AIR quality in Scotland's largest city has improved significantly since the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) was enforced, according to the latest monitoring report.
The LEZ in Glasgow for buses has been in place since December 2018 and for private vehicles, it began enforcement in June 2023.
One of the reasons for the LEZ was to lower the impact of nitrogen dioxide, which is mostly caused by traffic.
The latest Report on Air Quality for Glasgow City Council outlines the changes in air quality at key monitoring sites around the city centre.
The report by George Gillespie, executive director of Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability, stated: “The main source of air pollution produced within the city comes from road traffic.
“Airborne particulate matter is more heavily influenced by non-local effects such as prevailing wind conditions (over which the city has no control) and can be transported from continental Europe and beyond.
“Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), however, is more directly attributable to local traffic volumes and engine type – and in particular to diesel engines, which emit comparatively more nitrogen dioxide than petrol engines.”
The council said comparing 2024 with 2022, the last full year before the introduction of the Glasgow LEZ, shows locations within the zone have observed an average reduction in annual mean NO2 of 34% whilst locations outside of the zone observed an annual reduction of 21%.
Monitoring sites with the highest reduction in N02 include Saltmarket with a reduction of 48.1% and Buchanan Street at 41.3%.
Other notable reductions include George Square, 35.8%, Union Street, 36.7%, Bath Street, 39.5% and Gordon Street, 40.4%
The report said it is the first time all city centre monitoring sites have recorded full compliance since the rules were in place in 1995.
Gillespie added: “Results from automatic monitoring stations in 2024 show full compliance with the relevant objectives for all pollutants, continuing the significant reductions observed from the introduction of the Glasgow Low Emission Zone.”
Angus Millar, convener for Transport, Climate and City Centre Recovery said: “These new figures clearly show that Glasgow's Low Emission Zone is successfully tackling city centre air pollution. A one-third drop in levels of harmful nitrogen dioxide since the LEZ’s introduction means cleaner air for everyone.
"Air pollution contributes to hundreds of deaths in Glasgow every year and damages the health of thousands more. The LEZ was introduced to tackle the stubbornly high pollution levels causing that. Now, for the first time, Glasgow is meeting the legal limits on air pollution at all recorded locations.
“These significant improvements to city centre air quality come at a crucial time, as footfall continues to rise and key streets are transformed through the Avenues programme. Cleaner air not only reduces health risks but helps create a more pleasant environment for everyone.”
Under the LEZ rules, diesel engine vehicles registered before September 2015 and petrol vehicles registered before 2006 onwards will not meet the required LEZ standards and are not allowed in the zone.
Buses and HGVs from before 2013 also generally do not meet the Euro 6 standard.
Fines range from £60 for the first offence up to £240 for multiple breaches of the entering the zone.
In the first two years, the council has generated £1.7million in fines.
