A new report from the group highlights that the spring lockdown reduced nitrogen dioxide concentrations by 38% on average across 49 cities and large towns. However in the second half of the year 80% of these have experienced levels of NO2 either matching or exceeding those seen before the outbreak of Covid.

This, according to the think tank, is largely due to the return of many private cars to the road since May, while public transport usage remains low. It urges councils to press ahead with stalled plans to reduce vehicle related emissions.

“City leaders can reduce the threat of air pollution, but it will take political will,” said Centre for Cities chief executive Andrew Carter. “Discouraging car usage will be unpopular in the short term but, if coupled with the necessary improvements to public transport, the long term benefits to public health and the economy will be huge and our cities will become better places to live.

“Now is not the time for politicians to delay on this,” he urged.

The group said local authorities should discourage car usage by introducing clean air zones that charge drivers, encourage greater public transport patronage through improvements to bus, rail and tram systems and invest in cycling and walking infrastructure to encourage more active forms of travel.

Commenting, the Centre for Research on Energy & Clean Air’s data lead Hubert Thieriot said the Covid-19 pandemic “reminded citizens that air pollution is not a given, and that bold actions on transportation could significantly improve people’s health and quality of life”.

This, he added, “offers policy makers an historical chance to implement bold transportation policies, as many other cities overseas have shown”.

The Centre for Cities report came as 41 regional leaders across the UK signed a pledge to work towards achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions in their communities at least five years before the Government’s 2050 target.

Coordinated by non-governmental organisation UK100, the signatories include the Mayors of Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, the West of England and the Liverpool and Sheffield city regions. Council leaders representing Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birmingham and Newcastle are also among those to have signed the pledge.

(Photograph: Lana Elcova - Shutterstock)