Formula E helps raise awareness and create action on Clean Air Day in London

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship headed to London, host city for the London E-Prix Rounds 13 & 14 at ExCeL London on 30 & 31 July, on Clean Air Day, meeting Mayor Sadiq Khan at City Hall and school children and local residents of the Borough of Newham, where the E-Prix is set to be held.

Envision Racing took their Gen2 car to City Hall to meet Mayor Khan ahead of Formula E's second visit to East London's docklands for the unique indoor/outdoor double-header.

TICKETS: Secure your seat at the London E-Prix double-header

Meanwhile, in collaboration with Newham Council, Formula E hosted a drop-in educational workshop on sustainability, air quality, e-mobility and health for school students in the area. 

Protecting and improving health and the environment, alongside improving air quality in the borough has become a primary focus for Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz with the Citizens' Assembly identifying the 'greening' as a top priority.

One in seven of Newham’s population are exposed to levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) that is above the UK limit value for human health. On average, Newham residents are also exposed to a level of airborne particulate matter (PM2.5) that is 35% greater than the World Health Organisation guidelines and it's estimated that poor air quality in the borough contributes to the deaths of almost 100 residents every year.

The Mayor gave her backing to Formula E in bringing net-zero carbon sport to London, working with the city to showcase the benefits of EVs and raise awareness of the impacts of air pollution and how electric mobility can help curb it, and counteract climate change.

London's sustainability drive

London has set a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 and the city's Transport for London public transit authority by 2030, with the UK set to phase out sales of petrol and diesel vehicles entirely by 2035. In 2020, the country at large saw renewables make up the majority of its energy mix for the first time ever, at 43 per cent.

The city now has some 6,000 EV chargers, and is set to expand its London Ultra Low Emission Zone this year. ULEZ results in nitrogen dioxide cuts of up to 50 per cent by restricting polluting vehicles' access. Its expansion out of central London into surrounding boroughs will benefit 3.8 million more people.

The UK government has stated that it will "Build Back Greener" with a focus on clean energy and green jobs post-pandemic.

Racing for cleaner air

Sustainability is deeply rooted in our DNA, as the reason we go racing. Formula E promotes electric mobility and alternative energy solutions to contribute to reducing air pollution and the fight against climate change, in partnership with the UN Environment Programme's #BeatAirPollution campaign, and whilst contributing towards nine of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Urban air pollution is currently increasing by eight per cent every five years and 95 percent of cities worldwide do not meet the guidelines established by the World Health Organization. It kills more people than smoking, with the WHO also estimating that seven million people die as a result of air pollution every year.

Alongside our partners, we are advocating the global adoption of clean mobility by enhancing technologies, working with cities to improve infrastructure and raise awareness of the benefits of electric vehicles - one of the most effective means of tackling urban air pollution.

Currently there are four barriers to the global uptake of electric vehicles and Formula E is stiriving to break down each:

Our vision

Formula E aspires to accelerate change towards an electric future, one race and one city at a time. We aim to raise awareness and inspire change in sustainable practises, contributing to reducing global carbon emissions and urban air pollution.

Cities contribute disproportionately to global air pollution, producing 75 per cent of global emissions while housing over 55 per cent of the world's population. By bringing racing to the heart of some of the world’s most iconic cities, Formula E shines a spotlight on the inner-city spaces which stand to benefit most from reduced vehicle emissions.

Using the spectacle of sport, we're sending powerful and meaningful message to help change perceptions and speed up the switch to electric mobility. We also operate as a testbed to push the development of new technologies needed for an electric, low-carbon future.

Mapping the issue

Air pollution is a challenge for the entire planet. Formula E brings closely-contested racing to the city streets of the world in our Race for Clean Air which aims to help combat air pollution and climate change through the promotion and adoption of more sustainable mobility.

Mapping out pollution across the globe is one positive step we can make towards making air quality more transparent for everyone.

We have worked with Plume Labs to bring you an interactive map that allows you to understand the quality of air around you, and that of our teams, drivers and partners in real time.