Should VW Pay London’s Fines for Exceeding Pollution Limits?

The mayor of London Boris Johnson has suggested that the VW scandal, which has meant that 1.2 million vehicles in the UK must be recalled by the manufacturing giant, is to blame for London’s poor air quality standards. Central London was just one of 40 zones in Britain which did not meet EU standards earlier this year – a mere three were deemed to be compliant with European regulations.

As a result, the country has been hit with huge fines, with London in particular shouldering much of the burden in the shape of a £300 million penalty. Now, the mayor has hit back at the EU for the charges, claiming that the faulty vehicles supplied by VW – and the failure of Euro emissions tests to spot them – are to blame.

An Expensive Scandal

Popular carmaker VW were rocked last month by emerging allegations that many of their models contained sophisticated software designed to manipulate emissions. When the software recognised the patterns used in testing (speed, trajectory, acceleration, etc.), it would switch to a cleaner, more environmental mode. The rest of the time, many VW cars have been emitting as much as 11 times the recommended levels – thus scuppering British plans to bring carbon emissions down.

Obviously, the Volkswagen company has suffered gravely in terms of reputation and expense from the scandal. Not only have they been forced to recall up to 11 million units worldwide, but they must also pay hefty fines and suffer irreparable damage to their image. Simultaneously, cities like London have also suffered due to the levels of pollution escaping into the atmosphere from VW cars.

“We’ve been diddled about Euro 4 and 5 [testing standards]. They were meant to provide the reductions in NOx which they just didn’t,” explained Johnson to the panel on the Mayor's Question Time last week. “It is because of the failure of the EU’s Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards that we are in the position that we are in these exceedances, and then they have the audacity to propose a fine on use because of the defectiveness of their standards.”

Should VW Pay?

Undoubtedly, VW’s deceit and manipulation has led to far greater pollution escaping into the UK atmosphere than was expected, thus directly affecting the achievement of pollution goals within previously stated timeframes. The UK government has since earmarked 2030 as the year in which they will have successfully quashed all air pollution problems, both within the capital and elsewhere.

However, it would be unreasonable to lay all of the blame at the feet of the German manufacturer. For example, Oxford Street had already exceeded its emissions allowance for the entire year within four days of January, thus highlighting the grave problem in London. To be fair to him, Johnson has introduced a number of schemes to try and curb pollution, including Low Emission Zones, Ultra Low Emissions Zones and the Congestion Charge.

Johnson is also aware that VW may not be financially capable of reimbursing London for the expense it caused. “Quite how legally or morally I could enforce a fine on Volkswagen I do not know, but it is certainly worth exploring,” he said. “It might be better to try and shame or guilt them out in some way to pay for measures to improve clean air in London, such as a VW cycle hire scheme to get people out of VWs.”

Any way you look at it, much needs to be done over the coming months and years to ensure London’s pollution problem doesn’t get any worse – and that the city avoids future fines from the EU, as well. Next time, there won’t be a VW to blame.