Air pollution is the fifth largest killer in the world, according to the 2019 State of Global Air (SOGA) report. (Image credit: Evening Standard)

Mayor Sadiq Khan: London to hold the biggest car-free day to settle air pollution

Faradita Prayusti
Social & Life
Travel
Jun 21, 2019
1547
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan says the city will hold the biggest car-free day - “Clean air day” - on 22 September across 18 regions to handle air pollution crisis. The government will close 12.3 miles (20 km) of roads, included roads around London Bridge, Tower Bridge and much of the City of London.

The event will be the first time for the Mayor to close down 20 km roads in the city center.

There will be hundreds of activities during the event. Districts across the city have prepared "play streets” and campaigns on promoting walking, cycling and using public transportation.

Almost one in two of London’s citizens unaware if vehicles were the major cause of the city’s air pollution, according to a recent survey from Transport for London.

In April, the mayor office said approximately 50 percent of noxious nitrogen oxide air emissions in London comes from vehicles. They cause the number of asthma, cancer and dementia sufferers increasing and premature death rates rising every year.

The mayor office also mentioned thousands of people are killed by air pollutions every year, and about two million, including 400,000 children have to live in areas with a dirty atmosphere.

The Mayor said he wanted everyone to leave their cars behind and explore London by foot or bike during the event. He hoped Londoners would have fun to see the city from different viewpoints. It is expected more than 150,000 Londoners will participate in the car-free day.

Air pollution is the fifth largest killer in the world, according to the 2019 State of Global Air (SOGA) report.

The British’s capital city in April was the first city in the world to execute a 24-hour, seven day a week Ultra Low Emission Zone which vehicles must fulfill high emissions standards or deal with a charge.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/20/sadiq-khan-announces-car-free-day-in-london-to-tackle-air-pollution

London , Air , Pollution , Car-free , Day