LONDON, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Non-transport sources contribute half of the deadly emissions in London, "so we need a hard-hitting plan of action to combat them similar to moves I am taking to reduce pollution from road vehicles," said London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Friday.
"With more than 400 schools located in areas exceeding legal pollution levels, and such significant health impacts on our most vulnerable communities, we cannot wait any longer and I am calling on government to provide the capital with the necessary powers to effectively tackle harmful emissions from a variety of sources," Khan said in a statement.
Non-road mobile machinery such as diggers and bulldozers are currently the second largest source of ultra-fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions in London and the fifth largest source of oxides of nitrogen, according to the statement from his office.
This is likely to grow as traffic related emissions decline and as construction increases across London.
Meanwhile, current controls on emissions from domestic burning of solid fuels like wood and coal are obsolete, with the definitions barely revised from the original Clean Air Act of 1956, the statement said.
To tackle these issues, the mayor has called on the government to grant him additional powers.
With ambitious plans in the growth of traffic on waterways, unless sufficient controls are introduced, the number of people exposed to this source of pollution will only grow, according to the statement.
The mayor wants to see the regulations simplified so that there is a single regulator with the ability to charge and enforce and a single emissions control framework. The body would also be able to set minimum emission and other technical standards for specific classes or types of vessels. It would also provide clarity for local, national and international shipping accessing the Thames and canals.
Khan wants the Clean Air Act to be amended to allow for the creation of zones where the burning of solid fuel is not allowed.
He also calls for tighter emission limits for new domestic heating appliances like wood burning stoves for pollutants such as PM10 and PM2.5.
Khan's statement came after he triggered a high air pollution alert on Wednesday, given the "shocking and illegal state of London's filthy air."
"This is the seventh time in 13 months that we have had to use the alert system and shows just why air pollution is a public health crisis," said the mayor.
