The LowCVP holds workshop to inform response to Defra air quality consultation
Wed 28 October 2015
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The LowCVP held a workshop on 19 October to help inform the Partnership's response to Defra's consultation which seeks views on draft plans to improve air quality in the UK.
Representatives of over 20 different organisations contributed to the discussions, including local authorities, vehicle manufacturers, academic bodies, trade groups and other stakeholders.
The LowCVP's Head of Projects presented an overview of the Defra consultation and proposals to the group, explaining how low carbon vehicles can contribute to air quality solutions and, indeed, how the two agendas can be more effectively tackled together. The views of the group, including written submissions, will inform the LowCVP's input to Defra.
Defra's plan sets out actions being planned or implemented at local, regional and national levels to meet the annual and hourly EU limit values for nitrogen dioxide in the shortest possible time.
This consultation web page includes the consultation document, a draft UK overview document, 38 draft zone plans and an evidence annex.
The UK is compliant with EU legislation for nearly all air pollutants. However, the country faces a significant challenge meeting the NO2 limit values in some areas, as do many other Member States. The EU Ambient Air Quality Directive (AQD) sets limits on key air pollutants. For NO2, there are two limit values for the protection of human health:
(i) annual mean concentration levels of NO2 do not exceed 40μg/m3; and
(ii) hourly mean concentration levels of NO2 do not exceed 200μg/m3 more than 18 times a calendar year.
The UK is divided into 43 zones and agglomerations for air quality monitoring and reporting purposes. In 2013, 38 out of the 43 UK zones were assessed to be exceeding the maximum annual limit for NO2, together with one zone exceeding the hourly limit.
The LowCVP's response will help to identify how low carbon vehicles and fuels can play a major role in contributing to improvements in air quality under the draft plan.
The deadline for response to the consultation is 6 November 2015.
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