On 1 June 2024, Edinburgh began enforcing its low-emission zone (LEZ), joining Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen in restricting the most polluting vehicles from city centres. The scheme was first introduced in May 2022, but enforcement only started last summer in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Experts at the NHS and leading charities have praised the LEZ’s effect on air quality and health, while also pointing out how the new rules have encouraged active travel and greater public transport use. In fact, a study by the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) found that walking, cycling, and bus usage all increased in the first six months after enforcement began.
Monitoring data suggests the LEZ is already making a difference. Air quality in Edinburgh has been improving in recent years, and the LEZ may have helped accelerate this trend. Between June 2024 and January 2025, the number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued for non-compliant vehicles dropped by 56 per cent. Over 95 per cent of vehicles entering the LEZ now comply with the rules, and only about 3 per cent fall into exempt categories.
With Clean Air Day having taken place earlier this year on 19 June, this one-year anniversary serves as a reminder of the LEZ’s importance — not only for the environment, but also for everyday life in the city. The council, alongside SEPA, is continuing to collect and analyse data, with the first annual LEZ report expected later this year. This will cover trends in air quality, costs, and revenues, and how the scheme supports wider carbon reduction goals.
But what about students in Edinburgh? For many, the LEZ may have changed day-to-day life in different ways. Some might have noticed differences in how they travel around the city, with buses and cycling becoming more attractive options. Others may feel the impact when family or friends drive into the city centre with older cars that no longer comply.
In my own experience, about 95 per cent of my transport is by foot (with buses for longer trips), and most students I know rely on the same habits. Driving or taking an Uber isn’t the main way we get around, since walking is both cheaper and healthier. Because students spend so much time outdoors, the LEZ makes a real difference in areas we use most, as reduced vehicle emissions improve the air quality on the routes we regularly take between accommodation, lectures, and the city centre.
As Edinburgh adjusts to the LEZ, its long-term influence on health, travel, and student living will become clearer. For now, it appears to be moving steadily toward cleaner air and a more sustainable city life.
Image by Ulia Makoveeva for The Student