Environmental Research Group

Cleaning London's dirty air

This story is about Michael Hedges, a Research Postgraduate whose journey from taxi driver to PhD, grew his awareness and desire of the need to tackle and reduce air pollution. Michael first became conscious of the how toxic London's air was when he was a taxi driver and linked this to his children's asthma attacks. He decided that he wanted to help clean London's dirty air. Through his involvement in his trade union, he represented London's taxi drivers in discussions with London's then Mayor, Ken Livingstone and subsequent Mayors, helping to transform London's taxis away from diesel to the iconic electric taxis that are in London today.