Uk's Air Pollution: Solutions That Worked Wonders

Air pollution in the UK has long been a significant health issue, causing diseases such as asthma, lung disease, stroke, cancer, and heart disease, and costing the health service, society, and businesses over £20 billion each year. Outdoor pollution alone is estimated to cause 40,000 early deaths each year. The UK government has implemented various strategies and legislation to tackle this issue, with a particular focus on reducing emissions from transport and agriculture, the two main sources of air pollution.

One of the critical solutions to reduce air pollution in the UK was the introduction of the Clean Air Act in 1956, following the Great Smog of London in 1952, which killed thousands of people. This legislation aimed to address smoke pollution and reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by introducing smokeless fuels.

In recent years, the UK government has continued to prioritize air quality improvement with the launch of the Clean Air Strategy in 2019. This strategy includes new targets and powers for local governments to reduce people's exposure to particulate matter, a pollutant identified by the World Health Organization as the most damaging to health. The UK has also committed to ending the sale of new diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2040 and is supporting the development of cleaner technologies through investment and innovation.

The Clean Air Act

Measures to Reduce Air Pollution:

• The Act introduced several measures to reduce air pollution, primarily focusing on the reduction of smoke pollution and sulphur dioxide emissions.
• It mandated a shift towards smokeless fuels, especially in high-population "smoke control areas."
• The Act included provisions to minimise the emission of gases, grit, and dust from chimneys and smoke stacks.
• It allowed local authorities to declare specific areas as "smoke control areas," where only smokeless fuels could be burned.
• The Act also addressed the emission of dark smoke from chimneys, requiring new furnaces to be smokeless.
• Local planning authorities were empowered to require higher and more effective chimneys on buildings.

Impact and Amendments:

• The Clean Air Act had a substantial impact on urban air quality in the UK.
• It was modified by later enactments, including the Clean Air Act 1968, which built upon the measures of the 1956 Act.
• The 1956 and 1968 Clean Air Acts were consolidated and extended by the Clean Air Act 1993, which remains in effect today.
• The Act has been an important step towards improving air quality, but air pollution remains a significant issue in the UK, with ongoing efforts to tackle it through legislation, policies, and public awareness campaigns.

Reducing vehicle emissions

The UK has been battling air pollution since the Middle Ages, and it remains a significant health issue. The Clean Air Act of 1956 was the first legislation to address this issue, and there have been many subsequent laws and regulations to improve air quality.

One of the major contributors to air pollution in the UK is vehicle emissions. Here are some ways to reduce vehicle emissions:

Reduce Idling

Unnecessary idling of vehicles pollutes the air, wastes fuel, and causes excess engine wear. Modern vehicles do not need to be "warmed up" in cold weather, so there is no need to turn on the engine until you are ready to drive. Turning off the engine when you are at a standstill can help reduce idling time. Many new cars have start/stop technology, which automatically turns off the engine when the vehicle is in neutral gear with the handbrake on.

Maintain Your Vehicle

Regular servicing and maintenance can help reduce your vehicle's emissions. This includes getting tune-ups, following the manufacturer's maintenance schedule, and using the recommended motor oil. It is also important to keep your tyres properly inflated, as underinflated tyres can reduce fuel efficiency and increase emissions.

Use a Cleaning Agent

As a car gets older, harmful deposits can build up in the engine, reducing efficiency and increasing emissions. Adding a cleaning agent to the fuel system can help remove these deposits and lower emissions. Premium fuels already contain these additives, so you may consider using them instead of regular diesel or unleaded petrol.

Change Your Driving Style

Making small changes to your driving style can significantly impact your vehicle's emissions. This includes driving efficiently by going easy on the gas pedal and brakes, changing gears earlier, and braking sooner.

Avoid Unnecessary Driving

Reducing the number of miles driven will directly decrease emissions. Consider walking, cycling, or using public transportation whenever possible. Carpooling or using ride-sharing services can also help reduce the number of vehicles on the road.

Choose Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

When purchasing a new vehicle, look for fuel-efficient models with low greenhouse gas emissions. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and cleaner-burning gasoline vehicles are more environmentally friendly options.

Reducing emissions from factories and power plants

Energy-intensive industries, including factories and power plants, are responsible for 11% of the UK's total emissions and over 70% of its industrial emissions. The UK government has supported these industries in reducing their emissions and fossil fuel use through various funding schemes.

The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF)

The IETF provides funding for businesses that use a lot of energy to reduce their fossil fuel consumption by adopting innovative low-carbon technologies. This not only helps the environment but also reduces energy costs and safeguards British jobs. Companies that have received support from the IETF include:

• Heineken, which received funding to upgrade its Manchester brewery, including installing technology to recover waste heat from refrigeration systems.
• Toyota, which received funding to introduce new airless paint sprayers that use static electricity instead of air, reducing energy requirements.
• Britvic Soft Drinks, which received funding to implement new technologies, including a heat recovery system and a Low-Temperature Hot Water network at its site in east London.
• Kellogg's, which received funding to assess the possibility of recovering waste heat from its cereal manufacturing processes to reduce gas usage.

Other Funding Schemes

In addition to the IETF, the UK government has provided other funding schemes to support energy-intensive industries in reducing their emissions:

• The £1 billion CCUS Infrastructure Fund, which supports capital expenditure on transport, storage networks, and industrial carbon capture projects.
• The £240 million Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, which supports the commercial deployment of new low-carbon hydrogen production projects.
• The £55 million Industrial Fuel Switching Fund, which provides capital funding to promote switching from more carbon-intensive fuel sources.
• The £20 million Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDIRC), which provides capital funding for projects supporting fuel switching to hydrogen in industrial sites.
• Up to £66 million as part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, to help key foundation industries, such as steel, develop innovative technology to reduce energy and resource use.

The Clean Air Act

The UK passed its first Clean Air Act in 1956 following the Great Smog of 1952, which caused an estimated 3,000-4,000 deaths. This Act made a substantial difference to urban air quality. Since then, the UK government has continued to tackle air pollution through legislation, with the Supreme Court ruling in 2015 that the government must take immediate action to cut air pollution.

Phasing Out Fossil Fuels

The UK government has also taken steps to phase out the use of fossil fuels, particularly coal, in power generation. Additionally, the government has plans to ban the sale of new fossil fuel cars by 2030 and new petrol and diesel cars by 2040. These measures will contribute to reducing emissions from power plants and factories that rely on fossil fuels.

Banning the sale of new fossil fuel cars

The UK has long considered air pollution a significant health issue, and it is also a cause of damage to buildings, forests, and crops. In 2017, research revealed that air pollution levels in 44 UK cities were above the recommended World Health Organization guidelines. To tackle this, the UK government has implemented several measures, including the introduction of urban Clean Air Zones and, notably, the decision to ban the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles.

In 2019, the British government announced plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2040, following similar announcements by other countries such as France. However, in 2020, the UK brought forward this target by a decade to 2030, aiming to speed up the transition to electric vehicles. This decision was influenced by assurances that the country's infrastructure would be ready to support the shift, with the National Grid stating that the grid is "suitably robust" to handle the increased demand for electricity.

The ban on new fossil fuel vehicles is expected to play a crucial role in reducing air pollution in the UK. By encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles, which have lower emissions, the UK can decrease the amount of pollution in the atmosphere. This move is particularly important as road transport contributes significantly to air pollution, with 80% of roadside nitrogen dioxide pollution coming from this sector.

The UK's decision to ban the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles by 2030 is part of a broader strategy to create a net-zero carbon economy by the middle of the century. This strategy also includes supporting the development of clean hydrogen and exploring the use of small modular nuclear reactors.

The ban on new fossil fuel vehicles is a significant step towards reducing air pollution in the UK, and it remains to be seen how effective it will be in combination with other measures.

Reducing domestic burning

Domestic burning has been a significant contributor to air pollution in the UK. In 2019, it was the single largest contributor to the UK's harmful particulate matter emissions, with domestic wood burning in both closed stoves and open fires responsible for 38% of PM2.5 that year.

To tackle this, the UK government introduced legislation to phase out the sales of bagged coal and wet wood—two of the most polluting fuels. This came into force on May 1, 2021, with the public and suppliers encouraged to use cleaner alternatives, such as dry wood, which produces less smoke and pollution.

The government also plans to ensure that only the cleanest stoves are available for sale by 2022. This is expected to benefit consumers and householders as burning cleaner fuels and using these devices produces less smoke, soot, and more heat.

The government's Clean Air Strategy, welcomed by the World Health Organization, also includes proposals to tackle air pollution from other sources, such as publishing new guidance for farmers to help them reduce ammonia emissions and investing in infrastructure and equipment.

In addition to these government initiatives, individuals can take action to reduce domestic burning and its impact on air pollution. Some recommended actions include:

• Avoiding burning solid fuels, such as wood and coal, in open fires and stoves.
• Opting for cleaner alternatives when burning indoors, such as using dry, seasoned wood instead of wet wood.
• Upgrading to more efficient and eco-friendly stoves and regularly servicing them to ensure they are functioning optimally.
• Getting chimneys swept regularly to maintain good air quality and reduce the risk of chimney fires.
• Participating in initiatives like the Burn Better information campaign, launched by Defra in 2020, which provides information and guidance on reducing air pollution from domestic burning.
• Supporting local and national initiatives aimed at improving air quality and reducing domestic burning emissions.

By implementing these measures and working together, the UK can effectively reduce domestic burning and improve air quality for its citizens.

Frequently asked questions