In June 2019, Birmingham City Council declared a climate emergency and committed to reducing the city’s carbon emissions. The ambition was set for the Council and city to become net zero carbon.
In the last 100 years the earth’s average temperature has increased faster than has ever been seen previously. This global warming is caused by greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, which are mainly produced through the burning of fuels such as petrol, diesel, gas, and coal.
Current levels of greenhouse gases are higher than they have been over the last 800,000 years and are rising rapidly. The continued increase in global warming at current rates significantly raises the risk of drought, floods, extreme heat, and climate-related poverty for millions of people across the world.
The United Nations (UN) have warned that we may only have until 2030 to limit a climate crisis. This explains why Birmingham, along with many other cities and countries, have declared a climate emergency and made bold commitments to reducing emissions.
In 2018, transport was responsible for 28% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions – more than any other sector. Within this, road transport is the biggest emitter. Rapidly and drastically cutting emissions from vehicles is therefore crucial to realising Birmingham’s ambition of reaching net zero carbon.
This will mean changing the way we think about transport and how we move around in our day-to-day lives. Part of this must be a shift towards public transport, walking and cycling. We will also need to change our relationship with car ownership and start to use shared vehicle options, such as car clubs.
Vehicles need to move away from conventional petrol and diesel engines towards zero emission alternatives. Electric vehicles already provide a genuine alternative for car, van and motorcycle drivers, with significant benefits including
ongoing cost savings and generally improved reliability.
Heavy duty transport is more challenging to transition to zero emissions. The UK’s electric and hydrogen bus fleets are growing though, and zero emission truck options are being developed. Trucks powered by renewable gas are already a commercial option and can achieve significant carbon savings of 84%.
Reducing carbon emissions from transport decreases emissions of NOx and particulate matter, which cause poor air quality and the associated health problems, at the same time. This is a significant added benefit of the actions Birmingham City Council has committed to taking in its Climate Emergency pledge.
The UK Government has mandated several cities, including Birmingham, to introduce Clean Air Zones. These zones aim to improve local air quality, targeting the most polluted areas whilst minimising the impact on business.
Air pollution, particularly from small particles in diesel fumes, is strongly linked to heart disease and stroke, as well as increased risk of cancer and respiratory diseases, contributing to millions of premature deaths globally each year. In the UK alone, it has been linked to an estimated 40,000 premature deaths and £20 billion in costs to our health services and businesses every year.
The government has identified tackling poor air quality as a clear priority and a major public health issue. Though air quality in the UK has improved in recent years, according to the latest update to the World Health Organisation’s air pollution database, more than 40 towns and cities in the UK are at or exceed harmful air pollution limits.
Fuel burning vehicles, particularly those that run on diesel, are a major source of poor air quality. Clean Air Zones are designed to encourage people to use more sustainable types of transport and discourage the most polluting vehicles from entering ‘hotspots’ where air pollution is worst.
A Clean Air Zone (CAZ) came into effect in Birmingham in June 2021. No vehicles are banned from entering the zone, but the most polluting vehicles now have to pay a daily charge to enter the city centre: all roads within the A4540 Middleway ring road. Vehicle number plate recognition is used to identify vehicles which do not meet emissions standards, and payments are made online.
You can use the postcode checker at the bottom of this page see whether or not your home or workplace lies in the CAZ.
All vehicle types have to pay to enter the CAZ (buses, lorries, vans, taxis, and private cars). To avoid paying to drive in the CAZ your vehicle needs to meet certain criteria, depending on the fuel type:
- Diesel – Euro 6 (VI) standard or better (most new registrations after 1 September 2015)
- Petrol or LPG added to original petrol engine – Euro 4 standard or better (most new registrations after 1 January 2006)
- Gas – Euro 6 (VI) standard or better
- Fully electric or hydrogen fuel cell – all are compliant and avoid CAZ charges
- Hybrid electric – the diesel/petrol engine must meet the relevant criteria above
Motorcycles/mopeds will not be charged for entering the CAZ.
The daily CAZ charge is £8 for cars, vans and mini-buses, and £50 for HGVs, buses and coaches.
Birmingham City Council has exempted certain groups from paying the CAZ charge. You can find out more about these on the
Brum Breathes website.
