The main aim is to reduce nitrogen dioxide levels in the UK, which contributes to around 40,000 premature deaths in the UK per year. Pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter have been linked to conditions including cancer, heart disease and asthma.
The various Options open for consultation are designed to reduce the impact of diesel vehicles, and accelerate the move to cleaner transport. Local authorities are already responsible for improving air quality in their area, but will now be expected to develop new and creative solutions to reduce emissions as quickly as possible, “while avoiding undue impact on the motorist”.
The Government is consulting on a range of measures that could be taken to mitigate the impact of action to improve air quality, based on two main documents. One of these is the draft UK Air Quality Plan for tackling nitrogen dioxide, with the other being a technical report, including details of modelling techniques and assumptions used in the draft UK Air Quality Plan. The consultation is also accompanied by a framework document and a Summary of Responses to the Implementation of Clean Air Zones in England.
In line with the timetable directed by the Courts the government is seeking views on these proposals in advance of preparing its final plan for publication by 31 July. All final decisions will be taken by the incoming government.
The draft Air Quality Plan does mention a number of clean energy technologies, including the possibility of retrofitting vehicles with hybrid engines, electric, hydrogen or LPG. It also mentions the 2015/2016 Clean Bus Technology Fund (CBTF), the Clean Vehicle Technology Fund (CVTF), the latter scheme helping to fit ambulances with solar panels on their roofs, and funding the Government has provided for Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs), including electric vehicles (EVs) with associated charging infrastructure, through the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). This reiterates the Government’s commitment to funding green bus and taxi projects, a new £23 million fund for hydrogen vehicles and associated hydrogen infrastructure.
The Government’s own modelling shows that charging infrastructure is the most effective approach, delivering the largest reduction in NO2 and NOx emissions. Despite this, the Green Party described the plan as “feeble”, failing to go far enough to avert a public health emergency.
“The government is standing idly by while Britain chokes” said Ms Lucas, speaking to Business Green. “This feeble plan won't go anywhere near far enough in tackling this public health emergency. We needed a huge investment in public transport, serious taxation changes and a new Clean Air Act - but none of these solutions are in the plan.”
Earlier this morning, The Times (paywall) reported that figures in the Department for Transport had been “pulling their hair out” because of intervention from 10 Downing Street that resulted in major, ambitious parts of the plan being edited out.
The consultation will run until 15 June.
Image: Rush hour congestion in Bristol, UK (Robin Whitlock)
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