Correlation between NOx and CO2 emissions in London
Request ID: FOI-0524-2122 Date published: 02 July 2021
You asked
I am writing to request the information you have recorded or hold about primary sources of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and carbon dioxide exhaust emissions emitted within every 'ward' in Greater London in 2019 (i.e. pre-pandemic), the last actual year (if later) and projected for 2025 and 2030 if held.
For each ward, I wish to receive the information split between categories of: buildings (e.g. domestic (houses and flats), offices and industrial); transport (e.g. motorcycles, taxis, cars (petrol and diesel), light goods vehicles (petrol and diesel), buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles (rigid and articulated)); and other sources (split in whatever categories you record e.g. aircraft, river traffic).
I understand that I can ask you to run models or make searches to find this information. I wish to receive the information in an excel workbook format.
This information will help me to highlight linkages between sources of local air pollution and greenhouse gases before COP26. I have considered the importance of submitting this request carefully.
We answered
TfL Ref: EIR-0524-2122 Thank you for your request of 12th June 2021 asking for information about NOx and CO2 emissions in London. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. Specifically you asked: “I am writing to request the information you have recorded or hold about primary sources of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and carbon dioxide exhaust emissions emitted within every 'ward' in Greater London in 2019 (i.e. pre-pandemic), the last actual year (if later) and projected for 2025 and 2030 if held. For each ward, I wish to receive the information split between categories of: buildings (e.g. domestic (houses and flats), offices and industrial); transport (e.g. motorcycles, taxis, cars (petrol and diesel), light goods vehicles (petrol and diesel), buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles (rigid and articulated)); and other sources (split in whatever categories you record e.g. aircraft, river traffic). I understand that I can ask you to run models or make searches to find this information. I wish to receive the information in an excel workbook format.” I am afraid that TfL does not hold the requested information as we do not hold such data at ‘ward’ level.
However, notwithstanding the above, the following may be of use. The latest London Energy and Greenhouse Gas Inventory (LEGGI) data (for 2018) can be found on the London Datastore here:
This has CO2 emissions - at a borough level - in worksheet “02 CO2”. 2019 data is not yet available but will be published before the end of the year. In terms of emissions projections for CO2, our net zero carbon pathway to 2050 (published in 2018) is available on the London Datastore here: https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/london-s-zero-carbon-pathways-tool Again, this is only held on a borough level not a ward level. On the “dashboard” worksheet you can select the borough of interest (in row 5) and Query Carbon emissions in (in row 27) to see the results in five year increments to 2050. To see the annual CO2 emissions projections, you can switch to the “Main graph Results” worksheet, where emissions are provided from row 390. Note also that further information will be provided later this year in the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (LAEI) 2019, which is being compiled this year by TfL on behalf of the GLA. The data will not be available at ward level, but on a 1km2 grid (further cut by Borough to allow for borough-level aggregated data). The LAEI is a complex inventory which builds upon various datasets from a number of different sources, such as the Environment Agency, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) among others. As a result, each update of the inventory requires a significant amount of work, meaning it is only updated every 2 to 3 years. The LAE 2016 data can be found here: https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/london-atmospheric-emissions-inventory--laei--2016 Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed. Yours sincerely, David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
