What is a Low Emission Zone?

What are Low Emission Zones?

Low Emission Zones (LEZs) are areas in town or city centres where the most polluting vehicles are restricted from entering. They are one of the most effective ways to protect vulnerable people from dirty air and exist in over 200 cities across Europe. Glasgow is the location of Scotland’s first Low Emission Zone, introduced at the end of 2018. Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen are on course to implement LEZs this year. We’re trying to make sure these anti-pollution zones are genuinely effective in improving air quality.

Do LEZs exist anywhere else? How do they work?

There are over 200 LEZs across Europe, with over 70 in Germany, but there are many different ways to introduce and implement a LEZ with differing levels of success.

London’s ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) is a great example of the possible health benefits when polluting vehicles are restricted or discouraged from an area. Introduced in 2019, it immediately reduced levels of toxic pollution in central London. The size of the zone will expand as time goes on.

We are calling for strong and ambitious Low Emission Zones:

LEZs will be introduced in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Dundee. These are all cities which have ongoing illegal levels of air pollution and with large populations who are exposed to unsafe toxic air every day.

The area of the zones should encompass all areas with regular breaches of air quality safety standards. Buses, coaches, minibuses, HGVs, large vans & small vans should be included in all the LEZs as early as possible.

Do buses cause air pollution?
Some of our buses are very old vehicles, and can be highly polluting. But an affordable and reliable will make sure that people don’t need to drive – taking cars off the road and improving air quality. The Scottish Government should support the upgrade of buses, retrofitting fleetings to ensure there are clean buses operating across the country.

What’s the background to LEZs in Scotland?

Since we started campaigning for the delivery of LEZs in 2013, the following milestones have been hit:

• In 2016 the Scottish Government promised to deliver Scotland’s first LEZ by 2018, working closely with a local authority.
• Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Perth & Kinross City Councils all expressed an interest in introducing a LEZ in their most polluted areas in 2017.
• In September 2017 the Scottish Government built upon its promise to have one LEZ by 2018, and committed to work with local authorities to introduce LEZs in our four biggest cities by 2020 and, where necessary, in all other Pollution Zones by 2023.
• In October 2017, the Scottish Government confirmed that Glasgow would be home to Scotland’s first LEZ.
• On 31st December 2018, Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone (which will only impact on buses for the first 4 years) came into force. This is Scotland’s first Low Emission Zone.
• In October 2019, Parliament passed the Transport Bill which contained the legal provisions for Low Emission Zones. Now every council has the power to introduce a Low Emission Zone.

How you can help introduce, or strengthen, a LEZ in your area

• Contact your Councillors to tell them you want a LEZ, and ask them to progress the development of a LEZ. Find out which committees are tasked with taking this on.
• You might also consider contacting your local media by writing them a letter about why a LEZ is a good idea in your area.

If you want any more advice on how LEZs might work in your area or how you can campaign for their introduction locally, contact our air pollution campaigner Gavin Thomson

Or check out our Air Pollution Campaign Toolkit.