IEA Chief Operating Officer and Energy Analyst Andy Mayer has been quoted in The Daily Mail arguing that the case for expanding London’s Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) is weak on economic, climate, and public health grounds.

Andy said:

“Emissions of PM2.5 air pollution linked to lung cancer has fallen 85 per cent in the UK since 1970, while lung cancer mortality has fallen 31 per cent, showing no strong link.

“Only 12 per cent of PM2.5 emissions come from road transport, and less in London where 42 per cent of people don’t own a car. 

“It seems implausible that small changes in vehicle use in outer London will cause measurable changes in health data generally, let alone for specific conditions, let alone as justification for a new tax.’

“What ULEZ will do is force working people on lower salaries to sell their cars and vans, lose their jobs, and force them into poverty. 

“Given we know incidence of lung cancer is more than twice as high for the lowest earners than the highest, the tax could do far more harm than good.”

Read the full article here.