To mark the start of London Climate Action Week, Mayor Sadiq Khan and a number of other philanthropists, including Michael Bloomberg, have pledged to invest $30million (£23.6million) into the Breathe Cities initiative.
The aim of the scheme is to break down barriers to action and ensure everyone has access to clean air, with Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Clean Air Fund and C40 cities partnering to launch the measures.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been described as a “visionary” with the work he has done to accelerate the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone in the UK’s capital.
It is set to expand again in August, with the scheme now covering all boroughs and almost all of Greater London.
The same rules will stay in place meaning petrol vehicles registered after 2005 (Euro 4) and diesel vehicles registered after September 2015 (Euro 6) will escape the £12.50 daily charge.
The new Breathe Cities initiative highlighted how the ULEZ had led to harmful nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions dropping by 21 percent and led to a reduction of 800,000 tonnes of CO2 from vehicles in just four years.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London and Chair of C40 Cities, said he was committed to working internationally to tackle air pollution, alongside the rest of the collaborators.
He added: “Toxic air pollution is a public health crisis in many of our cities – leading to premature death and chronic disease. Countries in the Global South – which have contributed the least to climate change throughout history – are most severely affected, bearing the brunt of climate chaos.
“In my own city, to help drive down emissions, we are expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone London-wide, meaning five million more Londoners can breathe cleaner air.
“I’m proud that this partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, Clean Air Fund, and C40 Cities will enable cities across the globe to drive down emissions and tackle the air pollution crisis head-on.”
Almost no urban area has air quality that meets the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO), with 41 percent of cities having air quality over seven times higher than recommended standards.
It is estimated that air pollution costs the global economy $8.1trillion (£6.38trillion), with Breathe Cities stating the need to slash pollution rates is clear.
The new initiative will lead on four main pillars, with data and research being one of the key focuses, helping local and national governments implement and enforce new policies.
Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, said: “Cities around the world are proving that, with the right technology and support, they can reduce air pollution, protect public health, and fight climate change.
“Building on the effective work of London and others, our new Breathe Cities initiative brings together strong partners to help even more local leaders craft ambitious and equitable policies that can save and improve lives.”
Further funding, air quality data, community engagement and other information about the project will be announced later this year.
