Poor air quality in London is ‘driving people to early death’, it has been claimed.
Dr Frank Kelly, professor of environmental health at King’s College, London, told members of the London Assembly environment committee that the capital had the worst air pollution in the UK, and among the worst in Europe, with older people and children particularly at risk.
The committee heard that air pollution was believed to be responsible for around 1,000 premature deaths each year, but experts believed the actual figures could be significantly higher.
Committee members heard that European targets for air quality – which London and the UK are not yet meeting – are not strict enough to protect people’s health. Environment committee chair, Darren Johnson, said: ‘Reducing air pollution is not just about improving the environment in some abstract way. It’s about saving lives. The mayor and the Government need to get serious about this.’
Representatives from Transport for London and the Greater London Authority are due to give evidence on measures to improve air quality at a hearing of the committee on 5 March.
Mayor Boris Johnson announced last week (Surveyor, 5 February) he was to scrap plans for an extension of London’s Low Emission Zone to include small vans from October next year.
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