London, UK – The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, have announced a significant joint investment of £2.8 million to substantially expand the pioneering Breathe London air quality monitoring programme across the capital.
Accelerating Air Quality Insights
This new phase represents a critical step in London’s ongoing efforts to combat air pollution, a major public health challenge. The £2.8 million investment, jointly funded by the Mayor of London and Bloomberg Philanthropies, will facilitate the deployment of a new network of advanced air quality sensors.
The expansion is strategically designed to provide a more granular and comprehensive picture of air pollution levels across different parts of the city. These new sensors will be placed in key locations, including high-traffic areas and residential neighbourhoods, to better understand exposure levels and identify pollution hotspots.
Targeted Monitoring: Oxford Street and Beyond
A notable focus of the expansion is the deployment of 10 new air quality sensors specifically positioned on and around Oxford Street. This targeted monitoring will be crucial for assessing the air quality impacts of the newly announced pedestrianisation scheme for the iconic shopping destination. Understanding how such urban interventions affect local air quality is vital for informing future policy decisions.
Beyond Oxford Street, the expansion will see a significant increase in sensor coverage throughout the city. The next phase of the Breathe London programme is set to be delivered by a consortium led by Vodafone, leveraging their technological expertise for widespread sensor deployment and data transmission.
Empowering Communities and Data Access
A core component of the expansion is the Breathe London Community Programme, which will continue to be delivered by Imperial College London, supported by the Clean Air Fund. Imperial College London will be responsible for delivering 215 sensors specifically designated for communities, businesses, local government entities, and individuals.
This community-focused initiative empowers citizens and local groups to directly monitor air quality in their immediate vicinities, fostering greater awareness and enabling data-driven local action. With the integration of these new sensors, the total number of active Breathe London sensors across the city is projected to reach approximately 350, dramatically increasing the density and reach of the monitoring network.
Evidence of Impact
The expansion builds upon the proven success of the program’s initial phase. Data collected from the first phase, which included readings from 30 sensors placed at 18 primary schools across London, provided compelling evidence of the effectiveness of targeted interventions.
Analysis of this data demonstrated that closing roads around these schools during pick-up and drop-off times led to a significant reduction in harmful nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, by up to 23 percent. Nitrogen dioxide is a pollutant primarily associated with vehicle emissions and is known to have detrimental effects on respiratory health, particularly in children. This finding underscores the potential of local actions to deliver tangible improvements in air quality and protect vulnerable populations.
Context within Global Climate Action
The announcement was made during London Climate Action Week, a major event running from June 21-29, which highlights the city’s commitment to addressing climate change and environmental challenges. The timing also coincides with two significant anniversaries in the global climate and urban network landscape: the 20th anniversary of C40 Cities, a network of the world’s major cities committed to addressing climate change, and the two-year anniversary of the global Breathe Cities initiative, which London is a part of, focused on urban air quality.
This confluence of events underscores London’s position at the forefront of urban environmental initiatives and the importance of international collaboration and shared learning in tackling complex issues like air pollution.
The expanded Breathe London programme, with its enhanced sensor network, targeted monitoring of key areas like Oxford Street, and continued focus on community involvement, is poised to provide invaluable data. This data will be critical for informing policy decisions, evaluating the effectiveness of air quality measures, and ultimately working towards a healthier, cleaner city for all Londoners.