LONDON 

London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was expanded across the city on Tuesday in an effort to help improve air quality in the British capital.

Expanding the ULEZ to include all London boroughs will allow five million more Londoners to breathe cleaner air, according to London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The contentious ULEZ policy, which means a daily charge to drive in the zone if vehicles do not meet certain emissions standards, was first announced in 2015 and went into effect in central London in 2020.

From now on, if a vehicle does not meet the ULEZ standards and is not exempt, the driver must pay a £12.50 ($15.80) daily charge to drive within the zone in London.

"This was a difficult decision -- but it's the right one to save lives," Khan said in a statement, stressing that it is also a necessary decision to protect children’s health and tackle the climate crisis.

It operates 24 hours a day and every day of the year except Christmas Day on Dec. 25.

"All the evidence shows that it’s clean air zones like ULEZ that are the game-changer in a city like London when it comes to cutting toxic air quickly and meaningfully to protect people’s health," noted the mayor.

Khan said the ULEZ has already "proven to be transformational" in central London, adding people in outer London "deserve to breathe cleaner air too."

Responding to criticism and concern over those whose vehicles do not meet the standards, Khan pledged financial support.

"I’m determined to continue being a doer, not a delayer when it comes to reducing air pollution and taking bold climate action," he said.

If no further action is taken to reduce air pollution, around 550,000 Londoners will develop diseases related to poor air quality over the next 30 years, costing the National Health Service (NHS) and social care system in London £10.4 billion by 2050, according to a statement from London authorities.

The move meanwhile sparked protests, with a group of people gathering outside 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister's Office.

"Stop the Toxic Air Lie," "No 2 ULEZ" and "R.I.P. London" were among signs carried by protesters during the demonstration.

Some protesters chanted slogans against Khan and called for him to be removed as London mayor.