The Government has produced a draft plan to improve air quality in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The draft plan sets out proposed actions to meet air quality standards within the shortest possible time.
This consultation includes the following documents:
- draft UK Air Quality Plan for tackling nitrogen dioxide (‘Improving air quality in the UK: tackling nitrogen dioxide in our towns and cities’)
- technical report, including details of modelling techniques and assumptions used in the draft UK Air Quality Plan for tackling nitrogen dioxide
The plan, which was finally published the day the local election results were announced (5th May), was produced after environmental lawyers ClientEarth took the Government to court over their failure to tackle air pollution in the UK. The firm faced a legal fight to get the proposals published before the general election. A spokesman said the proposals were “much weaker than we had hoped for”.
Alongside the consultation the Government has also published the following:
- framework document: Clean air zone framework for England (principles which Local Authorities should follow when setting up clean air zones)
- summary of responses to the Implementation of Clean Air Zones in England consultation
Consultation closes: 11.45pm on 15 June 2017
Consultation documents available here