Congestion Charge Converts to Carbon Charge
18 February 2008
In
a radical new move to combat climate change, London Mayor Ken
Livingstone has modified the congestion charge – first instituted in
2003 to reduce the volume of traffic on London’s streets – to become
the world’s first anti-pollution vehicle tax, where users are charge
ffor the amount of CO2 they emit. Gas guzzling 4 x 4s will pay up
to £25 instead of the current £8 charge, whilst economical vehicles
will pay lower charges and some low-emission cars will pay nothing at
all. Most normal vehicles will continue to pay the £8 charge.
This
is intended as an incentive to replace vehicles with more economical
ones. Even 4 x 4 lovers can use still them, and will escape the
penalty if they choose the most economical vehicles in their class.
The change is expected to take effect from Oct. 27th 2008.
Mayor Ken Livingstone said: "Nobody needs to damage the environment by driving a Chelsea tractor in London." 
This
is a groundbreaking step which will be watched by the rest of the
world. If this succeeds in reducing pollution, then other towns
and cities may well follow suit. The current congestion charge has
reduced traffic in the central London area by 21 percent compared to
pre-charge levels. The extra £30-50 million raised by the change is
going to be directed towards public transport improvements.
Link:
TfL http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/7394.aspx
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