Keith Taylor, Green MEP for the South East, has submitted
an official response to the government's consultation on
'cleaner domestic burning of solid fuels and wood' [1],
which closes on Friday [12 October].
In his submission, the air quality campaigner attacks the
'disingenuous' claims made by the government and questions
the framing of the consultation, which shifts focus away
from 'the biggest driver of the UK's air quality crisis':
road vehicles.
Mr Taylor, a member of the European Parliament's
Environment and Transport Committees, also called on the
government to focus its attention on the management of
'smoke control' zones, with adequate funds being made
available local authorities for enforcement.
Mr Taylor said:
"The Government’s consultation
on cleaner domestic burning of solid fuels and
wood is missing some important details in the context it
sets out in the consultation overview. The statement that
talks about the reduction in air pollution emissions from
transport and industrial sources downplays both
sides of the issue. Transport air pollutants have
decreased, but almost 90% of Britain’s urban areas have
been experiencing illegal levels of NO2 pollution since
2010. And it has always been important to address all
sources of emissions, due to the health impacts they have,
so the fact that only now is the Government looking into
domestic burning, whilst positive, is much too late."
The Green MEP also noted the paucity of evidence in the
consultation documents, adding:
"The claims also made in the consultation overview, that
the increase in emissions from the domestic sector are
coming from open fires and wood-burning
stoves is completely devoid of proof. Such
statements are the basis for action in this area, it is
important that such steps are not made on beliefs, but with
evidence to demonstrate the cause of the problems."
He concluded:
"I urge the Government to ensure that the steps taken after
this consultation are ambitious and not just box-ticking
exercises. We have some pressing problems and time is
short. Now is the time for disruptive change, not
more of the same."
