Oxford is leading the way forward and setting an example with policy

An electric hybrid bus in Oxford that is better for the environment.

• share on Facebook
• share
  on Twitter
• share
  on Google+
• email
• (0) comments
• print

First published Thursday 12 December 2013 in Letters

I AM proud that Oxford City Council is one of three local authorities in the entire country to introduce low pollution buses and a low emission zone. These clean buses have removed all the deadly particulate matter known as PM2.5. These sooty ultra-fine particles have been shown to cause heart disease by medical studies published in the Lancet. These particles are not to be confused with pure carbon dioxide which is harmless to health. Oxford city is leading the way forward and is setting a fine example. These dirty PM2.5 emissions are the ones we should be targeting. A strategic error was made when pure carbon dioxide was designated as a pollutant in the 2008 Climate Change Act. This played into the hands of unscrupulous carbon markets and left us in danger of power cuts. It is the dirty hydrocarbons from traffic fumes that are deadly to our health.
Therefore the emissions targets should have been aimed more at transport rather than at cleaner running power stations. We need enough cheap electricity to power clean electric cars. This will improve our health substantially. Traffic emissions lead to lung cancer and arterial disease. So try and use the local car clubs and think of buying electric cars, as one day petrol will run dry.

SUSAN THOMAS
Magdalen Road
Oxford