THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has backed Oxford's plans to introduce the planet's first Zero Emissions Zone (ZEZ).

Responding to questions from the Oxford Mail, the United Nations agency's spokesman, Gregory Hartl, said: "WHO welcomes any initiative that reduces the air pollution people are exposed to. Air pollution is now recognized as the second leading cause of non-communicable disease (NCD) deaths after tobacco smoking, causing more than 5 million such deaths each year, and 7 million deaths in total, including communicable diseases.

"The health impacts may be even higher."

Mr Hartl continued: "90 per cent of the world's population is exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution. We need to reduce this and to do so will necessitate projects around the world like the Oxford ZEZ."

City councillor Tom Hayes, Board Member for Safer, Greener, Environment, welcomed the support.

He said: "The endorsement of Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone by UN scientists at the world’s leading public health organisation is important recognition.

"We’re seeing a slew of reports piling up the evidence of the devastating health harms of polluted air and this endorsement by the WHO is a step-change because of their credibility but also their gold-standard research and calls for action."

Oxford University’s Dr Christian Brand, an expert on air pollution, declared himself in favour of the scheme, 'on balance', but that it was 'perhaps not ambitious enough'.

He said: “It covers the main sources of emissions (diesel vehicles, especially older generations – but newer ones are not much better, largely failing on meeting NO2 emissions regulations) and locations of exposure to high pollution concentrations (roads where people live, work, go to school/uni, visit, socialise, hang out, etc.) arising from those emissions.

“The Oxford ZEZ is perhaps not ambitious enough. It needs complementary measures, like workplace charging, a levy for taxis and buses to support funding electric vehicles.”

Dr Brand continued: “The key factors for successful implementation are: legal safeguard from national government; strong policy objectives from local government; a comprehensive feasibility study (which was done); equity and transparency during policy implementation; reliable technologies (for enforcement); effective public communication and leadership; and sound complementary measures.

He said viable alternative travel options were needed to avoid unwelcome impacts of the scheme before it is implemented.”

The ZEZ has been criticised by various groups in more general terms, and last month Oxford Bus Company claimed its implementation could lead to services being slashed.

READ MORE: Zero emissions zone: Oxford plan could hit bus company for millions

City councillor Mike Gotch said he wanted cleaner air but labelled the zone 'ineffective.'

He said: "We Lib Dems, like most people, welcome cleaner air particularly in urban areas – and especially when welcomed by the WHO.

"But the city has chosen an ineffective ZEZ in a limited, mostly pedestrianised, part of the centre, instead of declaring a more immediately effective wider clean air zone by, for example, increasing pedestrianised areas, sharply increasing parking charges and thereby subsidising cheaper and better public transport – particularly electric park and ride buses.

"Coaches and taxis should be discouraged from idling with often diesel engines belting out fumes. "Above all, the vity needs to coordinate its policies if polluting city centre vehicles are to be discouraged – why permit a new 1,000 space public car park at Westgate?"

Prominent ZEZ critic Paul Harris, also a Lib Dem city councillor, added: "The best way to cut death and illness from traffic related air pollution in Oxford now is to extend our bus low emission zone to apply to coaches and heavy goods vehicles and prohibit entry to central Oxford to those that do not meet the latest Euro 6 emission standard.

"That will result in an immediate cut in emissions and reduced effect of emissions on health, unlike the Council ‘s proposed 2020 Zero Emission Zone. We cannot afford to wait till 2030 when a city wide ZEZ is planned."