According to the Department for Transport’s recent National Travel Survey, almost half of the British public are concerned about air pollution. This survey gathers data from the public to review the impact of various transport policies. The purpose of this is to look at trends in travel and to explain transport patterns amongst different groups of people.
Here are a few things, currently in the media around pollution and climate change, which we need to be aware of:
London’s ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone).
Since Monday 25th October 2021, the ULEZ has expended. More motorists will now have to pay the £12.50 charge to enter the zone.
The Ultra-Low Emissions Zone is an area of the capital where the most polluting vehicles must pay a fee in order to use the roads. The ULEZ charge initially replaced the previous T-Charge.
While at first, the ULEZ covered the same area as the Congestion Charge Zone in central London, it has expanded on Monday 25 October 2021. It now covers all areas inside the North plus South Circular roads. This charge, which needs to be paid on top of the £15 daily Congestion Charge, is set at a standard rate of the aforementioned £12.50 – although this varies depending on the vehicle – and is in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Air Pollution and Covid 19.
Sadly thousands of deaths in the capital have been attributed to air pollution. There is also growing evidence that there is a link between pollution and higher rates of Covid19. Air pollution is known to increase the amounts or severity of respiratory or cardiovascular disease and these diseases, in turn, are known to increase susceptibility to having more severe COVID-19. There are established biological mechanisms for the link between air pollution and disease in general.
There is already a well-established link between air pollution and a range of infections in the lower part of the lung, (such as acute bronchitis and pneumonia).
COP26.
COP26 will be starting in a few days. This is climate change conference being hosted in Glasgow is seen by many as the last chance to make a difference to the future of the world’s climate. Sir David Attenborough has warned world leaders to act now, else it will be too late to keep the world’s temperature rising by no more than 1.5 degrees.
Cleaner, Greener Stoves.
On 1st January 2022 Ecodesign comes into force. This means you can only buy stoves, which are Ecodesign Ready. Here are three diagrams, which perfectly explain just how important Ecodesign stoves are, and how we only should ever burn correctly seasoned wood:
