Press release: 23 October 2019

ClientEarth response: Mayor of London puts pressure on government to introduce stricter air quality target

A new report published by the Greater London Authority shows London can meet World Health Organization guidelines for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by 2030. At the Clean Air Summit organised by UK100, London Mayor Sadiq Khan called on the Government to amend the draft Environment Bill to adopt the WHO target for PM2.5 by the recommended deadline of 2030. Below is a statement from Katie Nield, clean air lawyer at ClientEarth.

“If the Mayor of the most polluted city in the UK says that he can meet stricter World Health Organization guideline levels for particulate matter pollution by 2030, then the UK Government needs to match his ambition and set this as a binding target across the country. Doctors, local leaders and the general public agree that such a binding commitment is key to securing and driving action to better protect people’s health from harmful levels of air pollution. It’s a no brainer.”

ENDS

About ClientEarth

ClientEarth is a charity that uses the power of the law to protect people and the planet. We are international lawyers finding practical solutions for the world’s biggest environmental challenges. We are fighting climate change, protecting oceans and wildlife, making forest governance stronger, greening energy, making business more responsible and pushing for government transparency. We believe the law is a tool for positive change. From our offices in London, Brussels, Warsaw, Berlin and Beijing, we work on laws throughout their lifetime, from the earliest stages to implementation. And when those laws are broken, we go to court to enforce them.