London will become a 'low emission zone' starting today, when transport officials launch a campaign to cut traffic pollution and improve the capital's air quality, the worst in Britain and among the poorest in Europe.
The 49 million pound ($98 million) scheme will use a network of cameras to monitor the emissions of large diesel trucks, later expanding coverage to smaller commercial vehicles, and impose heavy fines on those exceeding EU exhaust limits.
Truck drivers are unhappy with the scheme, saying compliance will be expensive, but transport officials say improving the air quality will help millions of Londoners, especially those suffering from asthma and other respiratory problems.
Low emission zones are already planned or in operation in 70 towns and cities in eight European countries including Norway, the Netherlands and Germany.
"This will be the first in Britain and the largest in the world by a significant margin," said a spokeswoman from Transport for London.
"London's air quality is the worst in Britain and among the worst in Europe. Levels of particulate matter in many parts of London are way over EU standards," the TfL spokeswoman said.
"It will help improve the quality of life for people suffering from asthma, cardio-vascular conditions and all the conditions that particulate matter exacerbates," she said.
The capital already has a congestion pricing scheme, a charge on vehicles entering the city center, but that was aimed at reducing congestion rather than cleaning the air.
The new scheme will initially apply only to diesel trucks over 12 tons, which have to comply with strict European Union limits on particulate or soot emissions from their exhausts.
The scheme will operate all day every day, and cover an area of 1,580 square kms, far bigger than Hong Kong.
Cameras at 75 sites in and around the zone will photograph vehicles' license plates and heavy fines will be issued for non-compliance.
The scheme will be extended to trucks heavier than 3.5 tons, coaches and buses in July 2008 and to larger vans and minibuses in October 2010.
"We realize that the mayor has a statutory duty to improve the air quality of London but we don't think the scheme as proposed will be effective in achieving that," a spokeswoman for the Freight Transport Association said.
Questions:
1. How does the ‘low emission zone’ work?
2. Why is London doing this?
3. How many square kilometers is the area that will be monitored?
Answers:
1.It uses a network of cameras to monitor the emissions of large diesel trucks, later expanding coverage to smaller commercial vehicles, and impose heavy fines on those exceeding EU exhaust limits.
2.To improve the quality of life for people suffering from asthma, cardiovascular conditions and other respiratory problems.
3.1,580 square kilometers.
（英语点津 Celene 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Bernice Chan is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Bernice has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong and most recently worked as a broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, producing current affairs shows and documentaries.
