The Big Smoke: missing the point?

Low-emissions zones, or 'geofences' were delineated in European cities in early 2008, with the aim of reducing air pollution and meeting stringent EU emission limits. Milan, Berlin, Cologne and Hanover all introduced an 'eco-tag' system, which bans the most polluting cars from the city centre. London, which has some of the most polluted air in Europe, this week introduces a massively more ambitious and punitive scheme . 

Heavy goods vehicles weighing more than 12 tonnes -- older diesel-engine lorries, buses, coaches, large vans, minibuses -- will face a £200 daily charge to enter London from Monday unless they have low-emission exhaust systems. It means hauliers will need to replace their vehicles with those that meet the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) emissions standards, reorganise their fleets, or face up to paying the daily charge.

The LEZ will be enforced using cameras that scan a vehicle's number plate and check it against a database of registered vehicles that meet with the LEZ emissions standards, or have paid the daily charge.

The city's clean-air initiative is being rolled out in phases to include lighter vehicles; from July 7, all lorries and buses weighing 3.5 tonnes or more will have to comply with low-emission rules and by October 2010 all diesel vehicles over 1.2 tonnes will be included.

Yet critics say the LEZ will make little difference to nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide levels, and overlooks fumes belched out by taxis, cars and most vans. The initiative also incurred haulier anger after Transport for London, the local government body responsible for the transport system throughout Greater London, said it would cost the industry up to £300million to comply, but provide maximum "economic benefits" of £240 million.