Environmental Audit Committee Inquiry

London Councils’ response to the Environmental Audit Committee’s ‘Air Quality: A Follow Up Report’ inquiry

The House of Common’s Environmental Audit Committee published a new inquiry into air quality on the 11 May 2011. The inquiry focused on the causes and impacts of NO₂ and particulate air pollution, and the effectiveness of the Government’s strategy for improving air quality. The inquiry also asked what the effect of the Government’s localism agenda might be for local authorities’ capacity for tackling poor air quality.

London Councils’ response highlighted key issues for London:

• A reliance on advancements in vehicle technology to reach air quality targets has not lead to the anticipated improvements. More emphasis needs to be placed on behavioural change than has been given to date.
• The government is encouraging the roll out of wood fuel biomass across the country to meet renewable heat targets, with insufficient regard to urban air quality.
• The government’s air pollution banding system does not reflect the serious impact of long term exposure to air pollution. The health message about poor air quality needs to be much clearer so it can be fully understood by the general public
• The government does not appear to have a strategy for dealing with PM_2.5 and its strategy for dealing with NO₂ is not clear.
• London local authorities are concerned that the localism agenda could result in the government passing fines, from the European Commission, down to local authorities where air quality does not meet the Limit Values. This would be unreasonable as local authorities have not been given adequate tools and powers to improve air quality.
• The devolution of public health functions could result in better integration of health and air quality policies. However, it is too early to say what benefit this may have on improving air quality in practice.

A copy of the full London Councils’ response can be downloaded below.