Recommendations & Conclusions
20 items
1
Conclusion
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
Before the pandemic, the UK had made limited progress in improving air quality, with less than a quarter of air quality assessment areas meeting the annual mean limit for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Lockdown restrictions from March 2020 led to less traffic and changing travel patterns and many people experienced better …
Government response. The UK has existing legally binding air quality limits, set out in UK legislation (Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010, National Emission Ceilings Regulations 2018). The Environment Bill additionally places a duty on the Secretary of State to set at least …
2
Conclusion
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
The noticeable improvement many people had in their experience of air quality and their wellbeing following the initial lockdown illustrates the benefits of action to tackle air quality for all of us. The tragic death of Ella Kissi-Debrah, and thousands of others each year, shows the costs of the failure …
Government response. Our Clean Air Strategy outlines a comprehensive and ambitious programme of actions across all sectors of the economy, including proposals for new goals, legislation, investment and policies which will help us to improve air quality and maximise public health benefits. …
3
Conclusion
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
Many of the areas with the highest levels of social deprivation are also the most exposed to air pollution and this link is also more pronounced for people from ethnic minority backgrounds. Further research is urgently needed to fully understand the link between poor air quality and covid-19, which the …
Government response. quality targets required through the Environment Bill. There is a strong case for taking action on PM2.5 as it is the air pollutant that has the most significant impact on human health. That is why we are introducing a duty …
4
Conclusion
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
The Environment Bill should be amended to include a health inequalities target, to reduce the number of deaths associated with air pollution; and to require the Secretary of State to take account of human health considerations when setting or reviewing air quality targets. It should include a duty on all …
Government response. Reducing public health impacts is a primary focus of the process for developing new air quality targets required through the Environment Bill. There is a strong case for taking action on PM2.5 as it is the air pollutant that has …
5
Conclusion
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
The Committee recommends that the Office for Environmental Protection is given the necessary powers to enforce these limits.
Government response. Reducing public health impacts is a primary focus of the process for developing new air quality targets required through the Environment Bill. There is a strong case for taking action on PM2.5 as it is the air pollutant that has …
6
Conclusion
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
The Clean Air Strategy is a step in the right direction but relies too much on local authorities, delegating most responsibility for delivering air quality improvements to them without providing sufficient competencies and resources to deliver. It also lacks the ambition to fully address the challenges posed by England’s air …
Government response. The UK has ambitious, legally binding targets in place to significantly reduce emissions of the five most damaging air pollutants (Nitrogen Oxides, Sulphur dioxide, Ammonia (NH3), Primary particulate matter (PM2.5), and Non-methane volatile organic compounds) by 2020, and 2030. In …
7
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
Alongside the PM2.5 target, the Secretary of State should use his discretionary powers in the Bill to set additional long-term air quality targets to reduce NO2, PM10, SO2, NMVOCs and ammonia. The Government should also commit to a long-term funding structure for local authorities to underpin their new duties in …
Government response. 5a) We already have ambitious and statutory national emission reduction commitments in place for five key air pollutants (nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, particulate matter, non-methane volatile organic compounds and ammonia) as well as legally binding concentration limits for other pollutants. …
8
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
As part of the Clean Air Strategy the Government should include a timeline on when the reduction in limits of other pollutants is to be delivered. (Paragraph 58) National and local action
Government response. The UK has ambitious, legally binding targets in place to significantly reduce emissions of the five most damaging air pollutants (Nitrogen Oxides, Sulphur dioxide, Ammonia (NH3), Primary particulate matter (PM2.5), and Non-methane volatile organic compounds) by 2020, and 2030. In …
9
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
We recognise the commitment of the ministers in Defra and DfT, and their officials, to tackling poor air quality. However, it is not clear that this is matched elsewhere in Government, nor is the urgency of the issue being communicated strongly enough to the public. Local campaign groups will always …
Government response. Departments across government are committed to transitioning to cleaner, greener vehicles. The Government Fleet Commitment (GFC) commits 100% of central government cars to be Ultra Low Emission (ULEV) by 2030, with an interim target of 25% by 2022. The progress …
10
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
Government and the public sector at all levels must lead by example on air quality if they are asking businesses and individuals to make changes. There are numerous examples of that already happening in the NHS, local government and other sectors, with some public bodies, for instance seeking to minimise …
Government response. Achieving our legally binding emissions targets will require action across society, and it is the UK government’s ambition to lead by example. With the wider environment in mind, our commitment to improving air quality extends to improving how we are …
11
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
Clean Air Zones (CAZs) are the UK Government’s key mechanism for reducing NO2 from road transport to legal levels “in the shortest possible time”, but they illustrate the Government’s over-reliance on local government to deliver progress. CAZs were already being held up before the pandemic by delays in national funding, …
Government response. The measures implemented by local area—including CAZ—are developed by local areas and informed by local modelling data and area needs. The Clean Air Zone Framework (CAZ) in England first published in 2017 ensures consistency between CAZs by setting out the …
12
Conclusion
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
The Government’s framework should ensure that all CAZs are class D (i.e. charging zones), and include time-limited exemptions for people with reduced mobility to help them adapt. (Paragraph 88) Air Quality and coronavirus: a glimpse of a different future or business as usual 45
Government response. are useful, providing them with regular updates on ongoing research in their Local Plan areas. Our recent publication of the first annual report of the JAQU evaluation of local NO2 plans further illustrates our commitment to ensuring local authorities have …
13
Conclusion
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
We recognise that CAZs do not address the root causes of air pollution, nor the wider issues beyond their boundaries, and that local leaders sometimes have to strike a difficult balance so as to not “lose the dressing room”. However, at times local government also needs to be prepared to …
Government response. The Clean Air Strategy sets out how the Government will drive and enable greater local action on air pollution. We are currently conducting a major review of the Local Air Quality Management Framework. We will work closely with Local Authorities …
14
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
We welcome the Government’s commitment to a green recovery, including bringing forward the ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars. This must include a strong focus on improving air quality, especially given the risk that changes in local economies and working patterns might exacerbate existing problems. We also …
Government response. 12 Government Response: Air Quality and coronavirus: a glimpse of a different future or business as usual 14a) CAZs are specifically designed to increase vehicle fleet turnover to remove older, more polluting vehicles from our roads. We expect this to …
15
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
There are also opportunities to enable businesses to invest to reduce their contribution to air pollution; but risks this won’t happen given the financial difficulties many face. This should be in addition to the “Best Available Techniques” process which covers industrial sites regulated under environmental permits and help the many …
Government response. The government’s policy has been to reassure the public that public transport is safe to use, even in the context of current restrictions. Our message has been that the public must adhere to the ‘Stay Home’ guidance, other than for …
16
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
Although reducing the use of public transport has been necessary during the pandemic, action is needed to prevent a permanent shift in public attitudes towards it. As restrictions are lifted, the Government should work with local authorities and providers to reassure the public that public transport is safe and to …
Government response. The Government has now provided over £200 million of funding to local authorities across Active Travel Fund. A further £257 million of funding was announced at the Spending 14 Government Response: Air Quality and coronavirus: a glimpse of a different …
17
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
During the first lockdown in spring 2020, active travel increased significantly, facilitated in part by timely Government action. It is important that this progress is not lost, and the Government must match its rhetoric on a longer-term shift to active travel with sufficient funding. It is important that this progress …
Government response. In order for Local Authorities to gain access to the second tranche of Active Travel Funding the Department has made this funding subject to them agreeing to and meeting conditions, including the introduction of proper consultation, with residents, businesses and …
18
Conclusion
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
There remains a mixed picture on implementation across the country however, reflecting both local needs but also in some place the willingness of local leaders to make the case for changes which take time to bed-in. We recognise the difficult balancing act that local decision makers face. Engaging the affected …
Government response. The Active Travel Fund has encouraged local authorities to look at how people can use their streets in other ways to than being simply vessels for cars. Local authorities have been able to use Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders to introduce …
19
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
Active travel schemes, and other local efforts to tackle air pollution, must benefit the communities most affected by air pollution, and focus on changing the behaviour of those who contribute most to the problem. They must also avoid undermining public transport. We recognise the efforts of many schools, parents and …
Government response. The Active Travel Fund has encouraged local authorities to look at how people can use their streets in other ways to than being simply vessels for cars. Local authorities have been able to use Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders to introduce …
20
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
The pandemic has caused substantial shifts in how people travel. This has had a positive effect on some measures of air quality; but it is likely to be temporary, and positive moves such as more working from home and active travel may be offset by people moving away from cities …
Government response. Consultation on the Planning for the Future White Paper closed on October 2020. The White Paper set out Government’s ambitious plans for reform of the planning system. More detail is required on some of the proposals, and MHCLG is undertaking …