Meghan Hodges
Air pollution is a pressing issue that affects cities worldwide, causing environmental damage, climate change, and adverse health effects. With air pollution claiming the lives of approximately seven million people annually, cities are taking action to combat this crisis. This paragraph will explore the various strategies employed by cities to tackle air pollution, improve air quality, and safeguard the health and well-being of their residents. From implementing low-emission zones to investing in cleaner technologies, cities are making strides toward creating healthier and more sustainable urban environments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Political leadership | C40’s Clean Air Accelerator brought together 49 cities across 6 continents to tackle greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutants, and inequities in cities. |
| Clean Air as a Human Right | Mayors who signed the C40 Clean Air Accelerator recognize that breathing clean air is a human right. |
| Global Coalition for Clean Air | A global coalition for clean air is being created to make cities healthy, resilient, and equitable. |
| Air Quality Monitoring | The Philippines will add 10 more sensors, making it the largest air quality monitoring network in the country. |
| Low Emission Zones | Transformative actions like Low Emission Zones and Zero Emission Areas improve health and well-being for residents by creating more liveable communities. |
| Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) | London's ULEZ has contributed to a nearly 50% reduction in toxic nitrogen dioxide pollution in central London. |
| Scrappage Scheme | London's Mayor supported the ULEZ with a £270 million scrappage scheme, enabling the replacement or retrofit of older, polluting vehicles. |
| Vehicle Restrictions | Many cities restrict polluting vehicles from certain areas or the entire city, enhancing urban mobility and achieving climate objectives. |
| Electrification of Public Transport | Bogota is electrifying its public bus network and metro system, aiming to reduce air pollution by 10% by 2024. |
| Encouraging Active Mobility | Bogota's mayor highlighted the importance of bicycles, with over 1 million daily trips by bike. |
| Renewable Heating | Warsaw provided subsidies and grants for cleaner renewable heating alternatives to replace domestic solid fuel heating systems. |
| Waste Management | Interventions in waste management include composting, recycling, and optimizing waste collection, as seen in Dakar's rehabilitation of waste burning sites. |
| Air Pollution Education | Accra launched a campaign to educate people about the health dangers of indoor cookstoves and discourage waste burning. |
| Green Spaces | Bangkok's Green Bangkok 2030 project aims to increase green spaces, tree coverage, and international standard footpaths to reduce reliance on private transportation. |
| Industrial Pollution Abatement | Countries are adopting policies for cleaner production, energy efficiency, and pollution abatement for industries. |
| Cleaner Facilities | New and modified large plants and factories must meet emission standards and avoid causing significant air quality degradation. |
| Acid Rain Program | The EPA's acid rain program has cut sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, improving visibility in national parks. |
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What You'll Learn
Joining coalitions such as C40's Clean Air Accelerator
C40's Clean Air Accelerator is a global coalition of cities aiming to tackle air pollution and improve public health, equity, and resilience. The initiative was launched in October 2019 and has since brought together 49 cities across six continents, including major cities such as London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, and Los Angeles.
The mayors of these cities have recognised that breathing clean air is a human right, as stated in the latest World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines. According to the WHO, 99% of the world's population lives in areas that exceed safe air pollution limits, leading to an estimated 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide in 2016, with 91% of those occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
Cities that have joined the C40 Clean Air Accelerator are taking an integrated and evidence-based approach to reduce air pollution. They are expanding their air quality monitoring networks to collect, analyse, and communicate data about air quality and the health impacts of air pollution. For example, Bogotá, Colombia, has launched a collaborative network of air quality microsensors, and Quezon City in the Philippines has expanded its monitoring network with additional non-reference sensors, becoming the country's largest air quality monitoring network.
By joining coalitions like the C40 Clean Air Accelerator, cities can benefit from a global network of knowledge and best practices to accelerate their efforts in reducing air pollution. They can learn from each other's successes and challenges and implement effective policies and regulations to achieve ambitious reductions in air pollution. This includes implementing measures such as expanding zero-emission public transport, creating low-emission or zero-emission zones, supporting active transportation like walking and cycling, and reducing emissions from construction sites, industrial activities, and city-owned vehicles.
Additionally, coalitions provide a platform for cities to collaborate and advocate for stronger air quality standards and policies at a national and international level. By working together, cities can also access funding opportunities, technical expertise, and innovative solutions to tackle complex air pollution challenges.
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Implementing Low Emission Zones and Zero Emission Areas
A low-emission zone (LEZ) is a designated area where access by polluting vehicles is restricted to improve air quality. LEZs favour vehicles such as bicycles, micromobility vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and zero-emission vehicles. As of 2025, there are 47 LEZs in operation or planning in Germany, with cities like Berlin, Cologne, and Stuttgart implementing them in their central areas in 2008. The first LEZ in the UK was implemented in Glasgow at the end of 2018, and many other cities like Norwich and York followed suit.
An ultra-low-emission zone (ULEZ) has stricter emissions requirements than an LEZ. London's ULEZ has contributed to a nearly 50% reduction in toxic nitrogen dioxide pollution in the city centre. The mayor of London supported this initiative with a £270 million scrappage scheme, enabling Londoners to replace their older, polluting vehicles.
A zero-emission zone (ZEZ) is an LEZ where only zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) are allowed. Oxford became the first city to implement a ZEZ scheme in 2021, starting with a small area. Shenzhen, China, introduced six additional ZEZs near universities and public parks in 2023, increasing the total ZEZ area to 26 square kilometres.
To promote the adoption of low- and zero-emission vehicles, local governments in cities like Brussels, Paris, and London have introduced financial support measures to assist private individuals and businesses in need. These measures aim to enhance equitable outcomes for LEZs and ZEZs, with positive effects observed in low-income households.
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Restricting polluting vehicles from entering certain areas
Similarly, a study by Imperial College London analysed health studies from over 320 low-emission zones across Europe and concluded that there was a reduction in all health conditions associated with air pollution in those areas. The study, published in The Lancet, highlighted the "observable health benefits from schemes restricting private vehicles in cities".
In addition to improving air quality, reducing the number of cars in cities has been shown to decrease the number of road deaths and improve the well-being of residents. Transformative actions, such as Low Emission Zones and Zero Emission Areas, give public spaces back to residents and nature, creating more liveable communities. These interventions also facilitate active mobility and sustainable transport options, further enhancing urban air quality.
To assist individuals in making more environmentally friendly vehicle choices, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides resources such as the Green Vehicle Guide and the Fuel Economy and Environment Label. These tools enable consumers to compare different vehicle models and select the most fuel-efficient and least polluting option that meets their needs. Furthermore, the EPA's Clean School Bus Program aims to reduce school bus idling in communities, preventing children's exposure to diesel exhaust and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
By implementing such measures, cities can make significant progress in tackling air pollution, improving public health, and creating more sustainable and equitable urban environments.
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Electrifying public transport
To clean up public transport, cities are transitioning to zero-emission vehicles, including electric buses, trucks, and vans. For example, London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has led to a nearly 50% reduction in toxic nitrogen dioxide pollution. Other cities like Warsaw are also taking action, banning the use of non-class coal and wood boilers and providing incentives to switch to cleaner heating alternatives.
Utilities and local governments play a vital role in accelerating transportation electrification. This includes investing in more publicly accessible charging stations, offering financial incentives for electric vehicle purchases, and supporting safe walking and biking infrastructure. By promoting active mobility options like shared bikes, e-scooters, and cycle-to-work schemes, cities can reduce congestion and improve air quality.
Additionally, it is important to ensure that electric vehicles (EVs) are powered by clean energy sources. This means transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy alternatives. Pairing transportation electrification with long-term community planning is also critical to maximizing greenhouse gas emission reductions and improving community health.
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Encouraging less reliance on private transportation
One approach to reducing private car use is to make public transport a more attractive option. This can be achieved by improving the financial and non-financial competitiveness of public transport. Financial strategies include discounted ticketing, such as Germany's €9 train tickets and Japan's 'Go To Travel' scheme, as well as free commuter rail tickets in Spain. Non-financial incentives include improving convenience by creating dense development around stations, as seen in Japan, and implementing integrated ticketing systems that allow seamless travel between different operators and modes.
Another strategy is to make private transport less attractive by increasing costs and reducing convenience. This can be done through congestion charging, where drivers are charged to enter specific areas, typically city centres, to deter private car use and reduce traffic congestion. Charging drivers to park their cars and limiting the supply of parking spaces are other methods to discourage private car use.
In addition to these strategies, cultural shifts and new technologies offer opportunities to reduce reliance on private cars. For example, the rise of companies like Uber, Tesla, and Zipcar has provided alternatives to traditional car ownership. Furthermore, big data analytics can be leveraged to gather, organize, and analyze data to develop better solutions for urban mobility.
By implementing a combination of strategies that increase the attractiveness of public transport and decrease the appeal of private car use, cities can effectively encourage a shift away from private transportation, contributing to their overall goal of cleaning up pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
The Clean Air Act is a set of programs that have lowered levels of six common air pollutants: particles, ozone, lead, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. The Clean Air Act has also lowered levels of numerous toxic pollutants.
The C40 Clean Air Accelerator is a coalition of mayors from 49 cities across 6 continents that have joined together to tackle greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutants, and inequities in cities.
London has implemented an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) that has contributed to a nearly 50% reduction in toxic nitrogen dioxide pollution in the city. London has also implemented a £270m scrappage scheme to help Londoners replace or retrofit their older, polluting vehicles.
Warsaw has banned the use of non-class coal and wood boilers and provided subsidies and grants to replace domestic solid fuel heating systems with cleaner renewable heating alternatives.
Accra has started a campaign to educate people about the health dangers of indoor cookstoves and discourage locals from burning their waste. Accra has also joined the BreatheLife campaign and is considered a leader among African cities in tackling air pollution.
