But is business ready?
Rental and Leasing Association highlighted that four out of ten SMEs in Birmingham were unaware the city was introducing a Clean Air Zone.
“Significant change is coming and businesses really need to use the coming months to plan and adapt.
“I believe it is not only possible to comply with the zone’s requirements but use it as a catalyst to bring wider benefits to businesses.
“Any business with vehicles that don’t conform to the emissions standards of the zone have a clear choice – either they pay the daily charge or modify their activities and update their vehicles.
“I can reassure companies that, with expert help and support, change is not only possible to achieve but can and will bring financial, operational and HR benefits.
“Our experience tells us those businesses that adopt the perspective of opportunity, rather than see the zone’s introduction as something to be adhered to, are best positioned to realise the genuine benefits.
“I understand the concern that businesses could invest a lot of time, energy and money preparing for the Clean Air Zone only for emission regulations to change in future.
“This is where leasing can help – it’s a great way to stay up to date with the latest technology without significant capital investment upfront.
“The new Clean Air Zone is an opportunity to think differently about how businesses move people and goods.” “Air quality, climate change and energy – all of these are big issues but they all affect people – the old, young, well and the sick.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, you are affected by poor air quality.
“Across most sectors, in particular energy, there has been a significant fall in carbon emissions but in transport that is static.
“One of the reasons for that is more people are coming out of regulated, lower emission company cars and going into their own private cars.
“That’s a problem for climate change because it means our CO2 emissions from transport are not falling.
“The UK government has been taken to court three times by campaigners which has resulted in three iterations of the plan for a Clean Air Zone.
“The definition of a Clean Air Zone has also changed and the interpretation of it has differed among the cities mandated to have one, but Birmingham is going big and bold which is exciting.
“It’s important to recognise Birmingham is going large because the other cities are not.”