This pledge matters because:

• Air pollution is a serious health risk in Greenwich.

• Prioritising interventions that reduce pollution protects health and equity. Children, older adults, and disadvantaged communities are most affected by dirty air - so traffic cuts deliver public health benefits where they are most needed. A report published in 2022 demonstrated that children in Greenwich were almost four times more likely than children elsewhere in England to attend a school in a highly polluted area.

• A further report from Greenwich highlights how unhealthy air contributes to disability and illness across ages and neighbourhoods in the borough‌. Traffic-related pollutants like NO₂ and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are linked to respiratory and cardiovascular illness and exceed safe limits in many parts of the city. They contribute to premature deaths and chronic health issues. See resources from Mums for Lungs.

• Reducing traffic by 45% (vs 2015) targets the source of key pollutants. Vehicle emissions are a major contributor to harmful air quality - and traffic reduction is one of the most effective ways to cut NO₂ and PM2.5.

• Evidence from London actions demonstrates that traffic policies improve air quality. Evaluations of measures like the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion report significant drops in key pollutants where traffic and emissions are reduced‌.

• There are evidence-based adoptable solutions readily available and being implemented by other London boroughs as well as globally. Healthy Streets, for example, has been working with the GLA since 2021 and is an evidence-based approach to creating fairer, sustainable and attractive urban spaces.