MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet
Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: The Environment
(Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act 2024, which received
Royal Assent in February 2024, brought forward measures which
will result in improvements in air quality in Wales, reducing
public health impacts associated with a poor air environment.
Today I am pleased to announce that the sections of the Act that
relate to Local Air Quality Management and the four Smoke Control
Areas in Wales have come into force. To support this, we have
published guidance for Local Authorities to support them in
meeting their new obligations within the Act. This delivers
further on the commitments we made in our Programme for Government to
address the climate and nature emergencies.
The quality of air we breathe affects our health and well-being
every minute of the day. The World Health Organization has
described air pollution as the world's largest single
environmental health risk. Our Programme for Government
recognised the high importance of improving the air environment
by making a commitment to introduce this Act.
The Act introduced a requirement on Local Authorities to
undertake an annual review of air quality, also an obligation for
an air quality action plan to contain a projected compliance date
which must be agreed with Welsh Ministers. The Act also amended
the Clean Air Act 1993 to enable Local Authorities to better
manage and enforce emissions of smoke in Smoke Control
Areas.
Smoke control covers the control of pollution from solid fuel
burning from chimneys in homes and businesses within Smoke
Control Areas. Criminal offences are hard to administer and
rarely result in prosecution. The Act and associated guidance
make it easier for Local Authorities to take enforcement action
by introducing civil monetary penalties, to replace current
criminal sanctions, which can be instigated by Local Authorities
where smoke is emitted from a chimney within a smoke-control
area. In implementing the relevant sections of the Act, the Welsh
Government is continuing to support Local Authorities to make
sustained improvements to air quality for their local
communities.
This statement is being issued during recess to keep Members
informed. Should Members wish me to make a further statement or
to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be
happy to do so.
