UK Supreme Court orders Government to take “immediate action” on air pollution
Wed 29 April 2015
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The UK's highest judicial body, the Supreme Court, has ruled that the UK Government must deliver plans to cut illegal levels of air pollution in Britain before the end of 2015.
The ruling is the culmination of a five-year legal battle by campaign group Client Earth. It is a significant victory for campaigners, who began legal action after the UK was found to have breached EU limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
The group says that diesel vehicles are an important source of NOx emissions, and that NO2 is linked to a range of respiratory illnesses.
Defra says that it has already started to revise plans to meet EU targets on NO2.
In a unanimous ruling, a panel of five judges, headed by the court's president Lord Neuberger, ordered "that the Government must prepare and consult on new air quality plans for submission to the European Commission... no later than December 31 2015".
ClientEarth Lawyer Alan Andrews said: “Air pollution kills tens of thousands of people in this country every year. We brought our case because we have a right to breathe clean air and today the Supreme Court has upheld that right.
“This ruling will benefit everyone’s health but particularly children, older people and those with existing health conditions like asthma and heart and lung conditions.
“The next Government, regardless of the political party or parties which take power, is now legally bound to take urgent action on this public health crisis. Before next week’s election all political parties need to make a clear commitment to policies which will deliver clean air and protect our health.”
Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said (reported by the BBC): "Policies to improve air quality should focus on encouraging the uptake of the latest low emission vehicles, while also addressing other sources such as electricity generation and heating, which between them account for more than half of NOx emitted in the UK.
"Today's diesel engines are the cleanest ever: high tech filters capture 99% of particulates and NOx emissions are down 84% since 2000."
Announcing the decision, Lord Carnwath said: "The new government, whatever its political complexion, should be left in no doubt as to the need for immediate action to address this issue."
The LowCVP work programme focusses on the impacts of policies to cut carbon emissions and on the potential benefits to air quality. Past studies have also taken the same approach, particularly in relation to work focused on densely populated urban areas where air quality problems from transport are most significant. The most recent scheme for Low Emission Buses shows how, with innovative approaches, policies can be constructed to maximise the benefits in both Air quality and Climate change impact, whilst giving real operational benefits too.
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