The long-discussed tightening of the environmental zone regulations in the city centre have already led to an improvement in air quality a few days after coming into force. The nitrogen dioxide concentration at the measuring point on the busy Hope Street has been reduced by 27%. Will the green regulation - despite criticism - be effective in combating air pollution in Glasgow?
From the outset, Glasgow City Council's plan to tighten its Low Emission Zone rule has been heavily criticised. Even before it was time for the new regulation to come into force, citizens and politicians alike were already calling for the eventual repeal of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ). They feared that the new zone would not bring any tangible benefits. On the contrary, it had the potential to actually worsen air quality in Glasgow - in that the LEZ would not reduce emissions, but only shift them along with traffic to other parts of the city. However, the initial results reported by the city's metrology department don't lie. The tightened Low Emission Zone can have positive effects, starting right now.
On Hope Street - one of the most polluted streets in Scotland - nitrogen dioxide concentrations at this meter have regularly been above the limit over the last three years. Now, data from the first 24 hours shows that nitrogen dioxide levels on Hope Street have been reduced by more than a third as a result of the measures imposed by the council. Pollutant emissions from morning commuter traffic in particular have been reduced. With a measured concentration of 35.1 μg/m3, nitrogen dioxide levels thus fall back below the daily limit of 40 μg/m3 set by the UK government shortly after the introduction - a reduction of 27%. However, the pollution levels are still too high, especially compared to the health guideline of the World Health Organisation (WHO). According to this, an average nitrogen dioxide threshold value of a maximum of 25 μg/m3 should not be exceeded.
The tightened environmental zone, which covers most of the city centre, came into force last Thursday, extending the emissions-related driving ban to de-facto all combustion vehicles. Owners of diesel cars built before 2014 were particularly affected, however, because without the filter that prevents the emission of pollutants in newer models, they release the most climate-damaging particles - and were accordingly banned from the zone. Ultimately, the city wants to achieve nothing with the measure other than to "make the still polluting air in the city area cleaner and more breathable".
It will still "take some time" - explains a spokesperson for the Glasgow city administration - "until the benefits of the Low Emission Zone on the long-term annual average values of pollutant concentrations become visible". But the results from the first few days are a positive surprise that could slowly convince many sceptics of the low emission zone. The city will continue to monitor the situation and check whether the emerging trend will continue.
Also not to be forgotten are all the Low Emission Zones already active in Scotland - as well as in the rest of Europe. As always, all the information is available on our website and in the Green Zones app.