Uk's Fight Against Air Pollution: Strategies And Successes

Air pollution is a significant health concern in the United Kingdom, causing an estimated 40,000 premature deaths per year and contributing to diseases such as asthma, heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke. To tackle this issue, the UK has implemented various measures, including legislation, industrial initiatives, and societal efforts. The UK government has introduced strategies such as the Clean Air Act, the Environment Act, and the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to reduce air pollution, particularly from transport, which is the main source of air pollution in urban areas. The government has also promoted the use of electric vehicles and set targets for reducing harmful emissions. Additionally, there has been a focus on improving air quality through local initiatives, such as establishing low-emission zones and providing incentives for cleaner transportation options. While progress has been made, further action is needed to bring air pollution levels within the recommended guidelines of the World Health Organization.

The UK government's plans to improve pollution from traffic

The UK government has implemented and proposed various plans and strategies to improve air pollution from traffic.

In 2019, the government announced plans to ban the sale of new fossil fuel cars by 2030 and phase out the use of coal in power generation. They also committed to phasing out diesel and petrol vehicles by 2040, although some critics argue that this timeline could be more ambitious.

In addition, the government has introduced new regulations on farmers, wood-burning stoves, and diesel cars. For example, only the cleanest forms of biomass stoves will be available from 2022, and farmers will be required to reduce fertiliser use and ammonia emissions.

The government has also encouraged the use of electric vehicles by providing more charging points and implementing Clean Air Zones (CAZ) in cities like Bath, Birmingham, and Leeds. London has also introduced the world's first Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which has achieved a significant drop in particulate matter levels.

Furthermore, the government has advised local councils to optimise traffic flow by removing speed bumps and introducing levies on diesel vehicles as a last resort. These plans aim to reduce air pollution from traffic and improve overall air quality in the UK.

The phasing out of coal in electrical power generation

Firstly, the UK ensured the availability of alternative electricity sources, such as renewable energy, which were sufficient to meet and exceed rising demand. The UK's renewable energy sector has been growing rapidly, with a particular focus on wind and solar power. In 2023, renewables provided 44% of the country's electricity supplies, up from 31% in 2018 and just 7% in 2010.

Secondly, the UK brought an end to the construction of new coal-fired power plants. The last new coal-fired power plant was built in 1986, and since then, no new coal plants have been constructed. This was partly due to protests and political action against coal, as well as the rising costs of coal compared to alternative energy sources.

Thirdly, the UK implemented policies to price externalities, such as air pollution and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. By making coal plants pay for pollution control equipment and emissions permits, the economic scales tipped in favour of alternative energy sources. Additionally, the UK introduced carbon pricing, which further increased the costs of coal power generation.

Finally, the UK government set a clear phase-out timeline, announcing its plan to exit coal power by 2025 a decade in advance, giving the power sector time to react and plan ahead. This long-term political goal was essential for the successful implementation of the phase-out.

The banning of the sale of new fossil fuel cars by 2030

The UK government has committed to reducing air pollution by phasing out the sale of new fossil fuel cars by 2030. This move is expected to reduce emissions and improve air quality in towns and cities across the country. The ban will bring forward the original deadline for ending the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and vans, which was previously set for 2035.

The UK is not alone in its efforts to transition to electric vehicles (EVs). Many countries and cities worldwide have stated their intentions to ban the sale of passenger vehicles powered by fossil fuels, including Norway, China, Japan, and several European nations. This shift is driven by a desire to reduce health risks from pollution, meet international agreements on greenhouse gas emissions, and achieve energy independence.

The automotive industry is working to introduce electric vehicles to adapt to these bans, and consumers are being incentivised to make the switch through grants and subsidies. However, there is some opposition to the idea of simply replacing fossil-fuelled cars with electric ones, as they still require a significant amount of urban space.

To support the transition to electric vehicles, the UK government has pledged over £1.8 billion to improve infrastructure and increase access to zero-emission vehicles. This includes funding for more charging points across the country, grants for those purchasing zero or ultra-low emission vehicles, and support for the development of clean, green technologies.

The ban on the sale of new fossil fuel cars is part of the UK's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions and boosting jobs in the automotive industry. It is expected to create 40,000 extra jobs by 2030, particularly in manufacturing heartlands like the North East and Midlands.

While the ban is a positive step towards reducing air pollution, the UK continues to face challenges in improving air quality. The government has been criticised for not doing enough, and air pollution remains a significant health concern, causing diseases such as asthma, lung disease, stroke, cancer, and heart disease.

The Clean Air Act

The Act allowed the introduction of "smoke control areas" in towns and cities, where only smokeless fuels could be burned. This measure helped to significantly reduce the amount of smoke pollution and sulphur dioxide from household fires. The Act also included provisions to:

• Prevent the emission of dark smoke from chimneys
• Require new furnaces to be smokeless
• Allow local planning authorities to require higher and more effective chimneys on buildings
• Minimise emitted grit and dust

The Act was modified by later enactments, including the Clean Air Act of 1968, and was repealed by the Clean Air Act of 1993, which consolidated and extended the provisions of the earlier legislation.

The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)

The ULEZ has been effective in reducing the number of non-compliant cars on the road and averting toxic air pollution. The number of non-compliant vehicles entering the zone each day dropped from 35,578 in March 2019 to 26,195 in April of the same year, after the charge was introduced. A month into the 2021 expansion, Transport for London (TfL) reported that the proportion of compliant vehicles had risen from 87% to 92%, and the number of non-compliant vehicles fell by over a third (from 127,000 to 80,000 on weekdays). The 2023 expansion brought the number of compliant vehicles to 95% of all vehicles driving in London on an average day, up from 39% in 2017.

The ULEZ operates by charging drivers of non-compliant vehicles a daily fee to drive in the zone. The criteria for charging are based on European emission standards. For example, motorcycles that do not meet Euro 3 standards (most vehicles pre-2007) and petrol cars and vans that do not meet Euro 4 standards (most vehicles pre-2006) are subject to the charge. The money raised from the ULEZ is invested in London's transport network and other measures to reduce air pollution in the city. In 2022, the zone raised £224 million in charges and fines.

The ULEZ has been subject to some criticism and politicisation, with concerns raised about its effectiveness and value. A study from the Centre for Transport Studies at Imperial College London found that the ULEZ caused smaller reductions in air pollution emissions than had been reported, arguing that the ULEZ alone is not an effective strategy. However, other research has found that the ULEZ has significantly reduced air pollution. A pair of 2022 studies found that within the first year of the zone's establishment, nitrogen dioxide levels had been reduced by 12% compared with the previous year, with reductions already evident within the first 90 days.

The ULEZ has also faced opposition in the form of organised vandalism, with a group calling themselves the "Blade Runners" claiming responsibility for attacks on the cameras that enforce the zone.

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