to £2,000 for contributing their cars to aid Ukraine, which is grappling with significant infrastructure challenges due to ongoing conflict. This scheme was inspired by a suggestion from Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko and aims to address both humanitarian needs in Ukraine and environmental concerns in London.
Transport for London is partnering with British-Ukrainian Aid to facilitate the donation process. Additionally, the London Ambulance Service plans to donate 50 decommissioned ambulances to Ukraine. This initiative underscores a multifaceted approach to supporting Ukraine while also promoting cleaner air in the UK’s capital by removing older, polluting vehicles from the roads.
