Consultation on the Review of the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Air pollution from man-made particles is currently estimated to reduce the life expectancy of every person in the UK by an average of eight months. In addition, more than half of all natural and semi-natural habitats in Britain still have too high levels of harmful acidity. The UK Government and the devolved administrations are therefore now consulting on a review of the current Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The consultation seeks stakeholders’ views on a number of potential additional national policy measures which, if implemented, could secure further improvement in air quality and move us closer to achieving the Strategy’s air quality objectives. Among the package of measures on which the UK Government and the devolved administrations are seeking views are:
• new tighter European vehicle emissions standards (so called Euro-standards);
• incentives for cleaner vehicles;
• further reductions in emissions from small combustion plants; and
• further reductions in emissions from ships.
The consultation document also seeks views on the Strategy’s current objectives for air pollutants and sets an agenda for longer term action to improve our understanding of air pollutants and attempts to qualitatively assess the potential for further air quality improvements in the very long term.
Comments on this consultation are requested by 11 July 2006. Further information is available from: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/airqualstrat-review/index.htm
Source: http://www.defra.gov.uk (accessed 03/05/06)