Meghan Hodges
The UK government has implemented various measures to address the issue of pollution, which is considered a significant threat to public health and the environment. In 2019, the government launched the Clean Air Strategy, aiming to reduce people's exposure to particulate matter and toxic pollutants. This strategy includes developing new guidance on pollution sources, promoting cleaner technologies, and ensuring the availability of cleaner fuels. Local authorities play a crucial role in monitoring and improving air quality, and the government has invested significantly in enhancing air quality and reducing harmful emissions. Additionally, the UK has adopted international commitments, retained EU laws, and enacted domestic legislation to combat pollution and improve air quality.
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What You'll Learn
The UK government's Clean Air Strategy
The Clean Air Strategy identifies several areas of concern that contribute to air pollution, including road transport, industrial-level burning of fossil fuels, intensive agricultural food production, heating homes, and certain cleaning products. To address these issues, the government is taking a multifaceted approach.
One key aspect is the development of new guidelines for common sources of pollution, such as tyres, brakes, and wood stoves. The government is also working to ensure that only the cleanest fuels are available for sale, promoting the use of cleaner technologies. In partnership with UK Research and Investment (UKRI), the government has invested in a joint research programme worth £19.6 million to encourage the development and adoption of these cleaner technologies.
Local authorities play a crucial role in implementing the Clean Air Strategy. They are responsible for regularly monitoring and reviewing and assessing air quality in their respective areas. These authorities are required to produce annual reviews and action plans to improve and safeguard air quality.
The UK government has also set ambitious targets for reducing particulate matter (PM), which the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified as the most damaging pollutant. The government aims to halve the number of people living in areas that exceed WHO guidelines for PM by 2025. This target goes beyond EU requirements, demonstrating the UK's commitment to tackling air pollution.
The Clean Air Strategy is an ongoing process, and the government continues to work towards improving air quality and reducing harmful emissions. This includes investing £3.5 billion to enhance air quality and reduce emissions, as well as considering updates to existing air quality legislation to ensure it effectively protects public health and the environment.
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Reducing exposure to particulate matter
The UK government has identified air pollution as a national health emergency, contributing to approximately 40,000 deaths in the UK each year, second only to smoking as a cause of mortality. As such, the government has committed to taking strong, urgent action to reduce people's exposure to particulate matter (PM), which the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified as the most damaging pollutant.
The government's Clean Air Strategy, launched in 2019, sets out plans to address sources of air pollution, including developing new guidance on things like tyres, brakes, and wood stoves, and ensuring that only the cleanest fuels are available for sale. The government is also supporting innovation in cleaner technologies, with a £19.6 million joint research programme with UK Research and Investment (UKRI).
In addition to the Clean Air Strategy, the government has published an Air Quality Strategy, which outlines plans to reduce exposure to toxic pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, ammonia, particulate matter, non-methane volatile organic compounds, and sulphur dioxide. This strategy identifies areas of concern, including road transport, industrial-level burning of fossil fuels, intensive agricultural food production, heating homes, and certain cleaning products, and suggests ways in which these pollutants could be addressed.
The UK has also set ambitious, long-term targets for reducing exposure to PM, including halving the number of people living in areas breaching WHO guidelines on PM by 2025, and setting targets for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in England through The Environmental Targets (Fine Particulate Matter) (England) Regulations 2023. The government has also committed to publishing evidence on the actions needed to meet WHO guidelines on air quality, and to updating and improving air quality legislation to better protect public health and the environment.
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Reducing pollutants in car emissions
The UK government has implemented various measures to reduce pollutants in car emissions and improve air quality. In 2019, the government launched its Clean Air Strategy, which outlines plans to address sources of air pollution. This includes developing guidance on pollution-causing products such as tyres, brakes, and wood stoves, as well as ensuring that only the cleanest fuels are available for sale. Local authorities are also actively involved in improving air quality by regularly reviewing and assessing air quality in their areas and producing annual reviews and action plans.
To support the development of cleaner technologies, the government has invested £19.6 million in a joint research programme with UK Research and Investment (UKRI). This initiative aims to address air pollution and help people live longer and healthier lives, reducing the impact of air pollution on public health. The UK government has also recognised the urgency of tackling climate change and has taken a leading role in combating air pollution globally. As a member of the Global Methane Initiative since 2004, the UK has established several project sites to reduce methane emissions and promote their use as a renewable energy source.
Furthermore, the UK has committed to reducing black carbon emissions through cleaner diesel fuels and vehicles, as outlined in the Marrakech Communiqué endorsed in 2016. The UK was also one of the first countries to ratify the Kigali Amendment and endorsed the Biarritz Pledge to improve energy efficiency in the cooling sector. The government has set ambitious targets for reducing emissions, aiming to cut all greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.
To meet these targets, the UK published a Revised UK National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCP) in February 2023, which outlines measures and analysis for achieving emission reduction commitments. The UK is also a participant in the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) and has signed the COP29 Declaration on Reducing Methane from Organic Waste, demonstrating its commitment to global methane reduction efforts. The UK has provided funding to the International Energy Agency's methane programme and contributed to the CCAC Trust Fund's Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme, assisting developing countries in reducing methane emissions from fossil fuels.
In addition to national efforts, the UK has supported international initiatives to address air pollution. As a partner in the Climate & Clean Air Coalition, the UK has co-chaired the Forum for International Cooperation on Air Pollution (FICAP) and endorsed the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health, recognising the urgent need to reduce air pollution. The UK has also supported UNEA Resolution 6/10, promoting regional cooperation to improve air quality globally. These actions demonstrate the UK government's commitment to reducing pollutants in car emissions and improving air quality through a combination of domestic policies, research initiatives, and international collaborations.
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Local authorities' responsibilities for local air quality
Local authorities have a number of responsibilities when it comes to maintaining and improving local air quality. Each local authority is required to regularly review and assess the air quality in their area. They must produce annual reviews of air quality, alongside action plans to improve or maintain air quality within their areas. These plans are available on local authority websites.
Local authorities are also responsible for monitoring and ensuring that the air in their areas does not contain pollutants that exceed the limits set by the EU. This is especially important given that the UK has a large amount of legislative regime regulating air quality that has been established at the EU level. Local authorities must also work to reduce the amount of pollutants in car emissions.
The UK government has launched its Clean Air Strategy, which includes developing new guidance on things that create pollution, such as tyres, brakes, and wood stoves. The government is also working to ensure that only the cleanest fuels are available for sale. The Clean Air Strategy is an ambitious, long-term plan to reduce people's exposure to particulate matter (PM), which the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified as the most damaging pollutant.
The UK government has committed to halving the number of people living in areas that breach WHO guidelines on PM by 2025. The UK is the first major economy to adopt air quality goals based on WHO recommendations, going beyond EU requirements. The Clean Air Strategy will help protect the health of millions of people and is an example for the rest of the world to follow.
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The cost of air pollution
Air pollution is considered a national health emergency, contributing to approximately 40,000 deaths in the UK each year, making it the second-largest cause of mortality after smoking. It is also one of the biggest threats to public health in the UK, behind only cancer, obesity, and heart disease. The UK government has acknowledged that air pollution is the top environmental risk to human health.
The UK has extensive and robust legislation to address air pollution, including independent laws and the implementation of EU directives. The government has also launched its Clean Air Strategy, which aims to reduce people's exposure to particulate matter (PM) and sets out plans to address sources of air pollution, such as developing new guidance on tyres, brakes, and wood stoves.
To support innovation in cleaner technologies, the UK government has also invested £19.6 million in a joint research program with UK Research and Investment (UKRI). This investment will help to address air pollution and improve public health, contributing to the NHS Long Term Plan's focus on prevention.
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Frequently asked questions
The UK government launched its Clean Air Strategy in 2019. The strategy outlines plans to reduce people's exposure to toxic pollutants that damage human health and the environment, such as nitrogen oxides, ammonia, and sulphur dioxide. The government is investing £3.5 billion to improve air quality and reduce harmful emissions.
The UK government has set a long-term target to reduce people's exposure to particulate matter (PM), which the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified as the most damaging pollutant. The UK is the first major economy to adopt air quality goals based on WHO recommendations, going beyond EU requirements.
The UK government is supporting investment in innovation to clean up the air, including a joint research programme worth £19.6 million to promote the development of cleaner technologies. Local authorities are also required to regularly review and assess air quality in their areas, producing annual reviews and action plans to improve or safeguard air quality.
