7th August 2020
EFRA committee inquiry
Recommendations in the response to the EFRA Committee on air pollution:
- Limits on particulate matter – The World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended limit for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution should be included on the face of the Bill – to be met by 2030 at the latest.
- Planning – Robust plans are needed to ensure binding targets are met, as demonstrated by the current prevalence of illegal levels of NO2 pollution. The Environmental Improvement Plans required by the Bill are not sufficient to guarantee effective action. The planning framework must include timetabled, impact-assessed measures that ensure the necessary improvements are made.
- Enforcement – The new Office for Environment Protection (‘The OEP’) should have equivalent powers to those currently granted to the European Court of Justice to enforce air pollution limits. As well as enforcing new limits on PM2.5 pollution, the OEP should be responsible for enforcing limits on NO2 and other air pollutants.
In addition to the above recommendations, the Alliance strongly advocates a shift from sedentary modes of travel to active modes of travel.