IPPR: Four in five urban councillors back tougher action on clean air, but most say government has left them too broke and powerless
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We need more stringent air pollution standards in line with WHO,
say 81 per cent of town and city councillors in new poll for
IPPR As government doubles down on pro-car rhetoric, 70 per
cent say it’s not supporting councils to deliver clean air
Only 13 per cent say they have the funding to tackle problem, and
only 29 per cent say they have the powers IPPR calls on
national and local government to step up...Request free trial
The urgent need to address air pollution is being stalled at local level because councillors say they don’t have the budgets, powers or resources to make impactful change, according to a new report from IPPR. Air pollution is estimated to cause the premature deaths of 43,000 people per year in the UK, and can cause cancer, strokes, heart attacks, dementia and asthma, with the problem particularly acute in more urban areas. But the government’s recent moves to put the brakes on low-emission zones, coupled with pro-motorist rhetoric and a plan to rein in local authority action across England, are further undermining councils’ efforts to raise air quality, the report says. It also highlights a lack of knowledge of the problems caused by poor quality air among the public, but a desire to understand the issue better. Polling by Survation of a weighted sample of councillors in English cities and towns revealed high appetite to improve air quality, but a lack of capacity:
The report praises councils that have taken steps to raise air quality within their current powers for their ‘strong leadership’ and ‘ambition’, and urges local and national governments to take the same approach. However, it also flags significant political polarisation on the issue. The polling found:
The IPPR report finds that limiting use of polluting cars, creating more green spaces and encouraging public transport options are all crucial to improving air quality. However, local authorities face a double barrier of what they see as insufficient powers and funding. Following years of austerity, councils no longer have adequate budgets to hire staff to lead on environmental issues, or resources to regulate and enforce environmental rules. Additionally, long-term investment in public transport and active travel – both popular with voters - is lacking, the report says. Meanwhile, it says public health professionals in local government have limited policy levers available to them, and councils also lack the power to raise and spend money more locally, particularly on transport. To counter this IPPR is calling on the government to:
Maya Singer Hobbs, senior research fellow at IPPR, said: “Local councillors in our cities and towns generally know that air quality is bad and is leading to avoidable illnesses and deaths. But they feel they are too powerless and penniless to make a meaningful difference, and feel they’ve been abandoned by government. “Local people, like councillors, are best placed to design local solutions to improve air quality where they live. However, without more resources and wider support from national government, they won’t be able to take action at the pace and scale required to match the severity of the problem.” Stephen Frost, principal research fellow at IPPR, said: “Recent government announcements have undermined local leadership and ability to act to improve air quality and meet our climate commitments. The UK didn’t need a plan for drivers that locks in dependency on cars. “The government must drop its polarising rhetoric and listen to people’s demands for urgent action to change how we travel. When engaging with people on low incomes we found great appetite for action to improve air quality, as long as it's seen as effective and fair." ENDS NOTES TO EDITORS
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