“Most Londoners realise that they’re living with high levels of air pollution, but they don’t necessarily equate it with their local neighbourhoods,” Ruth Fitzharris, from campaign group Mums for Lungs told City News.
Our exposure to harmful toxins in the air, generated by vehicle emissions and greenhouse gasses, increases during the colder months.
Dr Elois Marais, Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Quality at University College London, told City News: “There are more sources in winter when we heat our homes, and this leads to the production of more air pollutants.
“We drive more than we walk because it’s colder. We also burn more wood, and this adds to pollution sources.”
‘ULEZ alone is not going to fix the urban pollution issue’
According to the Office for National Statistics, commuting via an e-bike could reduce emissions by 98%, releasing just three grams of CO2 per kilometre, in comparison to cars releasing 170.
“We need to move away from an over-reliance on cars, if people can easily and affordably use public transport, and encouraging walking and cycling.
“Then we can transition away from the situation where car transport is contributing so much to air pollution,” notes Ruth from Mums from Lungs.
The introduction of ULEZ across London boroughs has enforced low emission standards, leading to mainly low-pollution vehicles on congested roads and junctions.
“ULEZ alone is not going to fix the urban pollution issue. We’ve got slightly less emitting vehicles on the streets, but we do need to make that case for stepping out of vehicles entirely,” says Kate Turner from the FIA Foundation, the motorsport governing body’s charitable arm.
Ella, the first person in the world to officially die from air pollution
In 2020, Ella Roberta Adoo Kissi Debrah became the first person in the world to have air pollution listed as a cause of death on her death certificate.
Ella, aged 9, from Lewisham, south-east London, suffered a fatal asthma attack in 2013 after being exposed to ongoing levels of air pollution.
“When Ella was alive, we knew nothing about air pollution, and it wasn’t till after her first inquest that air pollution even reared its head on there,” her mother, Rosamund Adoo Kissi Debrah, told City News.
While air pollution affects everyone, long-term exposure to toxic pollutants is particularly harmful for children, as their lungs and immune systems are still developing – even when they’re still in the womb.
“If you are walking along a road where there are lots of vehicles, particularly if you’re a child because you are much closer to the source of the emissions, you are closer to that tailpipe, you are going to breathe in a disproportionate amount of those emissions,” says Kate Turner.
As the months get colder and people gather inside, Professor Marais urges increased awareness of pollution produced from inside our homes, such as our central heating.
“The radiator itself isn’t a source of pollution, but the boiler can be. Another source of indoor air pollution is turning on your hob, when we cook in any form, we’re also producing air pollution,” she says.
The characteristics of each London borough creates a new source of emissions, in areas such as Lewisham, Westminster and Putney, with busy traffic roadways, the higher the concentration of air pollution, despite the emerging fleet of electric and diesel vehicles. Similarly, buildings in London which produce their own energy from combined with heating and power.
Why local solutions are needed
The government has proposed a 35% decrease in the exposure of air pollution to London’s population by 2040 – but Georgina McGivern warns the Mayor of London can’t rely upon a capital-wide solution.
“Each borough has unique sources of pollution, whether that be roads, transport construction, localised heating…so different strategies are needed for each area,” she says.
Mums for Lungs want ministers to do more to tackle this issue, calling for “more of a sense of urgency, things happening faster with more impactful policies, funding dedicated to this issue, a feeling that it’s a priority.”
City News did approach City Hall and the Mayor of London’s office for comment.
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Standfirst
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Headline‘We are sitting on a ticking time bomb’: London clean air campaigners rally for regulation
Short HeadlineLondon clean air campaigners advocate for 'the right to breathe'
StandfirstWith air pollution increasing over winter, clean air campaigners are calling on Sadiq Khan to prioritise “the right to breathe”
“Most Londoners realise that they’re living with high levels of air pollution, but they don’t necessarily equate it with their local neighbourhoods,” Ruth Fitzharris, from campaign group Mums for Lungs told City News.
Our exposure to harmful toxins in the air, generated by vehicle emissions and greenhouse gasses, increases during the colder months.
Dr Elois Marais, Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Quality at University College London, told City News: “There are more sources in winter when we heat our homes, and this leads to the production of more air pollutants.
“We drive more than we walk because it’s colder. We also burn more wood, and this adds to pollution sources.”
‘ULEZ alone is not going to fix the urban pollution issue’
According to the Office for National Statistics, commuting via an e-bike could reduce emissions by 98%, releasing just three grams of CO2 per kilometre, in comparison to cars releasing 170.
“We need to move away from an over-reliance on cars, if people can easily and affordably use public transport, and encouraging walking and cycling.
“Then we can transition away from the situation where car transport is contributing so much to air pollution,” notes Ruth from Mums from Lungs.
The introduction of ULEZ across London boroughs has enforced low emission standards, leading to mainly low-pollution vehicles on congested roads and junctions.
“ULEZ alone is not going to fix the urban pollution issue. We’ve got slightly less emitting vehicles on the streets, but we do need to make that case for stepping out of vehicles entirely,” says Kate Turner from the FIA Foundation, the motorsport governing body’s charitable arm.
Ella, the first person in the world to officially die from air pollution
In 2020, Ella Roberta Adoo Kissi Debrah became the first person in the world to have air pollution listed as a cause of death on her death certificate.
Ella, aged 9, from Lewisham, south-east London, suffered a fatal asthma attack in 2013 after being exposed to ongoing levels of air pollution.
“When Ella was alive, we knew nothing about air pollution, and it wasn’t till after her first inquest that air pollution even reared its head on there,” her mother, Rosamund Adoo Kissi Debrah, told City News.
While air pollution affects everyone, long-term exposure to toxic pollutants is particularly harmful for children, as their lungs and immune systems are still developing – even when they’re still in the womb.
“If you are walking along a road where there are lots of vehicles, particularly if you’re a child because you are much closer to the source of the emissions, you are closer to that tailpipe, you are going to breathe in a disproportionate amount of those emissions,” says Kate Turner.
As the months get colder and people gather inside, Professor Marais urges increased awareness of pollution produced from inside our homes, such as our central heating.
“The radiator itself isn’t a source of pollution, but the boiler can be. Another source of indoor air pollution is turning on your hob, when we cook in any form, we’re also producing air pollution,” she says.
The characteristics of each London borough creates a new source of emissions, in areas such as Lewisham, Westminster and Putney, with busy traffic roadways, the higher the concentration of air pollution, despite the emerging fleet of electric and diesel vehicles. Similarly, buildings in London which produce their own energy from combined with heating and power.
Why local solutions are needed
The government has proposed a 35% decrease in the exposure of air pollution to London’s population by 2040 – but Georgina McGivern warns the Mayor of London can’t rely upon a capital-wide solution.
“Each borough has unique sources of pollution, whether that be roads, transport construction, localised heating…so different strategies are needed for each area,” she says.
Mums for Lungs want ministers to do more to tackle this issue, calling for “more of a sense of urgency, things happening faster with more impactful policies, funding dedicated to this issue, a feeling that it’s a priority.”
City News did approach City Hall and the Mayor of London’s office for comment.
