A consultation on delivering cleaner air in towns, cities and
rural areas across England has been launched today (11 April).
The Government
is seeking views on a revised Air Quality Strategy which
outlines how councils in England should use their existing powers
and responsibilities more effectively to deliver improvements to
air quality.
The draft strategy includes:
- Outlining the actions councils can undertake to improve air
quality
- Setting out actions for councils to reduce emissions of fine
particulate matter, the pollutant most damaging to health
- Providing a framework to enable local authorities to make the
best use of their powers and deliver for their communities
Following consultation, a final strategy will be published,
providing a framework to support local action to improve air
quality, in consultation with local communities. This will drive
forward progress towards achieving the government’s
legally-binding targets for all key air pollutants, including
those recently set under the Environment Act for fine particulate
matter (PM2.5).
The final strategy will complement the range of support
government makes available to local authorities, including £883
million allocated under the Nitrogen Dioxide Programme, and
funding awarded annually under Defra’s local Air Quality Grant
scheme to develop and implement measures that benefit schools,
businesses and communities, and reduce the impact of polluted air
on people’s health.
Environment Minister said:
By taking action in communities across the country, local
authorities have a pivotal role to play in improving air quality,
and they should listen to local residents and local businesses to
find solutions that work best for their local area.
Building on the great strides made in tackling air pollution at a
national level since 2010, this strategy will help councils to go
further and faster to improve air quality for the benefit of
their residents.
I encourage all local authorities to respond so together, we can
deliver cleaner air - now and for the future.
The government is taking decisive action to improve air quality.
Our five year strategy to protect and restore the environment,
which we published in January, sets out interim targets to reduce
concentrations of, and public exposure to, PM2.5 by the end of
January 2028, alongside a range of policies to work towards these
targets. This builds on the progress made since 2010, where
emissions of fine particulate matter [PM2.5] have fallen by 18%,
and emissions of nitrogen oxides are at their lowest level since
records began.
The Plan also committed to helping councils to improve air
quality more quickly by assessing their performance and use of
existing powers, while supporting them with clear guidance,
funding and tools. The consultation launched today (link)
represents a significant step forward in the delivery of these
commitments.
The strategy builds on existing net zero programmes implemented
by the government, including our National Air Pollution Control
Programme (NAPCP), which sets out how the UK can meet the legally
binding 2020 and 2030 emission reduction commitments,
and the 2019 Clean Air Strategy, which sets out the
comprehensive actions required across all parts of government and
society to improve air quality.
You can
respond to the consultation by clicking here.
