Anti ULEZ: Pro Respiratory Disease and Early Death?

Are votes more important than life itself? One might think so, given the debate generated by a recent, unexpected UK by-election result (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/22/green-pledges-sunak-starmer-byelections). This result, hinged on local opposition to the 'Labour mayor' extending London's Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ). A few facts. There's absolutely no doubt that, world-wide, air quality is a major cause of human ill-health and early death. This is true, even in a fairly rich country, like the UK. There's also no doubt that, in cities. vehicle exhausts have a major detrimental impact on air quality. Petrol/diesel-fuelled cars and trucks emit nitrogen oxides, volatile substances and particulates, along with carbon dioxide (a major 'greenhouse gas'). These gases, ground level-generated ozone and the particulates all damage lungs, especially those of young children. These pollutants have been strongly linked to asthma, other respiratory diseases, cardiac conditions and early death. Most vehicle-associated air quality damage, occurs along busy roads, where traffic is also generally slow (due to congestion). A majority of poorer people live along these busy roads. It's also where most schools, with young children, are located. An argument used by opponents of the ULEZ extension, is that poorer folk can't afford to a) scrap their emissions-heavy cars or b) pay the £12.50 per day to use it. The choice for unwealthy folk consequently seems to be a) more impoverishment or b) continued high risk of ill-health for their families. Richer folk can afford to live in the leafy suburbs and/or buy an electric vehicle. There's no doubt that the extension of ULEZ ought to happen (it's actually a legal requirement but, I suppose, it could be ignored as a 'Brexit freedom'). If people really want fairness around this environmental problem, they should be arguing for a) a more generous scrappage scheme (when a vehicle is truly essential) and b) improvements to public transport (making it reliable, quick, clean and cheap). Such changes should not be restricted to London.