The mayor of London thinks ignoring the dangers of pollution from cars today is just as bad as ignoring the dangers of smoking was 50 years ago.
"Camden council and the City of London have already banned traffic from some roads around schools and [London Mayor Sadiq Khan] wants the other 30 boroughs to follow suit," according to an article by Tom Powell.
Powell is following up on a strongly worded interview in The Times [paywall], in which Mayor Khan "accused the Government of 'ignoring' toxic air and criticised Philip Hammond for not raising taxes for the most polluting vehicles in Wednesday’s Budget."
Mayor Khan was referencing a study he commissioned and published in February, which "found that pupils at 802 of the capital's schools are routinely breathing in toxic air that increases their chances of developing conditions such as asthma."
"The report also shows that London's poor are far more likely to be living in areas affected by air pollution linked to 9,000 early deaths every year in the capital," adds Powell.
Mayor Kahn did stop short of proposing a ban on diesel cars in London, however. Paris and Madrid have taken more drastic actions in pursuit of the health gains Mayor Khan is seeking.
FULL STORY: Sadiq Khan: Ban cars from roads near schools to stop kids breathing toxic air
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