| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Did Boris Johnson cry himself to sleep last night? | |
| Posted by: | Jeremy Parkinson | |
| Date/Time: | 24/07/23 08:06:00 |
| There is no dispute that the ULEZ will accelerate the ongoing reduction in NO2 but whether the quite marginal benefit it delivers justifies its social impact is very debatable. The quickest way to reduce people's life expectancy is to make them poorer. Efforts to reduce tailpipe emissions have been ongoing for over half a century and even by the beginning of this century, for cars at least, harmful emissions were minimal. The advance for Euro V to Euro VI is a relatively small step in the broader context of the changes that have been made. I think there is a real danger that when we come to look back at this period it will be found that the move to heavier cars, partly driven by the equipment needed to meet tailpipe emissions standards, ended up creating more particulates pollution from other sources such as tyres and breaking. The boost to public transport from the ULEZ is unambiguously good even if it is only sufficient to enable a bus routes to have a more regular schedule. In addition, you would hope that the infrastructure in place provides a platform for a more logical and less regressive road pricing regime in the longer term. Reading between the lines I think this may be way Sadiq Khan has got behind it despite all the obvious drawbacks. |