City of London launch new air quality strategy after emissions fall by 40%

The City of London have been reflecting on the success of their third Air Quality Action Plan, as they announced the publication of their fourth.

Data has revealed that between 2019 and 2024, there has been a 40% drop in NO2 and PM10, with national standards for the latter being met across the whole of the Square Mile.

The annual mean standard for NO2 is now is only being exceeded next to the busiest roads and the borough are confident that the national standard will be met everywhere in the next two to three years.

The improvement in air quality has been tracked by 80 monitors spread across the Square Mile and has been helped by a variety of measures including emissions-based charges for on- and off-street parking and the CityAir Programme which helps businesses reduce their air pollution.

Efforts have even been made to reduce emissions from boats and ships through the Clean Air Thames project, delivered alongside the Cross River Partnership and the Mayor of London.

The new Action Plan will cover the period 2025 to 2030 and has been produced following consultation with local residents, businesses, and stakeholders. 

Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, Mary Durcan, said: ‘The City Corporation has been at the forefront of improving and measuring air quality for over 60 years.

‘In 1954, we published our own legislation to ban the production of smoke in the Square Mile, paving the way for the National Clean Air Act (1956). Fast forward to today, and once again we’re leading the way; going above and beyond our statutory duties.

‘Our ambition is to exceed the national target and meet the WHO’s second interim target for NO2 in 90% of our publicly accessible space by 2030. Continuing as we are, we expect to meet the national standard for NO2 everywhere within the Square Mile in the next two to three years.

‘We will manage emissions of pollutants from construction sites; ensure new developments are low emission; tackle unnecessary vehicle engine idling and reward the best practice of our partners.

‘We will continue to press for additional powers to manage remaining sources of pollution; support research into new technologies and consider how we can help to manage pollutants associated with diesel standby generator plant. We will also be turning our attention to activities that emit relatively high levels of very fine particulate matters (PM2.5), such as commercial cooking.’