Recommendations & Conclusions
9 items
2
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
Not Addressed
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 …
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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 to do so. This highlights the need for legally binding air quality limits and the Committee recommends that the Office for Environmental Protection (see chapter 3) be empowered to enforce them. (Paragraph 19) Health inequalities and covid-19
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Government response AI summary
The government outlined its comprehensive Clean Air Strategy, including proposals for new goals and legislation, and discussed collaborations with health departments, review of the National Air Quality Strategy, and increased Air Quality Grant funding, but did not address the recommendation to empower the Office for …
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
6
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
Not Addressed
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 …
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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 pollution problems, relying on existing strategies that are making limited progress. Although we welcome the Government’s commitment to setting an air quality target to reduce the level of PM2.5 there is also a need to address the other key air pollutants - of NO2, PM10, SO2, NMVOCs and ammonia - which are also having a detrimental effect on people’s health. We note the Minister’s reference to the targets in retained EU law, but these are easily amended and sit outside of the new structure environmental governance the Government is seeking to create. Overall, therefore, the Bill’s current provisions do not provide the robust legal framework required given the scale and urgency of the challenge. We therefore recommend that the Government makes the following amendments to the Environment Bill: a) That clause 2 is amended to provide for a specific target to reduce the annual mean concentration of PM2.5 to under 10μg/m3 by 1 January 2030, in line with WHO- guidelines, and also include an interim target for 2025; and b) The duties related to “air quality partners” should apply to all levels of government and public bodies, and the power to request contributions to city wide action plans should be extended to regional and city Mayors and combined authorities.
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Government response AI summary
The government outlines existing legally binding emission reduction targets and the process of revising the National Air Pollution Control Programme, but does not address the specific requested amendments to the Environment Bill regarding PM2.5 concentration targets or duties for air quality partners.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
9
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
Not Addressed
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 …
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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 have a vital role in raising public awareness of these issues, but they should not have to fill a void left by Government. Often those local authorities who have been leading the way on air quality have been frustrated by a lack of effective, joined-up, engagement from central Government. Where local councils need to show greater leadership in using the tools they already have; they would be assisted by more joined-up support from Government with all departments, not just Defra and DfT involved. The Ministers’ answers do not give us confidence that this is happening. The Government should therefore expand 44 Air Quality and coronavirus: a glimpse of a different future or business as usual the Defra/DfT Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) to include the DHSC, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, HM Treasury, and the Cabinet Office to achieve better coordination and increase its priority within Whitehall. The JAQU’s remit should include building support for action on air quality collaborating with local government, the NHS, business, academic and clinical researchers and civil society.
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Government response AI summary
The government discusses inter-departmental work between DfT and BEIS officials regarding cleaner vehicle targets for the central government fleet but does not address the recommendation to expand the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) to include other government departments or broaden its remit.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
11
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
Not Addressed
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, …
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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, lack of national support and local delays. The Government’s updated CAZ- timetable provides only a partial picture with regards to all the local authorities that had been directed to consider whether to introduce CAZs. Many CAZs have been further held up by the pandemic so a concerted effort is needed to achieve faster progress, requiring a more cooperative and joined-up approach between national and local government, as well as more funding. Although local NO2 levels may fall below legal limits over time because of wider changes, in the interim, many local residents will die or suffer health impacts. We also note that some questions remain about the measurement and accuracy of air quality across the country. The Government should, in its response to this report, set out revised timetables for when all the proposed CAZs in England will be implemented and ensure that they are “the shortest possible time”. It should set out the current position with regards to those local authorities which have decided to introduce alternative measures to CAZs, and for those authorities which may be reviewing their proposals because of the pandemic. It should also review what further resources are needed to ensure those timetables don’t slip further.
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Government response AI summary
The government explained its Clean Air Zone Framework and the principles for local authorities, emphasizing economic impacts and time-limited exemptions, but did not provide the requested revised timetables for CAZ implementation, updates on local authorities using alternative measures, or a review of necessary resources.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
12
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
Not Addressed
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
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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
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Government response AI summary
The government's response discussed the publication of JAQU's evaluation report on local NO2 plans and plans to share learning with local authorities, but did not address the recommendation that all Clean Air Zones should be Class D and include time-limited exemptions for people with reduced …
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
14
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
Not Addressed
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 …
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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 welcome the additional investment from the Government to expand electronic charging infrastructure. The Government must ensure that capacity and coverage is in place across the country, and especially in rural areas, to enable people to switch away from petrol and diesel cars. The Clean Air Strategy is reliant on local action and should therefore be updated not just to reflect the overall impact of the pandemic, but also its differential impact on local economies.
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Government response AI summary
The government's response discussed how Clean Air Zones aim to increase fleet turnover, mentioned exploring financial incentives for sustainable change, and highlighted support through the Air Quality Grant Programme and the Business Clean Air Taskforce. However, it did not address ensuring capacity and coverage of …
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
15
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
Not Addressed
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 …
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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 small businesses that are not covered by these regulations. The Government should: c) review policies that rely on vehicle fleet turnover to ensure there is not a slowdown in the removal of older and more polluting vehicles; d) develop financial incentives and support to encourage businesses to invest to reduce their impact on local air quality; and e) support the development of robust standards and processes for air quality audits.
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Government response AI summary
The government's response detailed efforts to reassure the public about public transport safety, plans for a National Bus Strategy, investment in zero-emission buses, and emergency bus funding during the pandemic. It did not address the recommendation to review vehicle fleet turnover policies, develop financial incentives …
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
16
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
Not Addressed
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 …
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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 promote its use. We welcome the Government’s efforts to help maintain public transport capacity through financial support to providers, given the likely shift in public behaviours this will need to be maintained for a period after restrictions are lifted. As restrictions are lifted, the Government should work with local authorities and providers to reassure the public that public transport is safe and to promote its use. We welcome the Government’s efforts to help maintain public transport capacity through financial support to providers, given the likely shift in public behaviours this will need 46 Air Quality and coronavirus: a glimpse of a different future or business as usual to be maintained for a period after restrictions are lifted. The Government will also need to consider whether the financial stress providers are under will slow their move to cleaner vehicles and whether further public investment will be needed to maintain momentum.
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Government response AI summary
The government's response focused on funding for active travel, cycling, and walking initiatives, rather than addressing the recommendation to reassure the public about public transport safety, promote its use, or consider financial support for public transport providers to transition to cleaner vehicles.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
18
Recommendation
Fifth report - Air Quality and coronavi…
Not Addressed
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 …
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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 communities and adapting schemes in response to feedback and experience will be vital to embedding long-term changes, and the need to do this should be reflected in Government funding for schemes.
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Government response AI summary
The government described how the Active Travel Fund supports local authorities in implementing schemes and using enforcement powers, and mentioned a forthcoming Transport Decarbonisation Plan, but did not specify how community engagement would be reflected in future funding for schemes as requested.
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs