London's contentious clean air zone extends to entire city

FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen along the existing boundary of London's Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) zone ahead of proposed upcoming expansion, in London, Britain, August 22, 2023. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File photo

LONDON (Reuters) - A London scheme to cut traffic emissions by imposing a daily charge on the most polluting vehicles expanded to the whole of the British capital on Tuesday, despite fierce opposition from those who say it will exacerbate a cost of living crisis.

The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was introduced in 2019 in a small part of central London and was further expanded in 2021. It will now extend to cover areas that are home to an extra five million people, often with fewer public transport links.