Changing Inequalities? The Influence of Environmental Zoning Policies on the Unequal Distribution of Air Pollution

Tobias Ruttenauer , University College London

Minority and economically deprived households are exposed to higher levels of air pollution. Previous research has hypothesized that Congestions Charge or Low Emission Zones can reduce the exposure of disadvantaged households living around the city centre, thereby lowering the extent of environmental inequality. However, zoning policies can also lead to processes of environmental gentrification, thus displacing vulnerable households from the areas profiting most in terms of environmental quality. We investigate how tightening Congestion Charge rules and emission regulations in inner London – connected to significant improvement in environmental quality – affected the unequal distribution of air pollution. The study merges aggregate level census data to annual pollution estimates across London from 2003 to 2019 to test if the pollution disadvantage of immigrant minorities in London has changed over the past years. Moreover, we use individual level data to investigate if minority households have indeed been displaced from central city areas.

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 Presented in Session P109. Carbon Emissions and Environmental Policies