Public Reception of Aberdeen's Low Emission Zones
As of June 2024, Aberdeen City Centre has been under LEZ restrictions. The scheme is a contentious topic, involving the issues of climate change, public health, city centre accessibility, and taxation.
Pre-enforcement Public Opinion:
In the scheme’s planning stage, a public consultation was undertaken by the city council (Aberdeen City Council, 2020). 518 responses were gathered in total - these results are summarised below:
While the majority (71.2%) were aware of an air quality issue in the city centre, the opinions on using an LEZ as the solution were far more polarised. 43.9% thought an LEZ would be appropriate in Aberdeen, while 42.7% disagreed with the proposal. 8 separate options as to the layout of the LEZ were proposed, each with the accompanying question "How do you think this option will impact on you?". Results ranged between 46.3% to 57.0% reporting a negative / strongly negative impact, 13.8% - 23.7% reporting a positive / strongly positive impact, and 8.3% to 25.5% reporting a neutral impact.
In terms of pro-LEZ arguments, respondents noted the pressing need for climate action, the negative health effects of pollution, and hopes of making the city centre a more pleasant place to be. Respondents in disagreement with the proposal cited worries about the accessibility of the city centre for those with disabilities or whom could not afford to replace unsuitable vehicles. Questions were also raised as to the real environmental impact of the LEZ, with many drawing attention to the high emissions caused by boats in the port nearby.
Post-enforcement Public Opinion:
A ‘hybrid’ option of the 8 posed in the consultation was selected by the council (Whyte, Beattie, and Hekelaar, 2021) and has been in operation for 6 months at time of writing. As of September 2024, the LEZ had raised £2.2 million (Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, 2024).
But what of public opinion? There is yet to be another official survey examining public opinion of the Aberdeen LEZ, but a quick glance at the online discourse reveals ongoing polarisation in opinions. A reddit thread about Aberdeen’s LEZ posted just 22 hours before the time of writing has already generated 45 comments, the majority of which are from users debating the merits of the scheme (Reddit, 2025). A Facebook post about the LEZ by Aberdeen City Council in February 2024 generated 76 similarly argumentative comments and 59 reactions (Facebook, 2024). Of the reactions, 25 were negative and 34 were positive.
Social media only reflects the opinions of those inclined to comment, so the general thoughts of the city are still somewhat unclear. However, it seems that overall support for LEZs across Scotland is increasing, with a 2024 poll finding support for the schemes to have risen by 7% since 2023, now sitting at 60% (Köllinger, 2024).
Time will tell as to the success of Aberdeen’s low emission zone. To learn more about Scotland’s other LEZs, the reasons for their installation, and their ongoing effects, please see the page ‘Scotland’s Low Emission Zones’.
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Aberdeen City Council (2020) Aberdeen Low Emission Zone Public and Stakeholder Consultation
Facebook (2024) Post by Aberdeen City Council
Köllinger (2024) New poll sees increasing support for Scottish Low Emisson Zones
Reddit (2025) I’ve made a google map with the LEZ boundaries visible
Whyte, Beattie, and Hekelaar (2021) Aberdeen Low Emission Zone – Preferred Option
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