nThe term “Fog City” once symbolized London, but it was not a poetic mist; it was a toxic haze of coal smoke and exhaust fumes. In the winter of 1952, a temperature inversion trapped pollution, shrouding the city in a yellowish gloom. Within five days, thousands died from respiratory distress. This “Great Smog” finally awakened the UK, leading to the 1956 Clean Air Act, which gradually phased out coal heating and established smokeless zones, marking the beginning of London’s rebirth.n
nSeventy years later, daylight once again illuminates the city. Low Emission Zones and Ultra Low Emission Zones have been implemented, forcing high-pollution vehicles off the roads. Following the 2023 expansion of the ULEZ to cover Greater London, nitrogen oxide levels have nearly halved. Electric vehicles are ubiquitous, with half of the iconic black cabs now zero-emission models. The energy mix has shifted towards natural gas and renewable sources, and both the Underground and buses are becoming cleaner. London is no longer the smog-filled city of old.n
nHowever, progress does not equate to completion. Air pollution continues to claim lives. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately eight million people die prematurely each year due to air pollution; UK research indicates that in 2019 alone, nearly 50,000 deaths were linked to pollution. In London, around 4,000 people die annually for this reason. These figures are not warnings but reminders: the air has improved, but it is not yet clean.n
nLondon’s experience is commendable and should be replicated. Manchester, Birmingham, and Bristol remain mired in congestion and exhaust, with local policies hesitant and public opinion divided. Air knows no borders, and pollution does not discriminate between north and south. If only London breathes clean air while other cities remain shrouded in smog, environmentalism becomes nothing more than an illusion on the map.n
nTrue progress envisions an era without exhaust pipes, where all cars glide silently, accompanied only by the sound of wheels and wind. Our children, or perhaps their children, may one day ask: how did you live in such dirty air? By then, the question may seem unbelievable—and rightly so.n
nLondon’s transformation from “Fog City” to “Clean City” is a triumph of policy and technology, as well as a reflection of societal introspection. Yet blue skies are not permanent, and cleanliness is not destiny. Only through continuous implementation and nationwide advancement can we ensure that the city does not revert to its shadowy past. Clean air should not be a privilege but a fundamental human right.n
