Birmingham - The city of Birmingham in the UK has published the first results on the impact of the clean air zone that it launched in 2021. The air pollutant nitrogen dioxide has significantly reduced in the city centre, while more vehicles are complying with emissions standards.

In June 2021, the major English city of Birmingham launched a Clean Air Zone with the aim of reducing levels of the air pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2) to within the legal limit in the city centre. Now, Birmingham City Council has published an interim report using data gathered between 1 June 2021 and 31 December 2021. It shows that there has been an average 13 per cent reduction in the levels of NO2 within the zone when compared with 2019, according to a statement from the city council.

The report also includes data about the number and percentage of vehicles that are now achieving compliance with the emissions standards of the zone. It found that the average rate of compliance for all vehicle categories increased from 79.8 per cent at the beginning of June 2021 to 88.8 per cent at the end of December 2021. The compliance rate for light goods vehicles also improved, from 63.3 per cent at the beginning of the reporting period to 77.4 per cent. 

Councillor Waseem Zaffar MBE, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, said in the statement: “It is still very early days for the scheme but if we can maintain this rate of improvement, we are on track to bring the levels of NO2 back within the legal limit.” He added that Birmingham would continue to monitor and publish the data around the impact of the Clean Air Zone, using it to shape longer-term ambitions and policies. 

The Clean Air Zone is part of the Brum Breathes programme. The programme also includes projects to rollout rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging points across Birmingham and support the adoption of hydrogen buses.