Urban centres zone in on the need to tackle emissions

摘要

Birmingham is introducing a 'clean air zone' in June. Motorists on modest incomes working in Birmingham who agree to scrap a polluting vehicle can expect to receive ￡2000 towards either a greener set of wheels or for spending on public transport. The initiative forms part of a ￡35M financial incentive package to help reduce vehicle pollution, and will be introduced alongside a new clean air zone being rolled out in the city's central area at the beginning of June. Birmingham City Council's cabinet member for transport and the environment Waseem Zaffar describes the new zone as "a hugely important project for the city and a catalyst for reducing health inequality". It is crucial to act now, he adds, because "we have seen some communities hit extremely hard during the pandemic by illegal and unsafe levels of air pollution, especially in deprived neighbourhoods with socio-economic issues".