|
CleanAir for London Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!  The UK government is failing by a wide margin to meet its legal obligations to combat air pollution in London. ClientEarth intends to compel the authorities to tackle the issue fully. We launched our CleanAir for London campaign three years to the day before the London 2012 Olympics, on 27 July 2009. London has the worst air quality in the UK and some of the worst in Europe. Recent figures have suggested that air pollution directly contributes to around 3,000 deaths each year in London alone – subsequent research has indicated that the figure may be significantly higher than this. To put this toll in context, workplace-related passive smoking contributed to 617 deaths per year across the UK prior to the smoking ban: the number of deaths in London is five times that figure. The air quality failures in the capital are part of a wider national problem, with an estimated healthcare cost of up to £21 billion every year. European law has set targets to reduce levels of dangerous airborne particles (known as PM10). Greater London has failed to meet these targets in every year since they became legally binding in 2005. The Government only recently applied for a time extension for complying with these limits, despite having already missed the deadline set by the European Commission for doing so. By obtaining an extension, the Government aims to avoid fines and win more time to address a pressing problem that should have been prioritised years ago. To demonstrate its resolve to protect public health, the European Commission has launched infringement action over the initial legal breach. ClientEarth does not believe that the UK government is legally eligible for a time extension for PM10. The UK does not meet the preconditions required by European legislation for the time extension and current plans to eliminate breaches of PM10 in London by June 2011 are not credible. ClientEarth is taking legal action to compel the government to comply with its air quality obligations. On 27 July 2009 we wrote to the European Commission urging it to reject the government’s request for a time extension on PM10 in London. Without a delayed deadline it will have to take decisive action now, rather than put off its obligations while more Londoners suffer the health effects of poor air quality. What must be done? The government can and should make great efforts to improve London air quality in time for the London 2012 Olympics. Actions taken to tackle air pollution will save lives, improve the quality of life of all Londoners and save billions of pounds in healthcare costs. The London Assembly environment committee’s cross-party report “Every Breath You Take” sets out clear and practical recommendations about the means to achieve these aims before the deadline. The committee’s report states that the UK must: 1) Introduce additional, smaller low emission zones to target pollution hotspots from road transport. 2) Introduce a vehicle retrofit subsidy scheme in London with funding support from central government. 3) Undertake research into using biofuel for all public transport in London including buses, trains, taxis and river transport. 4) Launch a widespread public understanding campaign to ensure air quality issues are more accessible to Londoners. 5) Reduce the emissions of the older public diesel vehicle fleet as a vital priority. 6) Use planning guidance established in existing legislation if there are air quality implications for planning decisions. ClientEarth endorses the committee’s recommendations and any other measures necessary to achieve full legal compliance with air quality laws in London. If the recommendations are implemented, London could become a model for behavioural change, technological progress and political will benefitting cities around the world. You can register your support for 'CleanAir for London' by signing up to our free membership  ClientEarth CEO James Thornton and lawyer Alan Andrews with London Assembly members and MEPs from the Green, Liberal Democrat and Labour parties, Environmental protection UK and the Campaign for Clean Air in London. |