London launches Europe's biggest scheme to drive polluting vehicles off roads

An electric bus runs on the street in London, Britain, Aug. 9, 2021. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

Europe's biggest ultra-low emission zone located in London started operation on Monday, with about 3.8 million people living within the zone and about 110,000 vehicles each day likely to pay 12.50 pounds of charge for driving within the zone.

LONDON, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Europe's biggest ultra-low emission zone, spanning about 380 square km of London, came into operation on Monday.

Around 3.8 million people live within the zone which extends to the north and south circular roads around the British capital.

London City Hall expected around 110,000 vehicles each day are likely to need to pay the 12.50 pounds (17.22 U.S. dollars) charge for driving within the new zone. Drivers who don't pay face a penalty charge of 160 pounds (220 U.S. dollars), reduced to half if paid within 14 days.

Vehicles and pedestrians are seen on the Tower Bridge in London, Britain, on Jan. 5, 2021. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

The enlarged zone is an extension of what was the world's first Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) covering mainly central London.

A City Hall spokesperson said: "The new zone covers one quarter of London and is the largest zone of its kind in Europe. It will bring the health benefits of cleaner air to millions more Londoners. The scheme will operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day."

The ULEZ is also a crucial step towards London's ambitions to tackle the climate emergency and put the city on the path to be a net zero carbon city by 2030.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "This is a landmark day for our city. Expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone today will clean up London's toxic air pollution and help tackle the global climate emergency by reducing emissions."

"In central London, the ULEZ has already helped cut toxic roadside nitrogen dioxide pollution by nearly half and led to reductions that are five times greater than the national average. But pollution isn't just a central London problem, which is why expanding the ULEZ today will benefit Londoners across the whole of the city and is a crucial step in London's green recovery from this pandemic."

According to Khan, pollution leads to 4,000 Londoners dying early each year and children in the capital growing up with stunted lungs.

A child is seen at St James's Park in central London, Britain, Feb. 26, 2021. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

Khan has provided 61 million pounds (84 million U.S. dollars) in funding for grants for small businesses, charities operating minibuses, and low-income and disabled Londoners to scrap older, more polluting vehicles.

Sarah Woolnough, CEO of the charities Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation welcomed the move.

"Whilst this is a huge step in the right direction, we mustn't be complacent against this invisible threat. The fact of the matter remains that the majority of people living in London, are still living in areas where pollution levels are dangerously high," Woolnough said.

An E-scooter hire spot is pictured on the street in London, Britain, Aug. 9, 2021. (Xinhua/Han Yan)