Jean Lambert today backed Environmental Protection UK, and ten other leading environmental and health organisations, in calling on the UK Government to commit fully to complying with the new EU Directive on Air Quality. The London Green Party MEP has also written to the European Commission and to Hillary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, urging the UK Government to meet the new air quality standards as soon as possible.
Welcoming the new EU Directive, which came into force on 11 June 2008, Jean Lambert said:
"Air pollution is an ‘invisible killer’, being responsible for far more deaths than traffic accidents, but it receives only a fraction of the attention. The UK Government has indicated that it will apply for an extension to the deadline on meeting the new air quality standards and this is simply unacceptable. People across the UK suffer from serious illnesses caused or aggravated by air pollution and this is particularly the case in London where air quality at several sites consistently fails to meet current basic EU standards."
In London, an estimated 1000 people die prematurely every year and a further 1000 are admitted to hospital as a result of air pollution. The impacts of air pollution on human health range from minor respiratory complaints to reduced lung function, asthma, chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular disease and reduced life expectancy. Air pollution in the EU, most notably from fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone, reduces life expectancy by an average of nine months.
The new EU Directive on Air Quality merges four existing EU Directives and a Council Decision into a single text to become Europe’s main air quality legislation. It will modernise reporting and provide a framework to address breaches of air quality laws that have taken place since 2005. The Directive also introduces new targets and limit values for fine particles PM2.5, an important move as fine particles present the greatest risk to human health of all air pollutants.
Jean Lambert MEP continued:
"There is no place for a third runway at Heathrow airport, which would clearly exacerbate existing problems and hinder the UK’s ability to meet these new targets. It is also essential that the Mayor protects the low emission zone and continues with the timetable of action for improving London’s air quality. This involves rolling out the next stage of the Low Emission Zone in July, to include buses, coaches and lighter heavy goods vehicles, and to take in heavy vans and mini-buses from 2010. This plan should lead to a marked improvement in the capital’s air quality.
"The EU has introduced these new rules to protect the health of citizens across Europe. There is no reason why the Government should endanger the health of UK residents by failing to meet these common air quality standards.”
Notes
The full text of the letter sent to the Prime Minister is as follows:
Dear Prime Minister,
The provision of a healthy environment is one of the Government’s greatest responsibilities to protect citizens. Despite this, levels of air pollutants in many parts of the UK are substantially in breach of the health and ecosystem standards set in the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and are currently expected to remain so for some time.
We, the undersigned, believe that the recent approval of the new European Union Directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe gives you the opportunity to make a clear and unequivocal public commitment that the Government will ensure full United Kingdom (UK) compliance with it.
We urge you to consider going further by committing the Government to improving human health and protecting biodiversity, the environment and historical sites by complying with laws concerning emissions to air generally: whether for the purpose of fighting climate change; improving air quality or otherwise. If the UK does not meet its short-term obligations for air quality, what chance is there that it will meet five-year carbon budgets and longer-term commitments introduced in the Climate Change Bill?
An unambiguous commitment now from the Government backed thereafter by prompt and meaningful action will give stakeholders of all types, whether from business, the non-governmental sector or citizens generally, the certainty and time necessary to play their full part in delivering the required changes in the most cost effective manner.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
Environmental ProtectionAsthma UKThe British Medical AssociationCampaign for Better TransportCampaign for Clean Air in LondonThe Environmental Industries CommissionEnvironmental Protection UKGreen AllianceThe Royal Environmental Health Institute of ScotlandSustransThe UK Public Health AssociationWWF-UK